Frank Oceak

From BR Bullpen

Frank John Oceak
(Fez)

BR Minors page

Biographical Information[edit]

Infielder Frank Oceak played minor league ball from 1932 to 1949. He started managing in the St. Louis Browns chain in 1938-1940. He was suspended for the 1941 season by Judge Landis for assaulting an umpire, then moved to the Pirates organization where he would stay until 1972 except for one year. He was a player/manager in the minors from 1942-1947, missing 44-45 for military service. He continued managing through 1957. He was a coach for the Pirates from 1958-1964, then became a coach for the Cincinnati Reds in 1965. He returned to the minors for the Pirates from 1966-1969, then moved up to coach the Pirates once again from 1970-1972. Overall he posted a 1310-1383 record in 21 minor league seasons, and was a coach for the World Series Champion Pirates in 1960 and 1971.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1938 Lafayette White Sox Evangeline League 69-69 5th St. Louis Browns
1939 Fayetteville Angels Arkansas-Missouri League 79-42 1st St. Louis Browns Lost League Finals
1940 Beaver Falls Browns Pennsylvania State Association 52-56 3rd St. Louis Browns Lost League Finals
1942 Oil City Oilers Pennsylvania State Association 48-63 3rd Pittsburgh Pirates Lost in 1st round
1943 Hornell Maples PONY League 60-50 2nd Pittsburgh Pirates Lost in 1st round
1946 Selma Cloverleafs Southeastern League 60-77 7th Pittsburgh Pirates
1947 Keokuk Pirates Central Association 61-64 4th Pittsburgh Pirates Lost in 1st round
1948 York White Roses Interstate League 77-62 3rd Pittsburgh Pirates Lost League Finals
1949 York White Roses Interstate League 66-72 6th Pittsburgh Pirates
1950 York White Roses Interstate League 65-73 6th Pittsburgh Pirates
1951 Charleston Rebels South Atlantic League 75-65 4th Pittsburgh Pirates Lost in 1st round
1952 Charleston Rebels South Atlantic League 78-75 5th Pittsburgh Pirates
1953 Charleston Rebels South Atlantic League 8-30 -- Pittsburgh Pirates -- replaced by Norman Shope (4-5) on May 25
Dublin Irish Georgia State League 20-49 7th Pittsburgh Pirates replaced John George (27-29) on June 18
1954 Brunswick Pirates Georgia-Florida League 88-52 1st Pittsburgh Pirates Finals rained out
1955 Brunswick Pirates Georgia-Florida League 87-52 1st Pittsburgh Pirates Bad weather ended Finals
1956 Brunswick Pirates Georgia-Florida League 62-76 7th Pittsburgh Pirates none
1957 Columbus Jets International League 69-85 7th Pittsburgh Pirates
1966 Clinton Pilots Midwest League 48-76 9th Pittsburgh Pirates
1967 Macon Peaches Southern League 47-73 5th Pittsburgh Pirates none replaced Don Osborn (8-12) on May 10
1968 Gastonia Pirates Western Carolinas League 68-55 4th Pittsburgh Pirates
1969 Gastonia Pirates Western Carolinas League 67-58 2nd Pittsburgh Pirates

Further Reading[edit]

  • Gregory Wolf: "Frank Oceak", in Clifton Blue Parker and Bill Nowlin, ed.: Sweet '60: The 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2013, pp. 244-247. ISBN 978-1-93359-948-9

Related Sites[edit]