Frank Hankinson

Frank Edward Hankinson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 168 lb.

• Debut May 1, 1878
• Final Game October 14, 1888
• Born April 29, 1856 in New York, NY USA
• Died April 5, 1911 in Palisades Park, NJ USA

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Biographical Information

Frank Hankinson was a third baseman who also had one excellent year as a pitcher.

Hankinson broke in as a 22-year-old regular with the 1878 Chicago White Stockings. Cap Anson, the previous third baseman, moved to the outfield in 1878. Hankinson also pitched one game, going nine innings and losing it.

In 1879 Hankinson was primarily a pitcher, and also appeared on occasion in the outfield and at third base. As a pitcher he went 15-10 with a 2.50 ERA. As a hitter, though, he batted only .181.

The next year he found himself with the 1880 Cleveland Blues, where he pitched well in four games with an ERA of 1.08. However, he was mainly a third baseman again, and hit .209.

The following year he was with the 1881 Troy Trojans, playing third base on a team with several future Hall of Famers: Buck Ewing, Roger Connor, Mickey Welch, and Tim Keefe. Hankinson hit .193 and was not in the majors the following year.

In 1883 he came back to the majors, with the 1883 New York Gothams, a team that featured several of his teammates from 1881 in Troy. After two years with the Gothams, he moved to the American Association's entry in New York, the 1885 Metropolitans, where he had a couple of his best years as a hitter in 1886 and 1887. He closed out his major league career in 1888 with the Kansas City Cowboys.

Over his major league career Hankinson had a fielding percentage that was well above the league averages at third, and his range factor was also good.

As of 1895 he was running a saloon.

The book 19th Century Baseball in Chicago has a picture of him.

Notable Achievements

• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1879)