Frank Mountain

Frank Henry Mountain

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
• School Union College (NY)
• Debut July 19, 1880
• Final Game August 17, 1886
• Born May 17, 1860 in Fort Edward, NY USA
• Died November 19, 1939 in Schenectady, NY USA

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Biographical Information

Frank Mountain played seven seasons in the major leagues from 1880 to 1886. He was the first major league player to come from Union College (NY) (the only other major league player to come from that institution was his contemporary Jim McCauley). He was a second baseman in college who was converted into a pitcher following his collegiate career. He continued to play in the field occasionally during his big league career, mostly in the outfield.

There are conflicting accounts about a game in which Mountain pitched against Cap Anson's Chicago White Stockings. One source says that in 1881, the White Stockings played a game against Union College and Mountain, and that the White Stockings beat them 9-5. Another source says that in 1880, Mountain pitched for the National League Troy team and beat the White Stockings 9-5. In either case, Mountain's reputation as a pitcher was made, and it is true that he continued to go to Union College in 1881 after he had broken into the major leagues in 1880.

In 1881 he won both ends of a doubleheader.

Mountain had a tough season in 1882 when he went 4-22 while pitching for 2 teams. The 1882 Worcester Ruby Legs of the National League were a lousy team, and he was with them at the start and the end of the season. But he was loaned to the 1882 Philadelphia Athletics of the American Association for most of June, and went 2-6 with a team that finished the season over .500.

He went 26-33 in 503 innings with the 1883 Columbus Buckeyes, but the next year went 23-17 on a much-improved Buckeye team that finished 2nd in the league. He pitched a no-hitter in 1884 and was probably the first major league pitcher to ever hit a home run in the same game as he pitched a no-hitter.

In 1882 and 1884, he was a decent hitter for a pitcher, hitting .262 and .238. In 1882, the Ruby Legs hit .231 as a team, while in 1884 the Buckeyes hit .240 as a team. In 1883, his 3 home runs for the Buckeyes were 3rd best on the team, and the two hitters who outdid him had far more more at-bats than he was able to get. During his career he appeared in 55 games at positions other than pitcher, mostly in the outfield. In 1884, he also umpired two games in the American Association.

Arm problems ended his pitching career. After baseball, he spent 40 years working for General Electric in Schenectady, NY, spending over two decades of that time as an assistant fire chief.

Notable Achievements

• AA Saves Leader (1884)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 2 (1883 & 1884)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1882-1884)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1883 & 1884)
• 400 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1883)
• 500 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1883)