Frank Callihan
From SABR Encyclopedia
| Frank Callihan | |
| James Frank Callihan | |
| Bat/Throw: | L/L |
|---|---|
| Height: | 6' 5" |
| Weight: | 215 |
| Born: | 1933-12-22 at South Shore, KY (US) |
| Died: | 2010-5-10 at Jacksonville, FL (US) |
| Interred: | Oaklawn Cemetery in Jacksonville, FL (US) |
| More info | |
| SABR Searches: | Pictures of Frank Callihan | width:90% height:65% scrolling:auto | Pictures}} · Bibliography |
|---|---|
Personal
Following his 1952 graduation from high school in South Shore, KY, Frank Callihan was signed to a professional baseball contract by the St. Louis Browns. He was assigned to the Marion (NC) Marauders of the Class D Western Carolina League and joined the club on August 1. His first appearance came on August 4, 1952, when he hurled 5 1/3 scoreless innings in relief against the Rutherfordton County (NC) Owls. He allowed just 3 hits and was credited with the win in what was a notable debut.[1]
Based upon game accounts published in the McDowell News and the Marion Progress, Callihan pitched in at least eight games for Marion, accumulating approximately 40 innings and compiling a record of 5-1. Had saves been a recognized statistic in 1952, he also would have earned one save.
Unfortunately, the newspapers did not print game box scores for many of the games, and they did not publish summary individual statistics at season end. Consequently, the available sources do not allow the determination of Callihan's pitching, batting, and fielding statistics for the 1952 season. The Western Carolina League disbanded in 1954, and it is likely that all official league records have been irretrievably lost.
Callihan appears in the official team photograph for the 1952 Marion Marauders as published in the September 1, 1952 edition of the McDowell News. Other players pictured are: Bill Smith, Fred Parnell, Al Havelka, Bobby Davis, Bruce Erickson, Bill Collins, Joe Hornacek, Fred Biangardi, Junior Begemann, Frank Robinson (manager), Lawson Brown, Boger McGimsey, Eugene Black, Mike Dillon, and Jack Falls. Also pictured is Gerald Lewis, the batboy.
At the conclusion of the season, the McDowell News printed an article on the plans of selected players for the offseason. The article reads in part: Marion has been fortunate in having such a fine group of men representing it on the baseball field. The Marauders conducted themselves as gentlemen at all times, on and off the field, and a finer group of men couldn't be found anywhere...Frank Callahan (sic) will return to his home at Fullerton, Ky, where he will either work at a saw mill or a filling station. He belongs to the St. Louis Browns. Says he likes Marion and will ask to be sent back here next year, since he has to have another year in Class D ball....[2]
Of course, for the 1953 season the Browns promoted Callihan to the Pine Bluff (AK) Judges of the Class C Cotton States League. There he compiled a record of 12-11 and led his team in pitching wins.
 | There is uncertainty about the identification of the career engagements reported about this person. Please see the talk page for details. |
Sources
- Obituary for Frank Callihan, retrieved on 2010-05-14.
