Frank Killen

Frank Bissell Killen
(Lefty)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 1", Weight 200 lb.

• Debut August 27, 1891
• Final Game June 27, 1900
• Born November 30, 1870 in Pittsburgh, PA USA
• Died December 3, 1939 in Pittsburgh, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Lefty Frank Killen pitched 10 seasons in the major leagues, winning 30+ games twice. He was injured during the 1895 season or he might have led the Pittsburgh Pirates to a pennant that year (he also hit .342 in 1895).

Although he is perhaps most famous for the seasons where he won 30+ games, his 1892 season was also remarkable in that his 29 victories were exactly half of the Washington Senators' 58 total victories. He managed to achieve a 29-26 record on a team that went 58-93.

Killen was a pretty decent hitter, for a pitcher, with a major league batting average of .241 and an OBP of .335.

He went 16-6 for the 1902 Indianapolis Indians. In 1905 he managed a couple of minor league teams. He operated a hotel after his playing days.

Connie Mack was his battery mate from 1893-1896 in Pittsburgh and his manager from 1894-1896. Killen umpired a couple of National League games in 1896 and 1897.

Notable Achievements

• 2-time NL Wins Leader (1893 & 1896)
• NL Games Pitched Leader (1896)
• NL Innings Pitched Leader (1896)
• 2-time NL Complete Games Leader (1896 & 1897)
• NL Shutouts Leader (1896)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 3 (1892, 1893 & 1896)
• 30 Wins Seasons: 2 (1893 & 1896)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 6 (1892-1894 & 1896-1898)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 5 (1892, 1893 & 1896-1898)
• 400 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1892, 1893 & 1896)

Records Held

• Wins, left-hander, season (since 1893), 36, 1893

Related Sites

• Frank Killen at the SABR Bio Project