Frank Kitson (baseball)

Frank Kitson
Frank Kitson
	Pitcher
	Born: September 11, 1869; Hopkins, Michigan
	Died: April 14, 1930 (aged 60); Allegan, Michigan
	Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
	May 19, 1898, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
	July 22, 1907, for the New York Highlanders
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	128-117
Earned run average	3.18
Strikeouts	729
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Baltimore Orioles (1898–1899); Brooklyn Superbas (1900–1902); Detroit Tigers (1903–1905); Washington Senators (1906–1907); New York Highlanders (1907);
Career highlights and awards
	Among National League leaders in 1899 in ERA, Wins, and Win Percentage;

Frank R. Kitson (September 11, 1869 – April 14, 1930) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played ten seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Superbas, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, and New York Highlanders.

Born in Hopkins, Michigan, Kitson's major league career got off to a roller coaster start. In his first start on May 19, 1898, he shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates. Six days later, the Cubs scored 20 runs off Kitson; the game was called after 7 innings with the Cubs ahead 20–4.

Kitson won 15 or more games for five straight years from 1899 to 1903, including 22 wins with the Baltimore Orioles in 1899. In 1899, he was among the National League leaders in ERA (2.77), wins (22), winning percentage (.636), and complete games (34).

Kitson was one of the top left-handed pitchers at the turn of the century. After winning 22 games for the Orioles, he had consecutive 19-win seasons for Brooklyn in 1901 and 1902. In 1903, he jumped to the American League, where he did not have as much success.

Born in Hopkins, Michigan, he led the National League in saves in 1900 with 4. In 249 career games, Kitson posted a 128–117 record with a 3.18 ERA.

He died at age 60 in 1930 in Allegan, Michigan and was interred in Hudson Corners Cemetery.

External links

Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Baseball Almanac
Baseball Library
Obituary from The New York Times