Frank Bates

Creed Napoleon Bates

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown
• Height 5' 10½", Weight 156 lb.

• Debut October 7, 1898
• Final Game May 22, 1899

• Born September 28, 1876 in Cleveland, TN USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Frank Bates, whose birth name is the wonderful Creed Napoleon Bates, was one of the hapless pitchers on the 1899 Cleveland Spiders who went 20-134. The previous year, in 1898 he had pitched well in 29 innings for the Spiders at age 21, and in 2 games with the St. Louis Perfectos in 1899, he had also pitched well. His only victory in going 1-18 for the Spiders in 1899 was in one of the most unlikely comebacks ever. While playing at home in July, the Spiders entered the 9th inning trailing the Boston Beaneaters and Hall of Fame starting pitcher Vic Willis, 7-0. Incredibly, they scored 7 runs to send it to extra innings and won, 10-9, in 11 innings. After losing the second game of that day's doubleheader, the Spiders voted to spend the rest of the year as a traveling team because the crowds in Cleveland were so paltry.

According to his World War I draft registration form, he was living in Cincinnati, OH at the time, with his closest relative brother William Bates of Chicago, IL. However, his name does not appear in the 1920 Census or in any other documents thereafter, making it likely that he was one of the victims of the flu epidemic that swept through the United States in 1918 and 1919. His ultimate fate remains a mystery.

Records Held

• Fewest strikeouts per 9 innings, season, 0.72, 1899

Further Reading

• "A Pandemic Mystery", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, May/June 2020, p. 4.