Don Fracchia

Donald Anthony Fracchia

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 193 lb.

• Born February 1, 1931 in Richmond, CA USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Don Fracchia spent five seasons at the AAA and Open classifications and was a Texas League Pitcher of the Year yet never made the majors.

Fracchia debuted in 1948 as a position player with the Phoenix Senators (.268/?/.372 in 40 G) and Stockton Ports (.210/?/.274 in 24 G). In 1949, he starred for Phoenix, hitting .322 with 39 doubles, 8 triples, 16 homers and a .499 slugging. He made it to AAA with the Oakland Oaks but was just 1 for 10 as a backup at third base. He tied for 7th in the high-offense Arizona-Texas League in home runs and tied Mike Baxes and Ernest Sites for 5th in two-baggers. In 1950, he got another brief look with the Oaks (2 for 24, backing up Cookie Lavagetto at third) and hit .299/.366/.424 for the Wenatchee Chiefs. He tied for 9th in the Western International League with 32 doubles, was 10th with 98 RBI and tied for 10th with 9 triples. He led WIL third basemen in putouts (144), assists (279), errors (39) and double plays (42). With the 1951 Chiefs, he batted .301/?/.411 in only 21 games, presumably due to military service.

In 1952, Don was a two-way player for the Sioux City Soos, hitting .288/.367/.451 in 75 games and going 14-13 with a 4.32 ERA on the hill. He tied for 4th in the Western League with 19 complete games and was 4th with 118 walks. He would spend the rest of his career primarily as a pitcher. With the 1953 Beaumont Exporters, he went 15-12 with a 3.68 ERA. He tied Bill Greason for 4th in the Texas League with 16 complete games and tied for 4th in wins (with Doyle Lade, Wayne McLeland, Hugh Sooter and Floyd Wooldridge). He was named the TL Pitcher of the Year, even though players such as Wooldridge, Pete Wojey, Don Mossi and Ryne Duren had better ERAs and all three pitchers with more wins (led by Red Murff) had slightly better ERAs as well. He was picked by the Cleveland Indians in the 1953 Rule V Draft.

Instead, he wound up with the Cincinnati Reds system for 1954. With the Tulsa Oilers that summer, he fell to 8-12, 4.66 while repeating in the TL. Moving up to the San Francisco Seals in 1955, the veteran was 14-12 with a 3.28 ERA and hit .303/.324/.475. His 87 walks tied Bud Daley for 5th in the 1955 Pacific Coast League. Every other PCL hurler who had as many or more wins would appear in the majors in their career. With the '56 Seattle Rainiers, he faded to 10-14, 4.44. He tied for 5th in the 1956 Pacific Coast League in defeats, even with Gene Bearden, George Bamberger, Russ Kemmerer and Joe Stanka. With the 1957 Sacramento Solons, the right-hander was 0-2 with 10 hits and 7 runs (4 earned) in 6 1/3 IP to end his career, still just 26 years old.

Overall, Fracchia had hit .285 and slugged .417 in 651 minor league games. On the mound, he had gone 61-65 with a 4.02 ERA.

Notable Achievements

• 1953 Pitcher of the Year Texas League Beaumont Exporters