Books and articles about Frank McCormick

A native New Yorker, 6'4" Frank McCormick went to a tryout at the Polo Grounds, but was turned down because at the time the Giants were disinclined to use righthanded first basemen. He instead went on to be a seven-time All-Star for Cincinnati. In 1938 he became only the eighth ML player to have more than 200 hits in his first full season. His 128 RBI in 1939 led the league. He was voted the NL's MVP in 1940 when he topped the circuit in hits for a third consecutive season, led in doubles and at-bats, drove in 127 runs, and led Cincinnati to its first World Championship in 21 years. Deferred from military service due to a disc problem, he averaged 149 games a season between 1938 and 1945. He set a NL first basemen's record by playing in 652 consecutive games, from April 1938 until May 1942.

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McCormick was a dedicated first-ball hitter. "I learned early that pitchers tried to sneak a good one by you to get ahead in the count. I didn't let it go by." He didn't try to outguess the pitcher, and therefore was rarely fooled; he struck out only once in every 30 at-bats. He was sold in December of 1945 to the Phillies; when they released him during 1947, he was picked up by the Braves, and led the NL with 13 pinch hits. His final ML appearance came in the 1948 World Series. He returned to the Reds as a minor league manager, ML scout, coach, and broadcaster. (NLM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 17, 1940: Ival Goodman cracks an 11th inning grand slam to pace the Reds to a 7–2 victory over the Phils in Philadelphia. Frank McCormick's 2-run home run in the 8th tied the score. » June 8, 1940: At Cincinnati, reliever Carl Doyle of the Dodgers gives up 16 hits and 14 runs in just four innings, as the Reds pound out 27 hits in a 23–2 win, regaining 1st place. Cincy is paced by Harry Craft, who hits for the cycle and adds a single and scores four runs. Teammate Frank McCormick scores five runs. Doyle also manages to throw two wild pitches and hit four Cincinnati batters in the game to help set a bitter tone to the Cincinnati-Dodgers rivalry, which will continue through the decade. Doyle, however, won't be around as Brooklyn ships him to the Cards in four days. His four hit batsmen ties an National League record. » August 4, 1940: In Boston, the two teams dedicate the game in memory of Willard Hershberger, then Frank McCormick drives in six runs to lead the Reds to a 12–9 win over the Braves after Bucky Walters loses the opener, his 3rd straight defeat. » October 8, 1940: With only one day's rest, Bobo Newsom comes back for the Tigers and nearly has enough to win. Detroit gets an unearned run off Paul Derringer in the 3rd, and Newsom holds the Reds scoreless through six innings. In the 7th, however, Frank McCormick and Jimmy Ripple hit consecutive doubles, and Ripple later ambles in from 3B on Billy Myers' sac fly. Derringer gives up seven hits in the first six innings but sets the Tigers down in order in the final three frames. Old Jimmy Wilson catches six of the seven games, hits .353, and has the only SB of the Series. The Reds' share is $5,803 and the Tigers get $3,532. » October 23, 1940: The MVP in the National League goes to the Reds Frank McCormick, with Reds teammates Bucky Walters and Paul Derringer finishing 3rd and 4th. Cards slugger John Mize is 2nd. » January 8, 1941: The BBWAA in TSN poll names the 1940 All Star team: Hank Greenberg, LF; Joe DiMaggio, CF; Ted Williams, RF; Frank McCormick, 1B; Joe Gordon, 2B; Luke Appling, SS; Stan Hack, 3B; Harry Danning, C. The pitchers are Bob Feller, Bucky Walters, and Paul Derringer. » May 20, 1941: At Crosley Field, the Reds score six runs in the 9th to defeat the Braves, 9–6. Frank McCormick finishes the scoring with a 3-run homer. » May 22, 1941: A smart play by the Reds Lonny Frey helps Cincy to a 6–4 win over the Giants. With one out and the sacks full in the 1st, Chuck Aleno hits a DP grounder to short. Frey, running from 2B, allows the ball to hit him for an out, stopping play and putting Aleno on 1B. Ernie Lombardi then hits a grand slam. Frank McCormick adds a 2-run home run in the 3rd. » May 25, 1942: A pulled muscle ends a 652-game playing streak for Cincinnati 1B Frank McCormick as the Reds Paul Derringer stops the Pirates, 6–1. » April 26, 1944: Frank McCormick homers in the bottom of the 13th inning as Bucky Walters and the Reds beat the Cardinals 1-0. » December 10, 1945: The Reds sell 1B Frank McCormick to the Phillies. » September 25, 1946: The Phils score 5 in the 9th to beat the Dodgers 11-9, a loss that will haunt the Dodgers at the season's end. Phils 1B Frank McCormick makes his first error of the season after a ML record 131 straight errorless games.