Herman Franks
Born: 1/4/1914 in Price, UT, USA
Died: 3/30/2009 in Salt Lake City, UT, USA
MLB Debut: 1939-04-27 | Final Game: 1949-08-28
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 187 lbs
Full name: Herman Louis Franks
Biography
Herman Franks was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1939 to 1949. Born in 1914, he played primarily as a position player during a transformative period in Major League Baseball, navigating through the pre-World War II era and into the post-war years. Franks appeared in 188 games, accumulating a total of 80 hits, 3 home runs, and 43 RBIs, while finishing his career with a batting average of .199. His contributions on the field included 2 stolen bases, reflecting a speed element that he brought to his game despite his overall offensive numbers.
While Franks may not have been a standout in terms of statistics, his persistence in an evolving sport during the late 1930s and 1940s showcased the dedication of players of that era. The challenges of the time, including the impact of World War II on player availability and the gradual integration of baseball, shaped the landscape in which he played. Herman Franks remains a part of baseball history, representing the hardworking players who contributed to the game during a significant period of change.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 188 | 403 | 35 | 80 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 43 | 2 | 57 | 37 | 0.199 | 0.302 | 0.275 | 0.578 | -1176.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | STL | NL | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.059 | 0.0 |
| 1940 | BRO | NL | 65 | 131 | 11 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 20 | 6 | 0.183 | -576.2 |
| 1941 | BRO | NL | 57 | 139 | 10 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 13 | 0.201 | -552.1 |
| 1947 | PHA | AL | 8 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1948 | PHA | AL | 40 | 98 | 10 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 0.224 | -48.2 |
| 1949 | NY1 | NL | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.667 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | WS | BRO | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 142 | 0 | 537 | 64 | 9 | 11 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | SLN | C | 13 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1940 | BRO | C | 43 | 0 | 183 | 22 | 2 | 3 |
| 1941 | BRO | C | 54 | 0 | 191 | 21 | 3 | 6 |
| 1941 | BRO | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1947 | PHA | C | 4 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1948 | PHA | C | 27 | 0 | 113 | 17 | 3 | 2 |
| 1949 | NY1 | C | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 143 |
| Right Field | 1 |