Frankie Austin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frankie Austin |
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| Shortstop | |||
| Born: May 22, 1917 Panama Canal Zone |
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| Died: January 15, 1960 (aged 43) Panama City, Panama |
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| debut | |||
| 1944, for the Philadelphia Stars | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1948, for the Philadelphia Stars | |||
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Frank Samuel "Pee Wee" Austin (born May 22, 1917 – died January 15, 1960) was a professional baseball player from Panama. He was known for playing as a shortstop, a key position in baseball.
Pee Wee Austin played during a time when baseball was segregated in the United States. This meant that African American players were not allowed to play in Major League Baseball. Instead, they played in special leagues called the Negro leagues.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
Frankie Austin played in the Negro leagues and later in the minor leagues. He started his professional career in 1944 and played until 1956.
Philadelphia Stars
From 1944 to 1948, Austin played for the Philadelphia Stars. This team was part of the Negro National League, one of the top Negro leagues.
In 1945, he was chosen to play in the East-West All-Star Game. This was a very important game that showcased the best players from the Negro leagues. It was similar to today's Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Breaking Barriers
After his time in the Negro leagues, Austin continued to play baseball. In 1949, he played in the International League. He also played in the Pacific Coast League from 1949 to 1956.
Even though he never played in the Major Leagues, Frankie Austin made history. In 1949, he and Luis Marquez were the first two black players to join the New York Yankees organization. This was a big step towards integrating baseball and allowing players of all backgrounds to play together.
