This date in Kernels alumni history – August 17, 1954
On August 17, 1954, Joe Frazier (Cedar Rapids Raiders – 1942) entered the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and came through with a three-run HR to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-1 win over the Milwaukee Braves at County Stadium.
Joe Frazier hit .241 with 10 HR and 45 RBI during his 4 year MLB career playing for the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. Frazier worked as a manager in the Astros and Mets organizations following his playing days. He took the helm for the New York Mets in 1976 and led them to a third place finish with a 86-76 record. Frazier was replaced by Joe Torre (Torre’s first managing gig) 45 games into the 1977 season after a slow start.
Joe Frazier was a member of the 1942 Cedar Rapids Raiders team that finished with a mark of 74-43 and won the Three-I League Championship under manager Ollie Marquardt. The Raiders defeated Evansville in the 1st round of the playoffs and then took down Madison in the Championship series. Frazier hit .315 with 8 HR and 36 doubles in 116 games for Cedar Rapids.
Seth Dohrn
Reblogged this on The Sprouting News and commented:
This date in Kernels alumni history – August 17, 1954 – Joe Frazier (Cedar Rapids Raiders – 1942)