Frenchy Bordagaray

Stanley George "Frenchy" Bordagaray (January 3, 1910 – April 13, 2000) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder and third baseman for the Chicago White Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Yankees between 1934 and 1945. He had a .283 batting average with 14 home runs and 270 runs batted in over 930 major league games for his career.

Bordagaray gained publicity through the press through his colorful personality and various gimmicks. He appeared in bit parts in movies and grew a mustache in a time when baseball players were expected to be clean shaven. He has been inducted into the Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Fame, the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame.

Early life Bordagaray was born in Coalinga, California, on January 3, 1910, to Dominique and Louise Bordagaray, who were original settlers of the San Joaquin Valley. Bordagaray was the middle of seven children. His father wanted him to become a violinist. Fresno State's football coach, Stan Borleske, attempted to negotiate Bordagaray's release, but Senators owner Lewis Moreing refused.

While with the Senators, Bordagaray raced a horse in a 100-yard dash, losing by a few feet. During a game, Bordagaray reportedly went to use the toilet during the ninth inning. While he was off the field, the pitcher threw the ball, unaware he had no right fielder. The batter hit the pitch to right field, leading to a double. Manager Earl McNeely did not criticize Bordagaray, rather telling the pitcher to make sure his fielders were in place before throwing.

Major League Baseball

Chicago White Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers (1934–1936) The Chicago White Sox bought Bordagaray's contract from Sacramento for $15,000 in the spring of 1934. He batted .322 with a .344 on-base percentage (OBP) and .379 slugging percentage (SLG), with no home runs, two runs batted in in 29 games for the 1934 Chicago White Sox. He spent the rest of 1934 with the Senators, batting .321 with 34 doubles and a .433 slugging percentage.

Before the 1942 season, the Dodgers purchased Bordagaray from the Yankees. He hit .241 with a .279 OBP and .276 SLG in 48 games with the 1942 Dodgers, and .302 with a .379 OBP and .384 SLG in 89 games during the 1943 season. winning both the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Manager of the Year awards. In 1947, he was player-manager of the Greenville Spinners of the Class-A South Atlantic League. Bordagaray was suspended 60 games for fighting an umpire, leading the Spinners to hire Martin to replace him. He attempted to return to MLB with the Dodgers in 1948, but retired before the season.

Post-playing career After his baseball career, Bordagaray owned restaurants and clubs in St. Louis and Kansas City and developed land as cemeteries in the Midwestern United States. Proud of his publicity, he kept newspaper clippings in a scrapbook that weighs .

Bordagaray died in a nursing home in Ventura at the age of 90. He was survived by his wife of 52 years, Victoria, two sons, two daughters, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He is interred at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Coalinga.