Frank McCormick
One of the most difficult batters to strike out in baseball history, towering Frank McCormick won the 1940 National League Most Valuable Player Award. As one of the big bats in the middle of their lineup, McCormick drove in 100 or more runs four times for the Cincinnati Reds, and helped the team to back-to-back pennants in 1939-1940. In his first three full seasons in the majors, he led the NL in hits. He retired with a .299 career average - four hits shy of the .300 mark.
Played For
Cincinnati Reds (1934-1945)
Philadelphia Phillies (1946-1947)
Boston Braves (1947-1948)
Minor League Experience
Stuck in a logjam in the Reds' farm system, McCormick spent most of the 1935, 1936, and 1937 seasons in the minors. When he got his chance with Cincinnati in 1938, he led the NL in at-bats and hits.
Best Season: 1940
He was NL MVP (McCormick received votes for MVP in eight different seasons, and finished in the top five three times), and he led the Reds to their first World Series title in 21 years. He struggled in the World Series against Detroit, but his double did start the game-winning rally for Cincinnati in the seventh inning of the seventh game.
Factoids
First baseman Frank McCormick was selected to the All-Star team in nine consecutive seasons, from 1938-1946.
Where He Played
First base
Born
Frank Andrew McCormick was born on June 9, 1911, in New York, NY.
Died
November 21, 1982, Manhasset, NY
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 1B
Primary Team: CIN
Major League Debut
September 11, 1934
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1934
Phil Cavarretta
Rudy York
Harlond Clift
Augie Galan
Frank McCormick
Frenchy Bordagaray
Zeke Bonura
Al Benton
Denny Galehouse
Nicknames
Buck
According to author Sheldon Appleton, McCormick was nicknamed "Buck" after Frank Buck, "a big game hunter and movie director."
Uniform Numbers
#10
Related Players
The talented quartet that made up the Cincinnati infield in the late 1930s and early 1940s included first baseman McCormick, second baseman Lonnie Frey, shortstop Billy Meyers, and third baseman Billy Werber. The colorful Werber dubbed them the "Jungle Club" and christened McCormick as "Wildcat" Frey as "Leopard," Meyers as "Jaguar" and himself "Tiger."
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1956 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.6% |
1962 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.6% |
1968 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.1% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1939 World Series
1940 World Series
1948 World Series
Post-Season Notes
The last at-bat of McCormick's career came in Game Six of the 1948 World Series, when he pinch-hit against future Hall of Famer Bob Lemon.
Awards and Honors
1940 NL MVP
Feats
McCormick once went 138 consecutive games without an error at first base - a record at the time... Big Frank played 682 straight games for the Reds, spanning 1938-1942.
Notes
According to biographer Sheldon Appleton:
In 1949, McCormick managed the Quebec Braves in the Canadian-American League and led them to a 90-win season - 34 more than the previous year - and to a playoff sweep and the league championship. Nevertheless, he did not remain as a manager. He continued to be involved with baseball as a coach, scout and television broadcaster for the Reds and as director of group and season ticket sales for the New York Yankees.
Injuries and Explanation for Missed Playing Time
McCormick played almost his entire career with a bad back. The last 5-6 years he was in great pain much of the time... In 1941, according to teammate Billy Werber's memoir, McCormick injured his back when he jumped into a swimming pool. He played the balance of that season wearing a back brace, and he slumped to .269...
Transactions
December 10, 1945: Purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Cincinnati Reds for $30,000.
May 14, 1947: Released by the Philadelphia Phillies.
May of 1947: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Braves.
October 28, 1948: Released by the Boston Braves.
All-Star Selections
1938 NL
1939 NL
1940 NL
1941 NL
1942 NL
1943 NL
1944 NL
1945 NL
1946 NL
Best Strength as a Player
Putting the ball in play and driving in runners.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Drawing walks.
Learn More about Frank McCormick
Search Amazon.com for Books about Frank McCormick ⇒
Search for Frank McCormick at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
Sources used for the Frank McCormick Player Page:
Frank McCormick bio for SABR Bio Project, by Sheldon Appleton.
