Frankie Gustine
Born: 2/20/1920 in Hoopeston, IL, USA
Died: 4/1/1991 in Davenport, IA, USA
MLB Debut: 1939-09-13 | Final Game: 1950-05-17
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: Frank William Gustine
Biography
Frankie Gustine was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, known for his versatility and consistent performance during his career from 1939 to 1950. Born in 1920, Gustine played a total of 1,261 games, amassing 1,214 hits and a batting average of .265. He demonstrated solid power at the plate, hitting 38 home runs and driving in 480 runs during his time in the league. Gustine was also a capable base runner, stealing 60 bases, which showcased his athleticism and strategic approach to the game.
Gustine earned three All-Star selections, highlighting his status as one of the notable players of his era. He played during a transitional period in baseball, where the game was evolving away from the deadball era and moving towards a more offensive style, yet he remained a key contributor on the field. His contributions to the teams he played for, particularly with the Pittsburgh Pirates, left a lasting impact and helped shape the competitive landscape of Major League Baseball in the late 1940s.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1261 | 4582 | 553 | 1214 | 222 | 47 | 38 | 480 | 60 | 369 | 427 | 0.265 | 0.322 | 0.359 | 0.681 | -2800.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | PIT | NL | 22 | 70 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 0.186 | -364.8 |
| 1940 | PIT | NL | 133 | 524 | 59 | 147 | 32 | 7 | 1 | 55 | 7 | 35 | 39 | 0.281 | -415.9 |
| 1941 | PIT | NL | 121 | 463 | 46 | 125 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 46 | 5 | 28 | 38 | 0.270 | -592.0 |
| 1942 | PIT | NL | 115 | 388 | 34 | 89 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 35 | 5 | 29 | 27 | 0.229 | -1020.1 |
| 1943 | PIT | NL | 112 | 414 | 40 | 120 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 12 | 32 | 36 | 0.290 | 291.2 |
| 1944 | PIT | NL | 127 | 405 | 42 | 93 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 42 | 8 | 33 | 41 | 0.230 | -1069.9 |
| 1945 | PIT | NL | 128 | 478 | 67 | 134 | 27 | 5 | 2 | 66 | 8 | 37 | 33 | 0.280 | 208.1 |
| 1946 | PIT | NL | 131 | 495 | 60 | 128 | 23 | 6 | 8 | 52 | 2 | 40 | 52 | 0.259 | 0.7 |
| 1947 | PIT | NL | 156 | 616 | 102 | 183 | 30 | 6 | 9 | 67 | 5 | 63 | 65 | 0.297 | 1084.6 |
| 1948 | PIT | NL | 131 | 449 | 68 | 120 | 19 | 2 | 9 | 42 | 5 | 42 | 62 | 0.267 | -175.8 |
| 1949 | CHC | NL | 76 | 261 | 29 | 59 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 3 | 18 | 22 | 0.226 | -746.5 |
| 1950 | SLA | AL | 9 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0.158 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 2B | 551 | 0 | 1293 | 1617 | 136 | 303 |
| 3B | 382 | 0 | 426 | 813 | 85 | 79 |
| C | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 303 | 0 | 517 | 893 | 95 | 153 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | PIT | 3B | 22 | 0 | 17 | 52 | 8 | 3 |
| 1940 | PIT | 2B | 130 | 0 | 288 | 402 | 43 | 92 |
| 1941 | PIT | 2B | 104 | 0 | 269 | 317 | 28 | 45 |
| 1941 | PIT | 3B | 15 | 0 | 24 | 36 | 8 | 2 |
| 1942 | PIT | C | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1942 | PIT | 2B | 108 | 0 | 227 | 312 | 26 | 53 |
| 1942 | PIT | 3B | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1942 | PIT | SS | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1943 | PIT | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 1943 | PIT | 2B | 40 | 0 | 75 | 115 | 6 | 23 |
| 1943 | PIT | SS | 68 | 0 | 135 | 230 | 24 | 41 |
| 1944 | PIT | 2B | 11 | 0 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 3 |
| 1944 | PIT | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1944 | PIT | SS | 116 | 0 | 183 | 330 | 34 | 52 |
| 1945 | PIT | C | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1945 | PIT | 2B | 29 | 0 | 69 | 75 | 6 | 11 |
| 1945 | PIT | SS | 104 | 0 | 177 | 291 | 35 | 52 |
| 1946 | PIT | 2B | 113 | 0 | 290 | 328 | 21 | 61 |
| 1946 | PIT | 3B | 7 | 0 | 9 | 19 | 1 | 1 |
| 1946 | PIT | SS | 13 | 0 | 20 | 40 | 2 | 8 |
| 1947 | PIT | 3B | 156 | 0 | 193 | 330 | 31 | 35 |
| 1948 | PIT | 3B | 118 | 0 | 119 | 256 | 21 | 21 |
| 1949 | CHN | 2B | 16 | 0 | 52 | 47 | 4 | 15 |
| 1949 | CHN | 3B | 55 | 0 | 52 | 110 | 12 | 13 |
| 1950 | SLA | 3B | 6 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 3 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 2 |
| First Base | 1 |
| Second Base | 549 |
| Third Base | 384 |
| Shortstop | 305 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 28th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1940 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 34th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |