Frank Linzy

Frank Alfred Linzy

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
• School Oklahoma State University
• High School Porter (OK) High School
• Debut August 14, 1963
• Final Game September 2, 1974
• Born September 15, 1940 in Fort Gibson, OK USA

BR page

Biographical Information

The San Francisco Giants signed Frank Linzy as an amateur free agent before the 1960 season. He spent his first season with the Appalachian League Salem Rebels short-season team. In only 20 innings of pitching he went 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA.

Frank spent the next three years in the minors before being called up for duty by the Giants late in 1963. He saw action in only 17 innings of relief hurling and was back in the minors with the 1964 Pacific Coast League Tacoma Giants. He was 11-12 with a 2.91 ERA with the Tacoma team and showed back up with the San Francisco Giants for the 1965 season.

He finished 13th in voting for the 1965 National League Most Valuable Player Award and 3rd in voting for 1965 NL Rookie of the Year for having a 9-3 won-loss record in 57 games, finishing 40, with 21 saves in 82 innings pitched and a 1.43 ERA.

In 11 years in the major leagues, Linzy had a 62-57 won-loss record, appearing in 516 games, with 111 saves, 817 innings pitched, giving up 790 hits and 259 earned runs for a 2.85 ERA.

Linzy ranked 89th on the MLB career saves list; he also ranks 71st on the MLB career games finished list with 342 (as of August 2008). He was not a "closer" in the modern sense. Linzy was a 1960s "fireman" in that the Giants called upon him at any time, not just in the 9th inning, but sometimes in the 7th or 8th, or whenever the opposition was threatening to score late in a tight game. Linzy was especially effective in two tight pennant races, in 1965 and 1966. He was a hard thrower.

On September 1, 1967 the Cincinnati Reds' Bob Lee walked Dick Groat with the bases loaded in the 21st inning to give the Giants a 1-0 victory at Crosley Field. Twenty scoreless innings tied the major league mark set by the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Braves on August 1‚ 1918‚ a game Pittsburgh also won in the 21st‚ 2-0. Gaylord Perry‚ with 9 one-run losses during the season‚ pitched the first 16 innings of shutout ball‚ with Frank Linzy going the last 5. Mel Queen tossed 9 1/3 innings for the Reds.

Frank also pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1970 and 1971, the Milwaukee Brewers (1972 and 1973 and the Philadelphia Phillies in 1974.

Notable Achievements

• 1965 Topps All-Star Rookie Team