Frank Sacka
Encyclopedia
Frank Sacka was an American
professional baseball
player. He appeared in 14 Major League
games
as a catcher
and pinch hitter
for the and editions of the Washington Senators
— playing in seven games in each season. Sacka threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 195 lbs.
Born in Romulus, Michigan
, the same hometown of future MLB catcher and batting coach
Charley Lau, Sacka joined the professional baseball ranks in 1946 and played through the 1956 season. After spending his first five pro years in the St. Louis Browns
' and Cleveland Indians
' farm systems, Sacka was selected by Washington in the Rule 5 draft
after a stellar 1950 campaign with the Anderson Rebels of the Class B Tri-State League
, in which Sacka batted
.324 with 23 home runs and 124 runs batted in. In his MLB debut on April 29, 1951, Sacka went hitless
in three at bats as the starting catcher in a game against Ed Lopat and the New York Yankees
at Yankee Stadium
. Eight days later, he enjoyed his best day in the Majors, collecting three singles
in five at bats with two runs batted in against his former organization, the Indians, helping Washington win, 11–10.
He stuck with the Senators through the end of May, then was optioned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
, where he would spend most of the next five seasons. However, he was recalled to Washington in late July 1953 and appeared in seven more MLB games. He collected two hits in two of them, against the Browns (another former employer) and the Yankees. Altogether, Sacka collected nine hits, all singles, in 34 MLB at bats during his 14-game career.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He appeared in 14 Major League
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...
games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
as a 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...
and pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
for the and editions of the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The 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...
— playing in seven games in each season. Sacka threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 195 lbs.
Born in Romulus, Michigan
Romulus, Michigan
Romulus is a suburban city of Metro Detroit, located in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 23,989 at the 2010 census, an increase from 22,979 in 2000. Romulus is home to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and a General Motors plant that opened in 1976...
, the same hometown of future MLB catcher and batting coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
Charley Lau, Sacka joined the professional baseball ranks in 1946 and played through the 1956 season. After spending his first five pro years in the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The 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...
' and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
' farm systems, Sacka was selected by Washington in the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
after a stellar 1950 campaign with the Anderson Rebels of the Class B Tri-State League
Tri-State League
The Tri-State League was the name of five different circuits in American minor league baseball.-History:The first league of that name played for four years and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia....
, in which Sacka batted
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 :...
.324 with 23 home runs and 124 runs batted in. In his MLB debut on April 29, 1951, Sacka went hitless
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 three at bats as the starting catcher in a game against Ed Lopat and the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
. Eight days later, he enjoyed his best day in the Majors, collecting three singles
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
in five at bats with two runs batted in against his former organization, the Indians, helping Washington win, 11–10.
He stuck with the Senators through the end of May, then was optioned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
, where he would spend most of the next five seasons. However, he was recalled to Washington in late July 1953 and appeared in seven more MLB games. He collected two hits in two of them, against the Browns (another former employer) and the Yankees. Altogether, Sacka collected nine hits, all singles, in 34 MLB at bats during his 14-game career.