Frank O'Rourke
From BR Bullpen
James Francis O'Rourke (Blackie)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Weight 165 lb.
- Debut June 12, 1912
- Final Game July 28, 1931
- Born November 28, 1894 in Hamilton, ON CAN
- Died May 14, 1986 in Chatham, NJ USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Frank O'Rourke was a good-field, little-hit infielder who played 14 seasons in the big leagues, stretched out in the period from 1912 to 1931. He was 17 when he first broke in, but then didn't come back to the majors for several years. His best year with the bat was 1925, when he hit .293 with 40 doubles (the league hit .292 and his team hit .302). In 1927 when he hit .268 with the St. Louis Browns who lost 94 games, he was 13th in the MVP voting.
As a rookie in 1912, O'Rourke was the player most used at shortstop by the 1912 Boston Braves, but Rabbit Maranville came up as a 20-year-old rookie that year and won the job the next season with the team.
O'Rourke had been the Detroit Tigers second baseman in 1925, but lost his job to the young Charlie Gehringer in 1926.
After his playing days, O'Rourke was a minor league coach and also managed the 1931-1933 Milwaukee Brewers, 1935 Charlotte Hornets, 1936-1939 El Dorado Lions and 1942 Cordele Reds. He was later a scout with the Cincinnati Reds from 1941 to 1951 and the New York Yankees from 1952 to 1983.
[edit] Year-by-Year Managerial Record
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | Milwaukee Brewers | American Association | 5th | none | replaced Marty Berghammer | ||
| 1932 | Milwaukee Brewers | American Association | 88-78 | 3rd | none | ||
| 1933 | Milwaukee Brewers | American Association | 67-87 | 7th | none | ||
| 1935 | Charlotte Hornets | Piedmont League | 62-75 | 6th | Boston Red Sox | ||
| 1936 | El Dorado Lions | Cotton States League | 75-64 | 4th | Cincinnati Reds | League Champs | |
| 1937 | El Dorado Lions | Cotton States League | 78-62 | 2nd | Cincinnati Reds | League Champs | |
| 1938 | El Dorado Lions | Cotton States League | 74-61 | 4th | Cincinnati Reds | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1939 | El Dorado Lions | Cotton States League | 59-75 | 6th | Cincinnati Reds | ||
| 1942 | Cordele Reds | Georgia-Florida League | 48-78 | 8th | Cincinnati Reds |
