Frank Bruggy
Encyclopedia
Frank Leo Bruggy was a catcher
in Major League Baseball
. In a five-season career, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies
, the Philadelphia Athletics
, and the Cincinnati Reds
. He was officially listed as standing 5 in 11 in (180.34 cm) and weighing 195 pounds (88.5 kg).
, and attended the Jefferson House of Elizabeth High School, followed by Seton Hall University
.
for the 1915 season, and then played for two teams in 1916: the Utica Utes and the Binghamton Bingoes. After missing the 1917 season, he played for the Newark Bears of the International League
in 1918 and 1919, and moved to the Buffalo Bisons
in 1920 before his call-up to the majors the following season.
on April 13, 1921, starting at catcher
in the team's opening game of the season. During the 1921 season, he set major-league career highs in batting average
(.310), home run
s (5), runs batted in (28), runs scored
(28), and many other statistical categories, while playing in 96 games. In the field, he played 86 games at catcher, throwing out 40% of potential base-stealers
, and 2 games at first base, where he made no errors
in five chances
. During the offseason, Bruggy was traded to the Portland Beavers
of the Pacific Coast League
for $6,500 ($ today), and then traded back to the Philadelphia Athletics
for Frank Brazill
, Harvey Freeman
, and Ollie Fuhrman
.
eight times. He became a free agent at the end of the 1924 season.
on May 8, 1925. He played in six games for the Reds, batting .214 with one run batted in. He scored two runs and had three hits
in sixteen plate appearance
s. He played his final game for Cincinnati on June 4, 1925.
.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
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...
. In a five-season career, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The 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....
, and the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He was officially listed as standing 5 in 11 in (180.34 cm) and weighing 195 pounds (88.5 kg).
Early life
Bruggy was born on May 4, 1891, in Elizabeth, New JerseyElizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
, and attended the Jefferson House of Elizabeth High School, followed by Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
.
Minor leagues
Bruggy played eight seasons in the minor leagues: from 1912 to 1916, and then from 1918 to 1920. He played for the Providence Grays in his first season, then moved to the Lawrence Barristers for 1913 and 1914. In 1914, he set minor-league career highs in home runs (5) and batting average (.314). He moved to the Troy TrojansTroy Trojans (minor league baseball)
The Troy Trojans, based in Troy, New York, were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off between 1888 and 1916. They first appeared in the International Association in 1888. They played in the Eastern Association in 1891, and in the Eastern League from 1892 to 1893...
for the 1915 season, and then played for two teams in 1916: the Utica Utes and the Binghamton Bingoes. After missing the 1917 season, he played for the Newark Bears of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
in 1918 and 1919, and moved to the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
in 1920 before his call-up to the majors the following season.
Philadelphia Phillies
Bruggy made his major league debut with the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on April 13, 1921, starting at catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in the team's opening game of the season. During the 1921 season, he set major-league career highs in batting average
Batting average
Batting 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 :...
(.310), home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (5), runs batted in (28), runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(28), and many other statistical categories, while playing in 96 games. In the field, he played 86 games at catcher, throwing out 40% of potential base-stealers
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
, and 2 games at first base, where he made no errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in five chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
. During the offseason, Bruggy was traded to the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
of the Pacific Coast League
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...
for $6,500 ($ today), and then traded back to the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The 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....
for Frank Brazill
Frank Brazill
Frank Leo Brazill was a first baseman in Major League Baseball. He played from 1921-1922 for the Philadelphia Athletics.-External links:...
, Harvey Freeman
Harvey Freeman (baseball)
Harvey Bayard Freeman was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics during the season.-References:...
, and Ollie Fuhrman
Ollie Fuhrman
Alfred George Fuhrman was an American Major League Baseball catcher. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics during the season.-References:...
.
Philadelphia Athletics
After joining the Athletics in 1922, Bruggy batted .279 in 53 games. He hit seven doubles and batted in nine runs in his first season with the A's, slugging .342. Continuing with the A's the following season, Bruggy's average declined to a career-low .210, hitting the last home run of his career and batting in six runs. He also played five more games at first base during the year, his last games at the position. Bruggy's final season in Philadelphia was 1924, when he batted .265 in 50 games, doubling six times, stealing four bases, and walkingBase on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
eight times. He became a free agent at the end of the 1924 season.
Cincinnati Reds
Bruggy signed with the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on May 8, 1925. He played in six games for the Reds, batting .214 with one run batted in. He scored two runs and had three hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in sixteen plate appearance
Plate appearance
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: He strikes out or is declared out before reaching first base; or He reaches first base safely or is awarded first base ; or He hits a fair ball which...
s. He played his final game for Cincinnati on June 4, 1925.
After baseball
Bruggy died on April 5, 1959, in his hometown, and was buried at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia, New JerseyColonia, New Jersey
Colonia Colonia Colonia (is a census-designated place and unincorporated area within Woodbridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 17,811....
.