Frank Bolling

Infobox MLB retired
name=Frank Bolling


position=Second baseman
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1931|11|16
Mobile, Alabama
debutdate=April 13
debutyear=by|1954
debutteam=Detroit Tigers
finaldate=September 15
finalyear=by|1966
finalteam=Atlanta Braves
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.254
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=106
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=556
teams=
* Detroit Tigers (by|1954–by|1960)
* Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves (by|1961–by|1966)
highlights=
* 2x All-Star selection (1961, 1962)
* Gold Glove Award winner (1958)

Frank Elmore Bolling (born November 16, 1931 in Mobile, Alabama) is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who played from by|1954 through by|1966 for the Detroit Tigers (1954, 1956-1960) and with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1961-66). Bolling batted and threw right-handed. He is the younger brother of shortstop Milt Bolling.

In a 12-season career, Bolling was a .254 hitter with 106 home runs and 556 RBI in 1540 games played.

Bolling reached the Majors in by|1954 with the Detroit Tigers, playing during six seasons with them before moving to the Milwaukee Braves in 1961. He was on the Braves roster when the team moved to Atlanta in by|1966.

A fine defensive second baseman, Bolling also averaged 14 home runs from 1957-59, with a career-high 15 in by|1957. His most productive season came in 1958, when he posted career numbers in hits (164), doubles (27), runs and RBI (75), and won the Gold Glove Award after lead the American League second basemen in fielding percentage. When his brother Milt was traded to Detroit during the same season, the Bollings became one of only four brother combinations in Major League history to play second base/shortstop on the same club. The others are Garvin and Granny Hamner, for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1945; the twins Eddie and Johnny O'Brien with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the mid-1950s, and Cal and Billy Ripken for the Baltimore Orioles during the 1980s.

Traded to the Braves for Bill Bruton after the by|1960 season, Bolling led the National League second basemen in fielding in by|1961, by|1962 and by|1964. He made the National League All-Star team in 1961 and 1962, and also was named on "The Sporting News" NL All-Star Team in 1961. Bolling never played an inning at any position other than second base, ending with a career fielding mark of .982.

Highlights

*Four times collected four hits or two home runs in a single game.
*Hit a grand slam off Sandy Koufax on September 22, 1965.

External links

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/B/Bolling_Frank.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Pbollf101.htm Retrosheet]