Dave Frost
Encyclopedia
Carl David Frost is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. The 6'6", 225 lb. right-hander was drafted by the Chicago White Sox
in the 18th round of the 1974 amateur draft. During a 5-year baseball career, Frost played for the White Sox (1978), California Angels
(1978–1981), and Kansas City Royals
(1982).
Frost made his major league debut on September 11, 1977 against the California Angels at Anaheim Stadium. He turned in a quality start, pitching 6.1 innings
and giving up just two earned runs. He struck out three, walked none, and received a no decision in the 5-4 White Sox loss. His first big league win
came a week later in another great start against the Angels, this time at Comiskey Park
. He went 7.2 innings, gave up three runs, and won 7-3.
He was traded to the Angels on December 5, 1977 in a six-player deal, and became a valuable addition to the Angel pitching staff. He split time between Salt Lake City
(PCL
) and the big leagues in 1978, and went 5-4 with a 2.58 earned run average
in 11 games (10 starts) for the Angels. Next year would be even better.
Frost had his biggest year in 1979. He won 16, lost 10, and led Angel starters in ERA
(3.57), winning percentage
(.615), and innings pitched
(239.1). California had an impressive group of starters that year, including Nolan Ryan
, Don Aase
, Jim Barr
, Chris Knapp
, and Frank Tanana
, and won the American League West Division that year with an 88-74 record.
Unfortunately, elbow problems severely limited his effectiveness the remainder of his career. In the next three seasons (two with the Angels and one with the Kansas City Royals
) he was a combined 11-22 with a 5.43 ERA.
Career totals for 99 games pitched
include a 33-37 record, 84 games started
, 16 complete games, 3 shutouts, 1 save
, and 7 games finished
. He allowed 251 earned runs in 550.2 innings pitched, giving him a lifetime ERA of 4.10.
Career highlights include:
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. The 6'6", 225 lb. right-hander was drafted by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the 18th round of the 1974 amateur draft. During a 5-year baseball career, Frost played for the White Sox (1978), California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
(1978–1981), and Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
(1982).
Frost made his major league debut on September 11, 1977 against the California Angels at Anaheim Stadium. He turned in a quality start, pitching 6.1 innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
and giving up just two earned runs. He struck out three, walked none, and received a no decision in the 5-4 White Sox loss. His first big league win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
came a week later in another great start against the Angels, this time at Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
. He went 7.2 innings, gave up three runs, and won 7-3.
He was traded to the Angels on December 5, 1977 in a six-player deal, and became a valuable addition to the Angel pitching staff. He split time between Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City Gulls
leftThe Salt Lake City Gulls, a former member of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, were based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were a minor league affiliate of the California Angels from 1975 to 1981, and of the Seattle Mariners from 1982 to 1984...
(PCL
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
) and the big leagues in 1978, and went 5-4 with a 2.58 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 11 games (10 starts) for the Angels. Next year would be even better.
Frost had his biggest year in 1979. He won 16, lost 10, and led Angel starters in ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(3.57), winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
(.615), and innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
(239.1). California had an impressive group of starters that year, including Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
, Don Aase
Don Aase
Donald William Aase is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1977 to 1990. During his MLB career, Aase played with the Boston Red Sox , California Angels and Baltimore Orioles , of the American League...
, Jim Barr
Jim Barr
James Leland Barr is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants and California Angels...
, Chris Knapp
Chris Knapp (baseball)
Robert Christian Knapp is a former right-handed pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and California Angels. After graduating from Central Michigan University, Knapp was selected in the first round of the 1975 amateur entry draft by the White Sox...
, and Frank Tanana
Frank Tanana
Frank Daryl Tanana is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He was the California Angels' 1st round draft pick in 1971....
, and won the American League West Division that year with an 88-74 record.
Unfortunately, elbow problems severely limited his effectiveness the remainder of his career. In the next three seasons (two with the Angels and one with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
) he was a combined 11-22 with a 5.43 ERA.
Career totals for 99 games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
include a 33-37 record, 84 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, 16 complete games, 3 shutouts, 1 save
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
, and 7 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
. He allowed 251 earned runs in 550.2 innings pitched, giving him a lifetime ERA of 4.10.
Career highlights include:
- a four-hit, no walk complete game shutout vs. the Oakland A'sOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(July 3, 1979) - an 8-strikeout, no walk complete game win (10-1) vs. the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(July 7, 1979) - a 10-inning, four-hit complete game win (2-1) vs. the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(April 16, 1980) - held All-Stars Sal BandoSal BandoSalvatore Leonard Bando is a former third baseman and executive in professional baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers . He batted and threw right-handed. During the A's championship years of 1971-75, he captained the team and led the club in runs batted...
, Buddy BellBuddy BellDavid Gus "Buddy" Bell is a former third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. After an 18-year career with four teams, most notably the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers, he managed the Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals for three seasons each...
, Mike HargroveMike HargroveDudley Michael Hargrove is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. He is currently employed as an advisor with the Cleveland Indians....
, Rickey HendersonRickey HendersonRickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
, Roy HowellRoy HowellRoy Lee Howell , is a former professional baseball player who played third base in Major League Baseball from 1974-1984...
, Pat KellyPat Kelly (baseball outfielder)Harold Patrick Kelly was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball. From through , Kelly played for the Minnesota Twins , Kansas City Royals , Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians . He batted and threw left-handed...
, Hal McRaeHal McRaeHarold Abraham McRae is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals . Utilized as a designated hitter for most of his career, McRae batted and threw right-handed...
, Willie RandolphWillie RandolphWillie Larry Randolph is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and manager, most recently the third base coach for the Baltimore Orioles...
, Jim RiceJim RiceJames Edward "Jim" Rice , nicknamed "Jim Ed", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder.Jim Rice played his entire career for the Boston Red Sox from 1974 to 1989...
, and Roy SmalleyRoy Smalley (AL baseball player)Roy Frederick Smalley III is a former professional baseball shortstop. From 1975 through 1987, Smalley played in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers , Minnesota Twins , New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox . He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. His father, Roy Jr...
to a .103 collective batting averageBatting averageBatting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(15-for-145) - held Hall of Famers Reggie JacksonReggie JacksonReginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
, Cal Ripken, Jr.Cal Ripken, Jr.Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles ....
, and Robin YountRobin YountRobin R. Yount is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop and center fielder. He spent his entire 20-year baseball career with the Milwaukee Brewers . In 1999, Yount was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.-Early years:Yount was born in Danville, Illinois...
to a .167 collective batting averageBatting averageBatting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(3-for-18) - threw the opening pitch at a Los Angeles Angels game on Monday, June 27, 2011.