Tito Francona

Infobox MLB retired


name=Tito Francona
position=Outfielder / First baseman
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=Birth date and age|1933|11|4|mf=y
city-state|Aliquippa|Pennsylvania
debutdate=April 17
debutyear=by|1956
debutteam=Baltimore Orioles
finaldate=September 29
finalyear=by|1970
finalteam=Milwaukee Brewers
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.272
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=1,395
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=656
teams=
* Baltimore Orioles (by|1956-by|1957)
* Chicago White Sox (by|1958)
* Detroit Tigers (by|1958)
* Cleveland Indians (by|1959-by|1964)
* St. Louis Cardinals (by|1965-by|1966)
* Philadelphia Phillies (by|1967)
* Atlanta Braves (by|1967-by|1969)
* Oakland Athletics (by|1969-by|1970)
* Milwaukee Brewers (by|1971)
highlights=
* All-Star selection (1961)
* Led AL in Doubles in 1960 with 36

John Patsy (Tito) Francona (born November 4, 1933, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania) is a former outfielder/first baseman in professional baseball.

Career

He was originally signed by the St. Louis Browns, in 1952. His major league career lasted 15 seasons, from by|1956 to by|1970. He played for the Baltimore Orioles (1956-1957), Chicago White Sox (1958), Detroit Tigers (1958), Cleveland Indians (1959-1964), St. Louis Cardinals (1965-1966), Philadelphia Phillies (1967), Atlanta Braves (1967-1969), Oakland Athletics (1969-1970) and Milwaukee Brewers (1970). Francona batted and threw left-handed. He is the father of Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

On July 31, 1963, he hit the third home run in a series of four consecutive home runs in a single inning against pitcher Paul Foytack of the Los Angeles Angels. This was the second time in baseball history that a team hit four consecutive home runs in a single inning. It has happened three times since, including once by the Boston Red Sox, with his son, Terry Francona as manager.

Francona has a lifetime .272 batting average with 125 home runs and 656 RBI in 1719 games played.

ee also

* Second generation of MLB players
* List of Major League Baseball doubles champions

References

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/F/Francona_Tito.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/francti01.php The Baseball Page]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/f/francti01.shtml Baseball Reference]