Frank Norton

Frank Prescott Norton

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown
• Height Unknown, Weight Unknown
• Debut May 5, 1871
• Final Game May 5, 1871
• Born June 9, 1845 in Port Jefferson, NY USA
• Died August 1, 1920 in Greenwich, CT USA

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Biographical Information

"From the Stars (of Brooklyn) came Frank Norton and Fraley Rogers, noted players of their day." - Alfred Spink in The National Game, writing about the amateur teams that produced famous players who played in the National Association

Frank Norton appeared briefly in the 1871 National Association but was a well-known player before that. He played for several of the top amateur teams. he also worked one game as an umpire in 1872.

The SABR biography of Asa Brainard states that Norton, along with Fred Crane and Dickey Pearce, jumped from the amateur Atlantics to the Excelsiors, but Pearce and Crane came back to the Atlantics in August (the SABR biography of Pearce says the jump was in 1866). Cap Anson's book A Ball Player's Career says that Norton did some catching for the Atlantics but isn't precise about whether that was in 1864 or 1865 although a special "History of Baseball" article in the 1891 New York Clipper says the date was 1865.

The book When Johnny Came Sliding Home indicates that Norton played for the Atlantics prior to 1866 but moved over to the Excelsiors in 1866. By 1867 the book has him with the Washington Nationals. He seems to have played some shortstop for the Excelsiors in 1866 (source) and for the Nationals in 1867 (source)

One site refers to a game on July 25, 1867 when Norton caught for the Nationals.

The New York Times of June 29, 1885 mentioned an old-timer's game that was being arranged, and said that Norton would probably participate.

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