Former Italian / American New York Giants Outfielder: Frank Demaree (1939-1941)

Joseph Franklin Demaree was born on June 10, 1910 in Winters, California. Demaree made it to the big leagues by 1932. He would play outfield for six seasons with the Chicago Cubs, playing on three Cubs pennant winners throughout the nineteen thirties.

He hit over .320 three straight seasons, including a career high .350 (fourth in the league ) in 1936. He spent the 1934 season in the Pacific Coast League playing for the champion Los Angeles Angels winning the PCL MVP Award. He returned to the Cubs the next season, making the NL All Star team two straight years.

In 1937 he had career highs in RBIs (115- second most in the NL) HRs (17) doubles (36- sixth in the NL) & on base % (.382- eighth in the NL). Although he was a slow runner, leading the NL in double plays in 1937 (23), he was a fine outfielder, posting some of the best fielding percentages of all right fielders in those days.

In December of 1938 he was traded along with Billy Jurges and Ken O'Dea to the New York Giants for Dick Bartell, Hank Leiber and Gus Mancuso.

In his first season in New York, Demaree batted .304 with 11 HRs 79 RBIs & a .381 on base %, playing in 150 games (most in the NL) for Bill Terry’s fourth place Giants. The next year he played in fewer games (121) and batted .302 with 7 HRs & 61 RBIs, posting another .good on base % (.361%).

In July of 1941 he was placed on waivers & was picked up by the Boston Braves. He would then play in St. Louis, first for the Browns & then for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1943 where he got to play in his fourth World Series.

In his 12 year career, he batted .299 with 1241 hits, with 72 HRs 190 doubles 36 triples & a .357 on base %. After his playing days he was a manager in the Pacific Coast League & then worked at a movie studio in the 1950’s.

Demaree passed away in Hollywood, California in 1958 at the age of 48.Demaree is a member of the Italian / American Hall of Fame