Gene Freese
Born: 1/8/1934 in Wheeling, WV, USA
Died: 6/19/2013 in New Orleans, LA, USA
MLB Debut: 1955-04-13 | Final Game: 1966-09-03
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: Eugene Lewis Freese
Biography
Gene Freese was a professional baseball player born in 1934, who made a significant impact in the Major Leagues from 1955 until his retirement in 1966. Known for his versatility as a position player, Freese played a total of 1,115 games during his career. He accumulated 877 hits, including 115 home runs, and drove in 432 runs, finishing with a career batting average of .254. His ability to contribute offensively was complemented by his speed on the basepaths, as he recorded 51 stolen bases throughout his tenure in the league.
Freese played during a transformative era in baseball, witnessing the transition from the tail end of the post-war boom to the beginnings of a more modern game. His playing style reflected the competitive spirit of the time, as he adapted to various roles on the field, showcasing both power and agility. Freese's contributions were felt across several teams, and he left a lasting legacy as a reliable player known for his dedication and performance in the Major Leagues.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1115 | 3446 | 429 | 877 | 161 | 28 | 115 | 432 | 51 | 243 | 535 | 0.254 | 0.305 | 0.418 | 0.723 | 842.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | PIT | NL | 134 | 455 | 69 | 115 | 21 | 8 | 14 | 44 | 5 | 34 | 57 | 0.253 | -16.3 |
| 1956 | PIT | NL | 65 | 207 | 17 | 43 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 45 | 0.208 | -829.2 |
| 1957 | PIT | NL | 114 | 346 | 44 | 98 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 31 | 9 | 17 | 42 | 0.283 | -39.9 |
| 1958 | PIT | NL | 17 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
| 1958 | STL | NL | 62 | 191 | 28 | 49 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 1 | 10 | 32 | 0.257 | 0.0 |
| 1959 | PHI | NL | 132 | 400 | 60 | 107 | 14 | 5 | 23 | 70 | 8 | 43 | 61 | 0.268 | 1350.9 |
| 1960 | CHW | AL | 127 | 455 | 60 | 124 | 32 | 6 | 17 | 79 | 10 | 29 | 65 | 0.273 | 736.7 |
| 1961 | CIN | NL | 152 | 575 | 78 | 159 | 27 | 2 | 26 | 87 | 8 | 27 | 78 | 0.277 | 508.0 |
| 1962 | CIN | NL | 18 | 42 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0.143 | 0.0 |
| 1963 | CIN | NL | 66 | 217 | 20 | 53 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 26 | 4 | 17 | 42 | 0.244 | -17.7 |
| 1964 | PIT | NL | 99 | 289 | 33 | 65 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 40 | 1 | 19 | 45 | 0.225 | -442.4 |
| 1965 | CHW | AL | 17 | 32 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0.281 | 0.0 |
| 1965 | PIT | NL | 43 | 80 | 6 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 0.263 | 0.0 |
| 1966 | CHW | AL | 48 | 106 | 8 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 0.208 | -256.5 |
| 1966 | HOU | NL | 21 | 33 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 0.091 | -256.5 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.062 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | WS | CIN | 5 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.062 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 117 | 89 | 216 | 275 | 16 | 57 |
| 3B | 781 | 735 | 589 | 1341 | 136 | 129 |
| OF | 12 | 8 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| SS | 28 | 27 | 45 | 52 | 8 | 10 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | PIT | 2B | 57 | 52 | 128 | 173 | 11 | 41 |
| 1955 | PIT | 3B | 65 | 64 | 55 | 127 | 11 | 16 |
| 1956 | PIT | 2B | 26 | 15 | 31 | 50 | 0 | 7 |
| 1956 | PIT | 3B | 47 | 35 | 38 | 65 | 4 | 2 |
| 1957 | PIT | 2B | 10 | 4 | 13 | 16 | 0 | 4 |
| 1957 | PIT | 3B | 74 | 69 | 62 | 132 | 16 | 16 |
| 1957 | PIT | OF | 10 | 7 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1958 | PIT | 3B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | SLN | 2B | 14 | 13 | 32 | 25 | 4 | 4 |
| 1958 | SLN | 3B | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | SLN | SS | 28 | 27 | 45 | 52 | 8 | 10 |
| 1959 | PHI | 2B | 6 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1959 | PHI | 3B | 109 | 103 | 83 | 156 | 22 | 15 |
| 1960 | CHA | 3B | 122 | 120 | 88 | 263 | 20 | 29 |
| 1961 | CIN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | CIN | 3B | 151 | 151 | 123 | 254 | 20 | 23 |
| 1962 | CIN | 3B | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 1963 | CIN | 3B | 62 | 62 | 44 | 103 | 11 | 8 |
| 1963 | CIN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | PIT | 3B | 72 | 67 | 48 | 112 | 14 | 12 |
| 1965 | CHA | 3B | 8 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| 1965 | PIT | 3B | 19 | 17 | 12 | 27 | 2 | 1 |
| 1966 | CHA | 3B | 34 | 24 | 12 | 64 | 9 | 5 |
| 1966 | HOU | 2B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966 | HOU | 3B | 4 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 1966 | HOU | OF | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 117 |
| Third Base | 781 |
| Shortstop | 28 |
| Left Field | 12 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Liberty State College | West Liberty | WV | 1952 |