Hersh Freeman
Born: 7/1/1928 in Gadsden, AL, USA
Died: 1/17/2004 in Orlando, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1952-09-10 | Final Game: 1958-06-07
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 220 lbs
Full name: Hershell Baskin Freeman
Biography
Hersh Freeman was a talented pitcher whose career spanned from 1952 to 1958. Born in 1928, Freeman made his mark in Major League Baseball during a time when the game was transitioning into a more dynamic era. He finished his playing career with a record of 30-16 and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.74, showcasing his ability to compete effectively on the mound. Over the course of his career, he recorded 158 strikeouts and was credited with 37 saves, illustrating his dual role as both a starter and a reliable reliever.
Freeman's contributions to the game extended beyond his statistics; he embodied the competitive spirit of the 1950s, a decade marked by the rise of power hitting and the increasing importance of specialized roles in pitching. His ability to adapt to the evolving landscape of baseball allowed him to leave a lasting impression within the league. Although his career was relatively brief, Freeman's performance during these formative years contributed to the foundation of modern baseball strategies that would develop in the decades to follow.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 16 | 204 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 359.0 | 387 | 149 | 25 | 109 | 158 | 3.74 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | BOS | AL | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13.7 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3.29 | -77.0 |
| 1953 | BOS | AL | 1 | 4 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.0 | 50 | 24 | 17 | 15 | 5.54 | 335.3 |
| 1955 | BOS | AL | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | CIN | NL | 7 | 4 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 91.7 | 94 | 22 | 30 | 37 | 2.16 | 2255.2 |
| 1956 | CIN | NL | 14 | 5 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 108.7 | 112 | 41 | 34 | 50 | 3.40 | 3642.2 |
| 1957 | CIN | NL | 7 | 2 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 83.7 | 90 | 42 | 14 | 36 | 4.52 | -1166.7 |
| 1958 | CHC | NL | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.0 | 23 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 8.31 | - |
| 1958 | CIN | NL | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.7 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3.52 | 0.0 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 | 63 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0.143 | 0.206 | 0.238 | 0.444 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | BOS | AL | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.0 |
| 1953 | BOS | AL | 18 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.091 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | BOS | AL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | CIN | NL | 53 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
| 1956 | CIN | NL | 64 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.056 | 0.0 |
| 1957 | CIN | NL | 52 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1958 | CHC | NL | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1958 | CIN | NL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P | 204 | 0 | 19 | 63 | 0 | 7 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | BOS | P | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1953 | BOS | P | 18 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | BOS | P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | CIN | P | 52 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 4 |
| 1955 | CIN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | CIN | P | 64 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 2 |
| 1957 | CIN | P | 52 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 1958 | CHN | P | 9 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | CIN | P | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 204 |
| Third Base | 1 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | AL | 1947 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 13th | 25.0 | 336 | 0 |