Lonny Frey
Born: 8/23/1910 in St. Louis, MO, USA
Died: 9/13/2009 in Coeur d'Alene, ID, USA
MLB Debut: 1933-08-29 | Final Game: 1948-09-28
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 160 lbs
Full name: Linus Reinhard Frey
Biography
Lonny Frey, born in 1910, was a versatile position player who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball from 1933 to 1948. Known for his energetic playing style and tenacity on the field, Frey appeared in 1,535 games throughout his career, accumulating 1,482 hits and a batting average of .269. He showcased his power with 61 home runs and demonstrated his ability to drive in runs with 549 RBIs. Frey was also a threat on the base paths, stealing 105 bases, which highlighted his speed and agility, making him a well-rounded player during an era that valued both offensive and defensive contributions.
A three-time All-Star, Frey played in a transitional period of baseball history, navigating through the tail end of the Great Depression and the post-war era. His contributions were particularly noteworthy as he played for teams such as the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs, where he became a fan favorite due to his hustle and determination. Frey's legacy endures not only through his impressive career statistics but also through his role in popularizing the game during a time of significant change in American society and sports.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1535 | 5517 | 848 | 1482 | 263 | 69 | 61 | 549 | 105 | 752 | 525 | 0.269 | 0.359 | 0.374 | 0.734 | 4243.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | BRO | NL | 34 | 135 | 25 | 43 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 0.319 | 246.9 |
| 1934 | BRO | NL | 125 | 490 | 77 | 139 | 24 | 5 | 8 | 57 | 11 | 52 | 54 | 0.284 | 376.4 |
| 1935 | BRO | NL | 131 | 515 | 88 | 135 | 35 | 11 | 11 | 77 | 6 | 66 | 68 | 0.262 | 714.8 |
| 1936 | BRO | NL | 148 | 524 | 63 | 146 | 29 | 4 | 4 | 60 | 7 | 71 | 56 | 0.279 | 16.2 |
| 1937 | CHC | NL | 78 | 198 | 33 | 55 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 6 | 33 | 15 | 0.278 | 134.4 |
| 1938 | CIN | NL | 124 | 501 | 76 | 133 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 49 | 50 | 0.265 | -606.6 |
| 1939 | CIN | NL | 125 | 484 | 95 | 141 | 27 | 9 | 11 | 55 | 5 | 72 | 46 | 0.291 | 1449.4 |
| 1940 | CIN | NL | 150 | 563 | 102 | 150 | 23 | 6 | 8 | 54 | 22 | 80 | 48 | 0.266 | 333.2 |
| 1941 | CIN | NL | 146 | 543 | 78 | 138 | 29 | 5 | 6 | 59 | 16 | 72 | 37 | 0.254 | 38.7 |
| 1942 | CIN | NL | 141 | 523 | 66 | 139 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 39 | 9 | 87 | 38 | 0.266 | 969.8 |
| 1943 | CIN | NL | 144 | 586 | 78 | 154 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 43 | 7 | 76 | 56 | 0.263 | 405.3 |
| 1946 | CIN | NL | 111 | 333 | 46 | 82 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 5 | 63 | 31 | 0.246 | 262.4 |
| 1947 | CHC | NL | 24 | 43 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0.209 | 0.0 |
| 1947 | NYY | AL | 24 | 28 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0.179 | 0.0 |
| 1948 | NY1 | NL | 29 | 51 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0.255 | -97.6 |
| 1948 | NYY | AL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | -97.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | WS | NYA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1940 | WS | CIN | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1939 | WS | CIN | 4 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 966 | 0 | 2369 | 2986 | 151 | 642 |
| 3B | 22 | 0 | 19 | 27 | 6 | 3 |
| OF | 34 | 0 | 49 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| SS | 420 | 0 | 856 | 1261 | 158 | 228 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | BRO | SS | 34 | 0 | 66 | 89 | 18 | 11 |
| 1934 | BRO | 3B | 13 | 0 | 13 | 25 | 5 | 1 |
| 1934 | BRO | SS | 109 | 0 | 232 | 375 | 35 | 81 |
| 1935 | BRO | 2B | 4 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 3 |
| 1935 | BRO | SS | 127 | 0 | 264 | 388 | 44 | 72 |
| 1936 | BRO | 2B | 30 | 0 | 64 | 74 | 11 | 12 |
| 1936 | BRO | SS | 117 | 0 | 238 | 331 | 51 | 52 |
| 1936 | BRO | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1937 | CHN | 2B | 13 | 0 | 24 | 32 | 1 | 5 |
| 1937 | CHN | 3B | 9 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1937 | CHN | SS | 30 | 0 | 53 | 67 | 8 | 11 |
| 1937 | CHN | OF | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1938 | CIN | 2B | 121 | 0 | 278 | 390 | 25 | 80 |
| 1938 | CIN | SS | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 1 |
| 1939 | CIN | 2B | 124 | 0 | 324 | 412 | 18 | 83 |
| 1940 | CIN | 2B | 150 | 0 | 366 | 512 | 21 | 111 |
| 1941 | CIN | 2B | 145 | 0 | 340 | 432 | 24 | 93 |
| 1942 | CIN | 2B | 140 | 0 | 340 | 424 | 18 | 95 |
| 1943 | CIN | 2B | 144 | 0 | 399 | 461 | 13 | 112 |
| 1946 | CIN | 2B | 65 | 0 | 169 | 172 | 13 | 33 |
| 1946 | CIN | OF | 28 | 0 | 41 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 1947 | CHN | 2B | 9 | 0 | 17 | 20 | 0 | 4 |
| 1947 | NYA | 2B | 8 | 0 | 14 | 22 | 3 | 7 |
| 1948 | NY1 | 2B | 13 | 0 | 24 | 22 | 4 | 4 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 952 |
| Third Base | 22 |
| Shortstop | 423 |
| Left Field | 8 |
| Center Field | 16 |
| Right Field | 24 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 2B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 32th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 27th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 19th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |