Dependable third baseman Frank Malzone averaged over 152 games and 83 RBI a year
for the Red Sox, 1957-64. His best season came as a rookie in 1957 when he drove
in a career-high 103 runs. That year he became the first player in modern baseball
history to lead his position in games played, putouts, assists, errors, double plays,
and fielding percentage and earned the first of three consecutive Gold Gloves. He
tied an
American League record with 10 assists on September 24.
In 1958, he led
the AL with 627 at-bats and hit a career-high .295. Through 1961, he tied a record
by leading AL third basemen in double plays five straight seasons. Malzone had made
his Boston debut in 1955, going 6-for-10 in a doubleheader against Baltimore. After
11 seasons with the Red Sox, he finished up with the Angels in 1966.
(ME)
Frank Malzone
