Frank James Malzone (February 28, 1930 - December 29, 2015) was a Major League Baseball third baseman who played for the Boston Red Sox (1955-65) and California Angels (1966).

Career

Malzone spent 11 seasons with Boston and is among the all-time Red Sox leaders in several categories. He batted .276 with 131 home runs and 716 runs batted in in 1359 games. A free agent at the end of 1965, he finished up with the Angels playing 82 games in 1966.

Malzone made his Boston debut in 1955, going 6-for-10 in a doubleheader against Baltimore. In 1957, in his first full season with the Red Sox, he had a season-high 103 RBI and tied an American League record for a third baseman with 10 assists in a game. He became the first player to lead the league at his position in games played, putouts, errors, assists, double plays and fielding percentage.

Malzone led the league with 627 at-bats and hit a career-high .295 in 1958. Through 1961, he tied a record by leading AL third basemen in double plays five straight seasons. He enjoyed his best season in 1962, batting .283 with 21 home runs and 95 RBI. He was an All-Star eight times (1957,1958,1959*,1960*,1963-64; the MLB had All-Star games twice a season from 1959-1962) and won three straight Gold Glove Awards (1957-59); including the first Gold Glove for a third basemen in MLB history . He was the last American League third baseman to win a Gold Glove prior to Brooks Robinson's 16-year run.

In his career Malzone compiled a record of .274 BA, 133 home runs, 728 RBI, 647 runs, 239 doubles, 21 triples, and 14 stolen bases in 1441 games. After 35 years as a Boston scout, Malzone served as a player development consultant for the Red Sox.

Malzone was inducted to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame inaugural class in 1995.

He died on December 29, 2015.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]