Frank McCormick

Lore & Background

McCormick signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent in 1934 and played for their minor league affiliate in Beckley until September of that same year, when the Reds promoted him to the major leagues. After spending twelve seasons with the organization, McCormick was sold to the Philadelphia Phillies, where he spent the next two seasons. In the middle of the 1947 season, he was released and subsequently joined the Boston Braves, but was released by the Braves in August 1948 and did not appear in the World Series that year. He is most famous for winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1940, the second of three consecutive years where a Red won the award. The Reds were only the second team to ever have a player on the roster win the award in three straight seasons (the first was the Philadelphia Athletics, who did so from 1931 to 1933) and the first to do so with three separate players, which has only been accomplished three times since.

In Their Own Story

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the warning track at Crosley Field as Frank McCormick stepped into the batter's box. The crowd hushed, sensing another moment of magic. With a deep breath, he adjusted his grip on the bat, eyes locked on the pitcher. As the ball soared through the air, a high arc against the twilight sky, the stadium erupted. It was another home run from the man who carried the hopes of Cincinnati on his shoulders.

Reader's Guide

McCormick became the Reds' full-time first baseman from 1938 onwards, replacing Buck Jordan. That year, he had 106 runs batted in (RBI), finished third in the National League in batting average (.327) and led the majors in hits with 209. In recognition of his brilliant performance in his first full year in the major leagues, McCormick was named the unofficial "Rookie of the Year" by the Associated Press. The 1939 season saw another strong showing from McCormick both offensively and defensively. He led the National League in hits (209), drove in 128 RBIs to become the league's RBI champion and finished first in fielding percentage at first base (.996). The Reds advanced to the 1939 World Series, where they lost to the New York Yankees in a four-game sweep. In spite of his team's performance, he was still able to maintain a .400 batting average throughout the series. He was the Most Valuable Player in the National League in 1940. That season, he led the league in hits (191) and doubles (44) as the Reds stormed to their second consecutive National League championship and the 1940 World Series title. McCormick was selected to the NL All-Star team for nine straight seasons (1938–1946, although there was no game played in 1945). He is a member of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

Did You Know?

• McCormick led the National League in hits three times: 1938 (209), 1939 (209), and 1940 (191).
• He set an MLB first basemen record with 138 straight errorless games (1945–46).
• McCormick is one of only three NL players with three consecutive hits titles; the others are Ginger Beaumont (1902–04) and Rogers Hornsby (1920–22).
• He served as a broadcaster, announcer and analyst on WLWT-TV from 1958 to 1968.