Taxus Baccata

by | Mar 15, 2018 | Taxus Baccata

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Benjamin Rudolph Frey (April 6, 1906 – November 1, 1937) was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1929 to 1936, playing primarily with the Cincinnati Reds. He was a sidearm pitcher with a sweeping motion that was effective against right-handed hitters. Frey suffered an arm injury which ultimately led to his retirement and subsequent suicide.

Professional career

After spending time with the Toledo Mud Hens, Frey entered the major leagues in 1929 with the Cincinnati Reds.[1] In 1930, Frey lost 18 games, most in the National League. During the 1932 season, he was traded to the Cardinals, along with Harvey Hendrick for Chick Hafey. The Cardinal's general manager, Branch Rickey, would send Frey back to the Reds for cash.[2]

His best season was 1934 when he was 11–16 for the Reds with a 3.52 ERA (adjusted ERA+ of 116), finishing sixteenth in the 1934 National League Most Valuable Player voting. Frey suffered an arm injury and was sent down to a minor league team in Nashville for the 1937 season. Frey refused to report to Nashville and asked to be put on the voluntarily retired list.[3]

Career statistics

Frey appeared in 256 major league baseball games (127 as a starter) and had a lifetime record of 57–82 in 1160 innings pitched. His lifetime earned run average of 4.50 was good for an adjusted ERA+ of 90.

Personal life and death

Frey was born in Dexter, Michigan. Frey committed suicide on November 1, 1937, in Spring Arbor Township, Michigan, at the home of his sister. He had run a hose from his car's exhaust into the back seat and died of carbon monoxide poisoning.[4][5] Frey had been in despair over his injured arm, which he did not think would ever recover sufficiently for a return to the major leagues.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Benny Frey Wins First Start for Cincy Outfit". The Toledo News-Bee. September 19, 1929. p. 18. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  2. ^ Verducci, Tom (August 11, 2023). "The Mets Are a Historical Disaster". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  3. ^ Rainey, Chris. "Benny Frey". sabr.org. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  4. ^ Hoffmann, Frank; Rielly, Edward J.; Manning, Martin (2003). Baseball and American Culture. Haworth Press. ISBN 0-7890-1485-8.
  5. ^ Coleman, Loren L. (2004). The Copycat Effect. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 1-4165-0554-7.
  6. ^ "Benny Frey, Former Red Hurler, Passes". Windsor Daily Star. Windsor, Ontario. November 2, 1937. p. 3 (Section 2). Retrieved December 11, 2012.

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