Frank Lary

Frank Strong Lary
(Mule, Taters, or The Yankee Killer)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 180 lb.
• School University of Alabama
• High School Tuscaloosa County High School
• Debut September 14, 1954
• Final Game September 21, 1965
• Born April 10, 1930 in Northport, AL USA
• Died December 14, 2017 in Northport, AL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Frank Lary is the brother of Al Lary.

Frank "Taters" Lary, a 20-game winner, was one of the American League's most durable, reliable and popular pitchers from the middle 1950s and into the early 1960s, winning 14 or more games six times. Lary, along with Paul Foytack, Billy Hoeft and Jim Bunning, was part of a formidable Detroit Tigers pitching rotation in the the mid- to late 1950s.

Lary was known as "The Yankee Killer" because of his rare ability to beat the New York Yankees on a fairly consistently basis, 27 of 37 times. After spending 11 years with the Tigers, the sore-armed hurler stepped on the field and waved a tearful goodbye to Detroit fans when it was announced that he'd been sold to the New York Mets in 1964.

He later resided in his home state of Alabama, having been in the used car sales business for many years.

Notable Achievements

• 2-time AL All-Star (1960 & 1961)
• AL Gold Glove Winner (1961)
• AL Wins Leader (1956)
• 3-time AL Innings Pitched Leader (1956, 1958 & 1960)
• 3-time AL Complete Games Leader (1958, 1960 & 1961)
• 15 Win Seasons: 5 (1956 & 1958-1961)
• 20 Win Seasons: 2 (1956 & 1961)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 7 (1955-1961)

Related Sites

• Frank Lary at the SABR Bio Project