Frank McElyea

Frank McElyea

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 6", Weight 221 lb.

• Debut September 10, 1942
• Final Game September 26, 1942
• Born August 4, 1918 in Hawthorne Township, IL USA
• Died April 19, 1987 in Evansville, IN USA

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Biographical Information

Illinois native Frank McElyea spent four active seasons in professional baseball from 1940 to 1946. Frank was signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Bees before the 1940 season. He spent from September 10, 1942 through September 26th of the same year with the Boston Braves, appearing in seven games with four at-bats and no base-hits, although he did score two runs, and this was his sum total for his time in the Major Leagues.

Frank spent four seasons in the minor leagues, hitting for the magic .400 mark in 1940 with the Owensboro Oilers of the class D Kitty League. He appeared in 120 games, picked up 208 base-hits, including 12 home runs, in 520 at-bats and slugged at a .610 clip along with his .400 hitting average. The 208 hits are the all-time KITTY League record.

McElyea spent 1941 with the Evansville Bees of the Three-I League, hitting .296 and appeared with the Hartford Bees of the Class A Eastern League in 1942, hitting at a .274 average in 489 at-bats. McElyea spent the next three years (1943-1945) serving with the United States Army during World War II.

The first baseman spent one more year in pro baseball, finishing his career back with the Evansville Bees in 1946, hitting at a .316 clip with 10 homers in 440 at-bats. This gave Frank minor league totals of 1,936 at-bats in 488 games with 624 base-hits, that included 33 home runs, for a minor league career batting average of .316.

After baseball, he became a police officer for the Evansville Police Department, retiring in 1959. Frank died on April 19, 1987 at his home in Evansville, IN. He was 68 years of age and was interred at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Evansville.