Hayes was a highly-regarded defensive catcher and a five-time All-Star. He led the AL three times in total chances per game, twice each in fielding, putouts, double plays, and errors, and once in assists. His 29 double plays in 1945 is the second-highest total ever for a catcher. When he caught 155 games in 1944, he set a still-standing AL record.
He failed in his first trial in the majors, batting just .226 in 1934, but he came back up in 1936 to spend six seasons as the Athletics' primary catcher. His best offensive season was 1939, when he hit .283 and had career highs of 20 HR and 83 RBI; he hit a career-high .308 in 1940 (with 61 walks in 465 at-bats). On July 25, 1936 he tied the major league record with four doubles in a game. (WOR)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»July 25, 1936: In the A's 15–12 win over the Indians, Philadelphia A's C Frankie Hayes equals a major-league record with four doubles, the last coming in the 9th with the bases loaded. Reliever Harry Kelley is the winner, despite he and Doyle giving up 18 hits. Veteran pitcher George Uhle, recently added to the Indians roster hits a homer, but is replaced by Lloyd Brown.
»April 21, 1939: Ted Williams plays his first game at Fenway, scoring the first run for Boston against the A's on a Frankie Hayes passed ball. The Sox roll to a 9–2 win.
»May 15, 1944:
Frankie Hayes hits a grand slam in the 9th inning off the Tigers Rufe Gentry, as the Athletics win 6–2.
»May 24, 1944: Frankie Hayes of the Athletics hits his 2nd grand slam in 10 days. This one comes against the Tigers in an 8–4 win at Detroit and ties Hayes for the ML lead in homers with Pat Seerey of Cleveland and Howie Schultz of the Dodgers.
»April 30, 1946:
Dispelling the rumors that he had lost his fastball
after nearly 4 years in the Navy, Bob Feller of the
Cleveland Indians hurls his 2nd no-hitter, beating
the New York Yankees 1-0 on Frankie Hayes's HR
in the 9th inning.
»August 8, 1946:
A single by Frank Hayes deprives Bob Feller of a no-hitter against the White Sox. Hayes was traded by Cleveland in June, just weeks after catching Feller's April 30th no-hitter. It it the eighth one-hitter of Feller's career. His 10 games of less than two hits better Addie Joss's old mark of 9.
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