Scat Metha

Frank Joseph "Scat" Metha (December 13, 1913 – March 2, 1975) was an American professional baseball player from 1935 to 1942. He played one season of Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers in 1940. He led organized baseball with 66 stolen bases in 1939 while playing for the Fort Worth Cats in the Texas League. He was given the nickname "Scat" due to his base-running and his "ability to hustle from bag to bag."

Baseball career

Jacksonville Metha began his professional baseball career in 1935 as the starting second baseman for the Jacksonville Jax in the West Dixie League. He continued to play for Jacksonville during the 1936 season. The Jax won the West Dixie League pennant in both of Metha's years with the club, and Metha appeared in 262 games for the team. During the 1936 season, Metha compiled a .313 batting average and hit 26 doubles, 12 triples, and 15 home runs in 511 at bats.

Columbus During the 1937 season, Metha played for the Columbus Red Birds in the South Atlantic League. He compiled a .270 batting average with 23 doubles, 11 triples, and 12 home runs in 138 at bats for the Red Birds. Metha's base-running drew particular praise, as he scored from second base on a sacrifice and advanced two bases on an infield outs during the Texas League playoffs. The Sporting News noted: "Many old-timers about the league call the young Californian the best base-runner they've ever seen. Even [Firpo] Marberry, who has seen [Ty] Cobb, [Kiki] Cuyler, [Max] Carey, and others at their best calls Metha 'one of the greatest.'" He attended spring training with the White Sox in 1940 and was tried out as a third baseman, but did not make the team. He appeared in 26 games for Beaumont at the end of the 1940 season.

In December 1940, the Tigers sold Metha to the Knoxville Smokies. He appeared in 89 games for the Smokies in 1941, compiling a .229 batting average. Metha returned to Fort Worth in 1942 where he concluded his career as a professional baseball player.

Later years Metha died in 1975 in Fountain Valley, California, at age 61. He was buried at Rose Hill Memorial Park in Whittier, California.