Fred Frankhouse was born in Juniata County on April 9, 1904. He was the son of Charles D. and Jennie M. (Meloy) Frankhouse. He was the youngest of 5 brothers and sisters. He went to the Port Royal Elementary school and Port Royal High School and was graduated from Lewistown High School.
In his teens, Fred pitched for his school in the old Dauphin-Perry-Juniata League and with outstanding semi-pro teams. At the time, the St. Louis Cardinals had an International Farm League in Syracuse, New York which picked up Fred to prepare him for the majors. He played in Syracuse, Ottawa and Houston until 1926 when he was moved up to the majors with the Cardinals. Fred used to tell the story that his friend, Roger Hornsby, wanted him to go with Chicanos but St. Louis which had him in the minors wouldn't release him.
While with the Cardinals, Fred knew such greats as Dizzy Dean and Pepper Martin. Also on the Cardinals with Frankhouse were Hall-of-Famers Frankie ''The Fordham Flash? Frisch and Walter "Rabbit" Maranville, both of whom Fred later joined on the Braves.
In 1928, Fred went to the World Series with the Cardinals but never got a chance to pitch as his Cardinals were beaten in four games straight by the Yankees. He did, however, receive a World Series ring with the other members of his team.
Fred was traded to the Boston Braves in 1930 and had his best year pitching in 1934. That year he was chosen for the All Star Team and pitched the last inning of the game, the second All Star Game ever held. Fred was the fourth pitcher to take the mound during the game and many feel had he been brought in earlier, the National League may have won as he shut down the American League during the inning he pitched. 1934 was Fred's best year with a 17-9 record despite missing a month of the season due to injury.
In 1935, while with the Braves, Fred pitched in Babe Ruth's final game. Fred told the story that a ball was hit through the infield to the outfield. Babe, who was then 40 with a bad knee, started after it but couldn't get to it. The batter scored an ?in the Park? home run and Babe just walked off the field. He remained with the Braves as a coach but did not play again.
In 1936, Fred was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers where he played for Casey Stengel who he knew from his days with the Braves. One of the greatest moments of Fred's professional baseball career occurred on August 27, 1937 when he pitched a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds at Ebbitts Field. Though it was shortened by rain, enough of the game had been played for it to stand as a Brooklyn victory and a no-hitter for Frankhouse. His family treasures the ball he used to win that game which is signed by a number of his Dodger teammates.
That same year, 1937, the baseball world was intently watching the pitching wizardry of Carl Hubbell, one of the all-time greats. By June of the 1937 season, Hubbell had chalked up an unbelievable 24 straight victories. Hubbell's 25th victory would be something to talk about for years to come so a record crowd, 62,000 fans, jammed the stands. There was little doubt he would do it against the lowly Dodgers but the Dodgers sent in their ''giant killer'' to do the impossible. Fred yielded only 3 runs to N.Y. while the Dodgers chalked up 10 runs of their own.
In 1938 Fred was traded back to the Braves for his final year in professional baseball.
During his career, Fred appeared in 402 major league games, 216 as the starting pitcher. He compiled 106 wins and 97 losses and had 81 complete games. Of his victories, 15 were in relief and he recorded 12 saves.
Overall, he pitched in 1,888 innings, surrendering 2,033 hits and 701 walks. He finished with a lifetime 3.92 ERA and 622 strikeouts.
After leaving baseball, Fred served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps from 1943-1946. Casey Stengel wanted Fred to work for him as a scout but Fred chose to return to Juniata County with his wife Mabel (Skiles) to live the rest of their days. After returning to Port Royal, Fred started the Little League Baseball program and coached a team. He was one of the first Christmas tree growers in the County and worked a short time for the Commonwealth.
On June 9, 1976, his home town honored him with ''Fred Frankhouse Appreciation Day" which attracted several hundred people including the late Billy Cox of Newport (former Brooklyn third baseman), Les Bell (with the Cardinals and Cubs) and Ray Mueller (with the Braves, Reds and Giants). The baseball field in Port Royal was named the ?Frankhouse Field? in his honor and that same year he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Athletic Hall of Fame.
