Tony Franklin (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Wayne Franklin is an American
manager
in minor league baseball
and a former infielder
in the minor leagues. In , he led the Trenton Thunder
, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees
, to a second successive Eastern League championship.
in Compton, California
, and attended Los Angeles City College
.
in , Franklin had a nine-year minor league career in the Cincinnati, Chicago Cubs
and Montreal Expos
farm systems. In his finest season, 1973 with the Trois-Rivières Aigles of the Eastern League, Franklin batted
.267 with 27 extra base hit
s in 116 games. As a player, he was a switch hitter
who threw right-handed, and stood 5'10" (178 cm) tall, weighed 165 pounds (75 kg). During his nine-year playing career, he batted .231 in 2,740 at bats with 13 home runs and 221 runs batted in.
Franklin's managing and coaching responsibilities began with the Baltimore Orioles
in 1979 as a coach with their Rochester Red Wings
Triple-A farm club. After three years in the Oriole system, Franklin became a manager in 1982 with the Cubs' Short Season Class A team, the Geneva Cubs
of the New York-Penn League. After managing lower-level Cub affiliates for five seasons, Franklin moved to the Chicago White Sox
farm system, and eventually reached the Double-A level with the 1991-92 Birmingham Barons
. Franklin managed with the White Sox organization from 1989-1993. He led the 1991 Birmingham Barons to the southern league championship where they lost in the league finals. He also led the South Bend White Sox (Mid West League) to the Championship where claimed a title in 1993.
He was the minor league infield instructor for the San Diego padres from 1996-2006 and was interim skipper of the 2000 Las Vegas Stars
of the Pacific Coast League
before assuming his current post with the Yankees' organization in 2007. Tony Franklin is currently managing the Trenton Thunder (New York Yankee affiliate) since 2007. He has led the team to three 1st place finishes and back to back titles (Eastern League Champions) in 2007 and 2008. Franklin's Trenton Thunder lost the league championship in 2010.
Through 2011, his minor-league managerial record is 992 wins and 898 defeats with three league titles. Overall percentage of .525
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
and a former infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
in the minor leagues. In , he led the Trenton Thunder
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are an American Minor League Baseball team and are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Thunder play in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League, and are the two-time defending league champions...
, Double-A affiliate of 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...
, to a second successive Eastern League championship.
Early life
Franklin graduated from Centennial High SchoolCentennial High School (Compton, California)
Centennial High School is a public high school in Compton, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area....
in Compton, California
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
, and attended Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard...
.
Career
Drafted and signed by 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....
in , Franklin had a nine-year minor league career in the Cincinnati, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
farm systems. In his finest season, 1973 with the Trois-Rivières Aigles of the Eastern League, Franklin 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 :...
.267 with 27 extra base hit
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
s in 116 games. As a player, he was a switch hitter
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
who threw right-handed, and stood 5'10" (178 cm) tall, weighed 165 pounds (75 kg). During his nine-year playing career, he batted .231 in 2,740 at bats with 13 home runs and 221 runs batted in.
Franklin's managing and coaching responsibilities began with the Baltimore Orioles
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...
in 1979 as a coach with their Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
Triple-A farm club. After three years in the Oriole system, Franklin became a manager in 1982 with the Cubs' Short Season Class A team, the Geneva Cubs
Geneva Cubs
*Location: Geneva, New York*League: New York-Penn League 1977-1993*Affiliate: Chicago Cubs 1977-1993*Ballpark: McDonough Park...
of the New York-Penn League. After managing lower-level Cub affiliates for five seasons, Franklin moved to 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...
farm system, and eventually reached the Double-A level with the 1991-92 Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
. Franklin managed with the White Sox organization from 1989-1993. He led the 1991 Birmingham Barons to the southern league championship where they lost in the league finals. He also led the South Bend White Sox (Mid West League) to the Championship where claimed a title in 1993.
He was the minor league infield instructor for the San Diego padres from 1996-2006 and was interim skipper of the 2000 Las Vegas Stars
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
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...
before assuming his current post with the Yankees' organization in 2007. Tony Franklin is currently managing the Trenton Thunder (New York Yankee affiliate) since 2007. He has led the team to three 1st place finishes and back to back titles (Eastern League Champions) in 2007 and 2008. Franklin's Trenton Thunder lost the league championship in 2010.
Through 2011, his minor-league managerial record is 992 wins and 898 defeats with three league titles. Overall percentage of .525