Tony Franklin
Anthony Wayne Franklin
- Bats Right usually (Switch-hit sometimes), Throws Right
- Height 5' 10", Weight 155 lb.
- Born June 9, 1950 in Portland, ME USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Tony Franklin spent 8 years in the minor leagues, including 3 at AAA, before becoming a minor league coach and eventually manager. He debuted with the 1970 Tampa Tarpons, hitting .206/~.328/.217. He stole 20 bases in 24 tries and drew 72 walks in 113 games, but only managed three extra-base hits (2 doubles and a triple) in 378 AB as Tampa's starting second baseman. In 1971, Tony returned to Tampa, moving to shortstop and improved to a .218/~.345/.269 line though he was just 14 for 30 in steals. He drew 93 walks and scored 74. He was third in the Florida State League in walks.
In 1972, he began a three-year run with the Trois-Rivières Aigles. He hit .202/~.356/.267 in 127 games his first year, serving as the principal shortstop and drawing 77 walks. In 1973, Franklin moved to second to make way for Doug Flynn and improved to a .267/~.376/.349 line at the plate. In his last year with the Aigles, Tony popped a career-high seven home runs and hit .242/~.355/.363 while alternating between second base and third base.
Franklin (formerly a right-handed hitter) was a switch-hitter during 1975 in his AAA debut with the Indianapolis Indians. He batted .235/~.357/.315 in 99 games and stole 11 bases in 13 tries. He fielded .988 at second base. In 1976, Tony only played one game for Indianapolis. He then moved on to the Chicago Cubs chain. There, he hit .237/~.337/.323 in 67 games for the Midland Cubs and stole 15 in 19 attempts. He also played 20 games with the Wichita Aeros; overall for Wichita and Indianapolis, he hit a fine .333/~.446/.420 in AAA. He again hit right-handed that year.
In 1977, he moved to the Montréal Expos system and batted .224/~.350/.276 in 33 games as a utility man for the Quebec Metros and again switch-hit. He is listed as also pitching one game for the Rochester Red Wings in 1979 to conclude his career.
Franklin was a player/coach with the West Palm Beach Expos in 1978, coach with Rochester in 1979, and a scout for the Orioles in 1980-1981. From 1982-86, Franklin managed in the Chicago Cubs system and from 1988 to 1993 in the Chicago White Sox organization.
He was the Minor league infield instructor for the San Diego Padres from 1996 to 2006, briefly managing again in 2000. He was named manager of the Trenton Thunder in 2007 and won Eastern League titles in his first two seasons with the club.
Sources include 1971-1980 Baseball Guides
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