Frankie Zak, baseball player, 1944-1946

Frankie Zak

Born: 2/22/1922 in Passaic, NJ, USA

Died: 2/6/1972 in Passaic, NJ, USA

MLB Debut: 1944-04-21 | Final Game: 1946-06-10

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 150 lbs

Full name: Frank Thomas Zak

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Biography

Frankie Zak was a professional baseball player born in 1922, who played as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1944 to 1946. He made his mark during a unique era in baseball, characterized by the backdrop of World War II, which saw many star players enlisted in the military. Zak's career spanned 123 games, during which he showcased his skills primarily as an infielder. He achieved a respectable batting average of .269, amassing 56 hits and contributing 14 RBIs to his teams. Though he did not hit any home runs, Zak's ability to steal bases was notable, as he successfully swiped 6 bases throughout his career. Zak's most distinguished accolade was his selection as an All-Star, a testament to his performance during his time in the league. His career, while relatively brief, reflected the tenacity and adaptability of players from that era, who often had to balance the demands of the sport with the realities of a world at war. After his retirement on June 10, 1946, Zak's contributions to the game would be remembered as part of the rich tapestry of baseball history during a transformative period in the sport.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
123 208 43 56 5 1 0 14 6 26 23 0.269 0.350 0.303 0.653 238.2

Career AVG .269 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .350 vs. league average .328 across their career seasons — +6.9% above league average.

Career SLG .303 vs. league average .357 across their career seasons — 15.2% below league average.

Career OPS 0.653 vs. league average 0.685 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1944 PIT NL 87 160 33 48 3 1 0 11 6 22 18 0.300 .261 (+15%) .325 (+18%) .357 (-7%) .683 (+5%) 238.2
1945 PIT NL 15 28 2 4 2 0 0 3 0 3 5 0.143 — — — — 0.0
1946 PIT NL 21 20 8 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.200 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
2B 1 0 0 1 0 0
SS 87 0 115 213 18 32

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1944 PIT SS 67 0 93 162 14 24
1945 PIT 2B 1 0 0 1 0 0
1945 PIT SS 10 0 9 25 1 3
1946 PIT SS 10 0 13 26 3 5

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 1
Shortstop 87