Welcome to the fifth installment of my series featuring players from the 1955 Bowman set that would have turned 100 this year. Players featured thus far:
- Red Schoendienst - February 2
- Jim Hughes - March 21
- Solly Hemus - April 17
- Bob Kuzava - May 28
Today's featured player is Marion Fricano (card #316), who I'm spotlighting on what would have been his 100th birthday.
My actual 1955 Bowman card of Marion Fricano:
Date of Birth:
July 15, 1923First Year in Organized Baseball:
1947 with the Johnstown (PA) Johnnies, a Class C affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Link to a Really Old Baseball Guy:
Fricano's manager on the 1951 St. Paul Saints (AAA - Dodgers) was Clay Hopper, who was born in 1902 and whose first year in organized baseball was 1926.
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| 1952 Mother's Cookies #52 - Clay Hopper (MGR) |
Link to a Much Younger Baseball Guy:
In his last year in organized baseball (1961), Fricano played for the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers (AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels). One of his teammates was Jim Fregosi, who interestingly retired as a player during the 1978 season, and two days later, became the manager of the California Angels.
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| 1978 Topps #323 - Jim Fregosi |
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| 1979 Topps #424 - California Angels/Jim Fregosi |
Other interesting facts about Marion Fricano:
- Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, beginning in 1943 and completing his service after the war, in 1947.
- Spent five full years in the minor leagues before his major league debut, and six full years in the minors after his final major league appearance in 1955.
- Died May 18, 1976.
