Frank Barrett (baseball)
A journeyman pitcher whose career spanned a decade, he became a reliable arm out of the bullpen for four different Major League teams.
1913–1998 (age 85)·American baseball player·Birthday: July 1·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Frank Barrett's path through professional baseball was that of a determined survivor. Born in 1913, he broke into the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1943, a time when rosters were depleted by World War II. His career was defined not by flashy stardom but by steady, adaptable work. Barrett was a pitcher who took the ball whenever called upon, navigating the lineups of the National and American Leagues for the Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Boston Braves, and Pittsburgh Pirates. His final season in 1949 with the Pirates saw him log a career-high 126 innings, often in long relief. After his playing days, he remained connected to the game, scouting for the Baltimore Orioles. Barrett's story is one of baseball's essential threads: the capable player who makes a living by answering the call, season after season.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Frank was born in 1913, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Frank Was Born
The biggest hits of 1913
Frank's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1913Born
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Started school
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Became a teenager
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Could drive
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1931Could vote
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Turned 21
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1943Turned 30
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 40
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 50
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 60
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 70
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 80
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Died at 85
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
Key Achievements
- Pitched in Major League Baseball for seven seasons across four different franchises.
- Appeared in 145 career games, primarily as a relief pitcher.
- Recorded a complete game shutout for the Boston Braves in 1946 despite his relief role.
Did You Know?
He was signed by the Cardinals after a scout saw him pitch in a semi-pro game in Massachusetts.
Barrett served in the United States Navy during World War II, interrupting his baseball career.
His brother, Red Barrett, was also a Major League pitcher, notably throwing a 58-pitch complete game.
“You show up ready to work, whether they hand you the ball or not.”
