Frank Foreman
Encyclopedia
Francis Isaiah "Monkey" Foreman (May 1, 1863 – November 19, 1957) was a starting pitcher
who played in Major League Baseball
between 1884
and . Listed at 6' 0", 195 lb., Foreman batted and threw left-handed
. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His younger brother, Brownie Foreman
, also was a major league pitcher.
A well-traveled fastball
pitcher, Foreman played for 11 different clubs in five different leagues. He entered the majors in 1884 in the short-lived Union Association
, dividing his playing time between the Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies
and Kansas City Cowboys
before jumping to the American Association
with the Baltimore Orioles
(1885, 1889). He played later for the Cincinnati Reds
of the National League
(1890), Washington Statesmen
(AA, 1891), Washington Senators
(NL, 1892), Baltimore Orioles
(NL, 1892), New York Giants
(NL, 1893), Cincinnati Reds
(NL, 1895–1896), Boston Americans
(American League
, 1901) and Baltimore Orioles
(AL, 1901–1902).
Foreman enjoyed three solid years from 1889 to 1891, averaging 18 wins
and 319 innings pitched
per season, with career-highs 23 wins and 414 innings in 1889. In an eleven-season career, he posted a 96-93 record with 586 strikeout
s and a 3.97 ERA
in 169 appearances, including 205 starts, 169 complete game
s, seven shutout
s, 169 games finished
, four saves
, and 1721⅔ innings of work.
Following his playing career, Foreman scouted
for various teams. According baseball sources, he discovered future Hall of Famer Eddie Plank
while pitching at Gettysburg College
.
Foreman died in his home of Baltimore, Maryland at age 94.
As of , he ranks 23rd among major league pitchers with 142 batters hit-by-pitches
.
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
who played 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...
between 1884
1884 in baseball
-Champions:*First World's Championship Series: Providence Grays over New York Metropolitans *National League: Providence Grays*American Association: New York Metropolitans*Union Association: St...
and . Listed at 6' 0", 195 lb., Foreman batted and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His younger brother, Brownie Foreman
Brownie Foreman
John Davis "Brownie" Foreman was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates between and , and the Cincinnati Reds in 1896. Listed at 5' 8", 150 lb., Foreman batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland...
, also was a major league pitcher.
A well-traveled fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
pitcher, Foreman played for 11 different clubs in five different leagues. He entered the majors in 1884 in the short-lived Union Association
Union Association
The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for only one season in 1884. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season...
, dividing his playing time between the Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies
Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies
The Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies were a short-lived professional baseball team in the Union Association of 1884. They were to battle the Chicago White Stockings, of the National League, for the Chicago baseball market, however the Browns lost that battle to the White Stockings...
and Kansas City Cowboys
Kansas City Cowboys (Union Association)
The Kansas City Cowboys were a team in the Union Association during its only season, . Referred to as the "Cowboys" mostly by historians, they had no official nickname during their short life and were most frequently referred to by local press of the day as the "Unions" and by the press of other...
before jumping to the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
(1885, 1889). He played later for 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....
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
(1890), Washington Statesmen
Washington Senators (1891-1899)
The Washington Senators were a 19th century baseball team. The team was also known as the Washington Statesmen and the Washington Nationals. The team played at Boundary Field....
(AA, 1891), Washington Senators
Washington Senators (1891-1899)
The Washington Senators were a 19th century baseball team. The team was also known as the Washington Statesmen and the Washington Nationals. The team played at Boundary Field....
(NL, 1892), Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
(NL, 1892), New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(NL, 1893), 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....
(NL, 1895–1896), Boston Americans
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, 1901) and Baltimore Orioles
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...
(AL, 1901–1902).
Foreman enjoyed three solid years from 1889 to 1891, averaging 18 wins
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...
and 319 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...
per season, with career-highs 23 wins and 414 innings in 1889. In an eleven-season career, he posted a 96-93 record with 586 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 3.97 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...
in 169 appearances, including 205 starts, 169 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, seven shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, 169 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...
, four saves
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 1721⅔ innings of work.
Following his playing career, Foreman scouted
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for various teams. According baseball sources, he discovered future Hall of Famer Eddie Plank
Eddie Plank
Edward Stewart Plank , nicknamed "Gettysburg Eddie", was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is the first left-handed pitcher to win 200 games and then 300 games, and now ranks third in all-time wins among left-handers with 326 career victories and first all-time in career shutouts by a...
while pitching at Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
.
Foreman died in his home of Baltimore, Maryland at age 94.
As of , he ranks 23rd among major league pitchers with 142 batters hit-by-pitches
MLB All-Time Hit Batsmen List
This is a list of top 100 Major League Baseball pitchers who have the most hit batsmen of all time. There is an of hitters who have been hit by pitch the most times.Active players are denoted in bold text.-The List:* Bold denotes active player...
.