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Rookie siblings Gene and George Freese teamed up on the 1955 Pirates and even battled for the same position. Both played third base, while Gene, seven years the junior, also played second base and turned in the better season (.253, 14 HR, 44 RBI). Shaky fielding offset his powerful bat. He played for five teams in four years (1958-61), and had his best season (.277, 26 HR, 87 RBI) for the 1961 NL Champion Reds. Freese lost everyday status after suffering a broken ankle in March 1962. He ranks among the all-time leaders with nine pinch homers, including two consecutive in April 1959. (ME)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 29, 1958: The Cardinals fire manager Fred Hutchinson (69-75 and a 5th-place finish), replacing him with Solly Hemus, who will be a player-manager. Hemus was just acquired today from the Phillies for Gene Freese. » April 18, 1959: The Phils get 15 hits, including a grand slam by pinch hitter Gene Freese, to outslug the Reds, 14-9. Don Newcombe loses for the 2nd time to the Phils this year, with the win going to reliever Al Schroll. The Reds get homers from Frank Robinson, Roy McMillan and pinch hitter Jerry Lynch. » May 31, 1959: In the 2nd game of a doubleheader, Gene Freese's home run accounts for the only Phillies run in a 2–1 loss to the Braves and Warren Spahn. For Freese, it is his 5th pinch homer of the season, one short of the NL record. Freese will hit 23 home runs this season, but no more in the pinch. The Phils win the opener, 6–0, behind Robin Roberts. » July 2, 1959: Gene Freese hits his 2nd grand slam of the season, off the Reds Jim Brosnan, as the Phils win 7–6. Don Newcombe wins the nitecap for the Reds 8–4. » July 9, 1959: In the first game of a doubleheader, Gene Freese blasts his 3rd grand slam of the year as the Phils top the Cards 11–0 at home. » December 8, 1959: Two days after trading Norm Cash, the White Sox send young OF Johnny Callison to the Phillies for veteran infielder Gene Freese. This ranks as one of the Phils' better trades. » December 15, 1960: The Reds acquire pitchers Joey Jay and Juan Pizarro from the Braves for SS Roy McMillan and a player to be named later. Cincy then trades Pizarro and P Cal McLish to the White Sox for 3B Gene Freese. The two pitchers will win 24 games between them for the Sox in 1961, while Freese will have one good year in Cincy. » May 30, 1961: 3B Gene Freese hits two home runs, and Joey Jay and the Reds both win their 6th straight game, 8–7. Cincinnati completes a sweep of the Los Angeles, moving into a first-place tie with the Giants. Cincinnati will spend the rest of the season in first place. » June 19, 1961: Led by 3B Gene Freese, the Reds sweep the Phils, winning 7–2 and 10–0. Freese is 7-for-8. » August 27, 1961: With first place on the line after the Dodgers have won two games from them, Cincinnati rallies from a 5–1 deficit to a 6–5 first-game win over Los Angeles. Gene Freese hits a 3-run homer in the 7th and Wally Post adds a 2-run double in the 8th. Rookie Ken Johnson is an 8–3 winner in the nightcap as the Reds pummel Don Drysdale. The sweep gives the Reds a three 1/2 game lead in the National League. » March 5, 1962: Cincinnati 3B Gene Freese, 28, suffers a severe right ankle fracture and torn ligaments sliding into 2B in the Reds first intrasquad game. He will not return until August 17th and his play will suffer as a result of the injury.