He died August 17, 1989 in Port Royal, PA Shortly after his death, Fred's family created a baseball scholarship at Juniata High School to keep Fred's memory alive and to support youngsters who play the game. Fred was nominated for consideration by the Juniata County Hall of Fame by Matt Bell who received the first annual Fred Frankhouse Baseball scholarship in 1990. Fred's family is very grateful to Mr. Bell and to the members of the Hall of Fame who selected Fred Frankhouse for this very important honor.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 1/29/15 - Image Year: 1929
Fred and Mabel (Skiles) Frankhouse on their wedding day, January 1, 1929. (Photo submitted by Wayne Taylor)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/28/10 - Image Year: 1921
1921 CHAMPIONS of the DAUPHIN PERRY LEAGUE - The picture was taken at Harrisburg, September 1920. Seated Row (Left to Right): Huey Groninger (1B), Arthur "Dutch" Kepner (LF), (Harrisburg Boy) (BB), Tim Euker (CF), Fred Frankhouse (P). - Standing Row: Melvin Frankhouse (SS), Ike McCord (3B), Charles Bailor (C), S. S. Beaver (MGR), Evard Meloy (RF), Oscar Walls (2B). (1921 League Champions defeated Rosewood AC 3 games to 1.)
Contributed by donholton on 3/26/10 - Image Year: 1928
Fred Frankhouse when he was with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/25/10 - Image Year: 1932
Fred Frankhouse with the Boston Braves
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/16/09 - Image Year: 1933
This is a 1933 Goudey Chewing Gum Baseball Card of Fred Frankhouse.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/16/09 - Image Year: 1934
This is a 1934 Diamond Stars baseball card for Fred Frankhouse.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 1/28/15 - Image Year: 1934
FRED FRANKHOUSE takes a photo of WES FERRELL at Braves Field in Boston about 1934. (Submitted by Wayne Taylor)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/25/10 - Image Year: 1936
Fred Frankhouse when he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
"My curve ball is fashioned by the snap of my wrist and the position of my fingers on the ball. My middle fingers are bent under, pressing the cover." - Fred Frankhouse in Baseball Magazine (March 1932)
Contributed by ray on 1/28/15 - Image Year: 1937
WAITE HOYT wheels FRED FRANKHOUSE and BEN CANTWELL while they were playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1937. (Photo submitted by Wayne Taylor)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/7/15 - Image Year: 1939
1939 DISCUSSION WITH UMPIRES Fred is accused of throwing a "spit ball". (Photo from Wayne Taylor collection as published in the Juniata Sentinel.) (If you examine the photo closely you will see that two of the three umpires have autographed the picture.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/28/09 - Image Year: 1939
Fred Frankhouse and Babe Ruth while playing with the Boston Braves
Contributed by rkohler3 on 1/3/17 - Image Year: 1935
1935 BOSTON BRAVES (SPRING TRAINING) Babe Ruth is standing in 2nd row, (4th from left) and Fred Frankhouse is in the same row, (3 to the right of the Babe).
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/30/10 - Image Year: 1940
Fred Frankhouse Profile
Contributed by rkohler3 on 1/7/13 - Image Year: 1945
Fred Frankhouse and his dog. Fred is in his military uniform while serving in World War II.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 7/22/11 - Image Year: 1980
FRED AND SISTERS: Fred Frankhouse with his two sisters: Margaret Beaver Lyter (l) and Martha Kauffman (r) (Photo from the Steve Freeman Collection.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 7/22/11 - Image Year: 1986
FRANKHOUSE SIBLINGS: (l-r) Margaret, Martha, Joe, Fred (Dec. 1986) (Photo from the collection of Steve Freeman)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 10/4/09 - Image Year: 2009
ORIGINAL FIELD Port Royal's Little League Field is named in honor of Fred Frankhouse. This field is located north of the Tuscarora Valley Elementary School and next to the Juniata County Fairgrounds. The following note appeared in the May 6, 1964 edition of the Port Royal Times: "The Little League Ball Park, constructed through the untiring efforts of the Port Royal Lions Club will be dedicated May 9. at 2 p.m. The Lions field is located adjacent to the Tuscarora Valley Elementary School."
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/14/21 - Image Year: 2021
NEW FRANKHOUSE FIELD When the Juniata County Agrilcultural Society purchased the Tuscarora Valley Elementary School they planned to use the surrounding property for additional fairground parking. The original Frankhouse Little League Field was in the way so a new field was created along Route 333. This field will be dedicated in the Fall of 2021. (This photo of the new field appeared in THE TIMES of Port Royal.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 8/14/21 - Image Year: 2021
NEW FIELD SIGN (From THE TIMES of Port Royal)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 2/21/13 - Image Year: 1976
THE PRIDE OF PORT ROYAL (Photo submitted by Wayne Taylor)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 5/4/14 - Image Year: 2007
EIGHTH STREET: an aerial view of Eighth Street between Cross Street to the south and the north boundary of the Juniata County Fairgrounds to the North as represented by Google Maps.
Contributed by cooperstownexpert on 1/14/23 - Image Year: 1928
COOPERSTOWN LINK FOR FRED: Here's a link to Fred's page on CooperstownExpert.com. There's some interesting facts about him and more about this letter. (Copy and Paste)
https://www.cooperstownexpert.com/player/fred-frankhouse/
