Frank Malzone RIP

[bankshot1]

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/12/29/former-red-sox-third-baseman-frank-malzone-dies/lAQO1ic8yzn8UYrwkFy45M/story.html

The Red Sox on Tuesday confirmed the death of third baseman Frank Malzone, who played for the team from 1955 to 1965.


Malzone was the 3rd baseman of my youth and a pretty good one.

RIP

 

[jacklamabe65]

One of my first Sox heroes, Malzie was steady, classy, and a ballplayer's ballplayer. Jack Lamabe once told me that they used to call him, "Rock," as in "The Rock," - dependable, consistent, and humble.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/12/29/former-red-sox-third-baseman-frank-malzone-dies/lAQO1ic8yzn8UYrwkFy45M/story.html

 

[Jim Ed Rice in HOF]

 

[Jim Ed Rice in HOF]

 

[terrynever]

Watched him play against the Yankees on TV when I was a kid, then got to play golf with him several times during the Pawtucket Boys & Girls Club's annual charity tourney. In his day, players worked at regular jobs in the offseason. Frank wouldn't have known how to act like a celebrity if somebody gave him a book on the subject. Just a genuinely nice man. RIP, Frank.

 

[MtPleasant Paul]

Frank came up for the first time in 1956. It was a rough time for him. His wife lost a baby at birth and he was sent down. He came back in 1957 and had an excellent season, but was ineligible for the rookie of the year award because he had played too many games the year before. The award went to Tony Kubek, but a Boston writer voted for Frank anyway.

I remember his one handed pickups and throws to first. RIP Frank.

 

[MalzoneExpress]

Sad, sad news.

 

[I am an Idiot]

Saw him throw out the first pitch earlier in the year. One of the greats. RIP Frank.

 

[terrisus]

Well, darn.
RIP

 

[Saints Rest]

I played Little League against his son (my next door neighbor was on that team, the Giants, IIRC). Would see the Dad at some of the games. Nice guy. (The son was built like the proverbial fire hydrant but was a great, for LL, pitcher).

 

[runnels3]

That bow-legged stance, stroking line drives off the wall. A 9 year old kid never forgets an image like that.

RIP #11

 

[Monbonthbump]

He was the first player I can remember following all the way from being a hot shot prospect in Louisville, a promising rookie, a dependable all star performer and a grizzled veteran. All with the same team. And I have never waivered from listing him as my all time favorite third basemen on my personal Red Sox team. 2015 has really ended on a down note. R.I.P. Frankie.

 

[DolphinJones]

Frank Malzone was one of my earliest favorite players growing up. My first MLB game attended: Fenway Park, June 16, 1963. Red Sox vs Orioles. Sox won both games of doubleheader. Mombo pitched 1st game, Morehead the 2nd. Sox had Malzie, Yaz, Chuck Shilling and Dick Stuart who hit a home run and had a throwing error, Orioles had Aparicio, Brooks Robinson, Jerry Adair, Diamond Jim Gentile at 1B and Boog Powell in LF. We sat behind home plate. Between games I was in line at the concession stand behind Malzie and another Red Sox player whom I didn't recognize. Malzie and the other player was bringing trays of hot dogs back to the dugout. I was in awe and too shy to say hi to Malzie. RIP Malzie.

 

[Al Zarilla]

He was one of the standouts on the team in Ted's last few years and then Yaz's first few. Too bad he missed out on 1967. Years he won the Gold Glove, his fielding percentages were .954, .950 and .953. Different era. His big RBI year, at 103, was 1957, when Ted hit .388. Interesting that Frank walked only 31 times that year, vs. 119 for Ted, but he struck out two times less than Ted, 41 vs. 43. And Frank had 672 plate appearance vs. 547 for Ted. Nice tribute by Terry.

 

[herbieplews]

That bow-legged stance, stroking line drives off the wall. A 9 year old kid never forgets an image like that.

RIP #11

My son bought me a Yaz tee shirt last time we made a pilgrimage to Fenway from NJ. Loved the thought but loved it more when he told me he wanted to buy me a Malzone shirt but they didn't sell any. He was my real Sox hero growing up....who else was I going to root for, Don Buddin?

 

[Al Zarilla]

My son bought me a Yaz tee shirt last time we made a pilgrimage to Fenway from NJ. Loved the thought but loved it more when he told me he wanted to buy me a Malzone shirt but they didn't sell any. He was my real Sox hero growing up....who else was I going to root for, Don Buddin?

Herb Plews? http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/plewshe01.shtml

 

[SidInOC]

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/12/29/former-red-sox-third-baseman-frank-malzone-dies/lAQO1ic8yzn8UYrwkFy45M/story.html

The Red Sox on Tuesday confirmed the death of third baseman Frank Malzone, who played for the team from 1955 to 1965.


Malzone was the 3rd baseman of my youth and a pretty good one.

RIP

One of the great thrills of my youth came on a week long visit to my family in Newton in 1959. I attended several games of the 5 game Red Sox series against the Yanks. Although the Sox finished fifth that year, the 5 game sweep moved the MFYs from 41-38 to 41-43 and knocked them out of the race, eventually won by the White Sox. Malzone was a hero of that celebrated sweep, going 8 for 19 with 5 rbi's and he was my favorite player thereafter. He is one of the reasons I am a lifelong Sox fan and his passing is so sad.

RIP