Frank Bolling
Born: 11/16/1931 in Mobile, AL, USA
Died: 7/11/2020 in Mobile, AL, USA
MLB Debut: 1954-04-13 | Final Game: 1966-09-15
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: Francis Elmore Bolling
Biography
Frank Bolling was a professional baseball player born in 1931, who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball from 1954 to 1966. Known for his versatility as a position player, Bolling played a total of 1,540 games during his career, which spanned over a decade. He recorded 1,415 hits and belted 106 home runs, contributing 556 RBIs to his teams. With a career batting average of .254, Bolling showcased a reliable offensive skill set, complemented by his speed on the basepaths, as evidenced by his 40 stolen bases.
Bolling was selected as an All-Star four times, reflecting his status as one of the more respected players of his era. He played during a transformative period in baseball, navigating through the tail end of the 1950s and into the mid-1960s, a time marked by the emergence of power hitters and the evolution of the game. His contributions on the field and his ability to perform under pressure solidified his legacy in baseball history, making him a notable figure in the annals of the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1540 | 5562 | 692 | 1415 | 221 | 40 | 106 | 556 | 40 | 462 | 558 | 0.254 | 0.313 | 0.366 | 0.679 | -4745.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | DET | AL | 117 | 368 | 46 | 87 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 38 | 3 | 36 | 51 | 0.236 | -857.4 |
| 1956 | DET | AL | 102 | 366 | 53 | 103 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 45 | 6 | 42 | 51 | 0.281 | 542.5 |
| 1957 | DET | AL | 146 | 576 | 72 | 149 | 27 | 6 | 15 | 40 | 4 | 57 | 64 | 0.259 | 271.1 |
| 1958 | DET | AL | 154 | 610 | 91 | 164 | 25 | 4 | 14 | 75 | 6 | 54 | 54 | 0.269 | -28.4 |
| 1959 | DET | AL | 127 | 459 | 56 | 122 | 18 | 3 | 13 | 55 | 2 | 45 | 37 | 0.266 | 401.1 |
| 1960 | DET | AL | 139 | 536 | 64 | 136 | 20 | 4 | 9 | 59 | 7 | 40 | 48 | 0.254 | -708.8 |
| 1961 | ATL | NL | 148 | 585 | 86 | 153 | 16 | 4 | 15 | 56 | 7 | 57 | 62 | 0.262 | -255.0 |
| 1962 | ATL | NL | 122 | 406 | 45 | 110 | 17 | 4 | 9 | 43 | 2 | 35 | 45 | 0.271 | 124.6 |
| 1963 | ATL | NL | 142 | 542 | 73 | 132 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 43 | 2 | 41 | 47 | 0.244 | -1001.9 |
| 1964 | ATL | NL | 120 | 352 | 35 | 70 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 34 | 0 | 21 | 44 | 0.199 | -1636.4 |
| 1965 | ATL | NL | 148 | 535 | 55 | 141 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 50 | 0 | 24 | 41 | 0.264 | -497.8 |
| 1966 | ATL | NL | 75 | 227 | 16 | 48 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 10 | 14 | 0.211 | -1098.8 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 1518 | 1446 | 3423 | 4019 | 136 | 1003 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | DET | 2B | 113 | 100 | 248 | 232 | 13 | 54 |
| 1956 | DET | 2B | 102 | 99 | 223 | 260 | 11 | 72 |
| 1957 | DET | 2B | 146 | 144 | 394 | 401 | 16 | 112 |
| 1958 | DET | 2B | 154 | 154 | 342 | 445 | 12 | 109 |
| 1959 | DET | 2B | 126 | 126 | 281 | 340 | 8 | 81 |
| 1960 | DET | 2B | 138 | 137 | 375 | 377 | 17 | 93 |
| 1961 | ML1 | 2B | 148 | 145 | 326 | 489 | 10 | 112 |
| 1962 | ML1 | 2B | 119 | 112 | 252 | 298 | 6 | 70 |
| 1963 | ML1 | 2B | 141 | 137 | 326 | 379 | 14 | 107 |
| 1964 | ML1 | 2B | 117 | 94 | 212 | 255 | 7 | 68 |
| 1965 | ML1 | 2B | 147 | 141 | 310 | 393 | 17 | 90 |
| 1966 | ATL | 2B | 67 | 57 | 134 | 150 | 5 | 35 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 1518 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1958 | Gold Glove | 2B |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Hill College | Mobile | AL | 1951 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 16th | 10.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1956 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 27th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |