Frank Bertaina

Summary

Frank Louis Bertaina (April 14, 1944 – March 3, 2010) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1964 through 1970 for the Baltimore Orioles (1964–67, 1969), Washington Senators (1967–69), and St. Louis Cardinals (1970). Listed at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and 177 pounds (80 kg), Bertaina batted and threw left-handed.

Frank Bertaina
Pitcher
Born: (1944-04-14)April 14, 1944
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died: March 3, 2010(2010-03-03) (aged 65)
Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
August 1, 1964, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
September 25, 1970, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record19–29
Earned run average3.84
Strikeouts280
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Bertaina made his major league debut on August 1, 1964, against the Kansas City Athletics at Municipal Stadium. He started and gave up two earned runs in seven innings pitched, but did not receive a decision in the 5–2 Orioles victory. On September 12, he 1-hit the Kansas City Athletics, winning 1-0, while opposing losing pitcher Bob Meyer allowed the Orioles just 1 hit as well.[1] This was the fourth double one-hitter pitched in the modern era (since 1901) in MLB history and to date, the most recent.

With Baltimore and Washington in 1967 he went 7–6 with a 2.99 ERA and a career-high 86 strikeouts, while tying for ninth in the American League with four shutouts. That season, he was part of a trade on May 29, when the Orioles shipped him and rookie slugger Mike Epstein to Washington for veteran left-hander Pete Richert.

In a seven-year career, Bertaina posted a 19–29 record with 3.84 ERA in 100 pitching appearances, including 66 starts, five shutouts, six complete games and 10 games finished, giving up 208 runs (176 earned) on 399 hits, while striking out 280 and walking 214 in 413 innings of work.

During his minor league career, Bertaina led the Eastern League in winning percentage (.733) in 1964 while pitching for the Elmira Pioneers, topped the International League in strikeouts (188) with the Rochester Red Wings in 1965, and won the International League winning percentage title (.800) with the 1970 Red Wings.

Bertaina died in Santa Rosa, California at the age of 65, following complications from a heart attack.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "September 12, 1964 boxscore of double 1-hitter". retrosheet.org. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  2. ^ Frank Bertaina, former Red Wings pitcher, dies

External links edit

  • Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
  • Retrosheet
  • Baseball Library