Major League Baseball Player. For twelve seasons (1955 to 1966), he played at the third baseman and second baseman positions with the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros. Born Eugene Lewis Freese, he attended Wheeling High School in West Virginia and West Liberty State College, prior to signing with Pittsburgh as an amateur free agent in 1953. He marked his Major League debut with the Pirates on April 13th, 1955 and recorded 115 hits for which included 14 home runs as the starting third baseman. In 1959, he belted 23 home runs with the Phillies and as a member of the 1961 National League Pennant-winning Reds' squad, he produced a career-high 26 round-trippers and 87 runs-batted-in. He experienced World Series action, as he appeared in 5 games during the 1961 Fall Classic. In 1,115 regular season games, he compiled 877 hits with a .254 lifetime batting average. After retiring as a player, he served as manager of the Shreveport Captains (the Minor League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers) from 1973 to 1974. Freese would settle in the New Orleans-area where he operated a sports bar. He was the younger brother of former Major League player, coach and scout George Freese.
Major League Baseball Player. For twelve seasons (1955 to 1966), he played at the third baseman and second baseman positions with the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros. Born Eugene Lewis Freese, he attended Wheeling High School in West Virginia and West Liberty State College, prior to signing with Pittsburgh as an amateur free agent in 1953. He marked his Major League debut with the Pirates on April 13th, 1955 and recorded 115 hits for which included 14 home runs as the starting third baseman. In 1959, he belted 23 home runs with the Phillies and as a member of the 1961 National League Pennant-winning Reds' squad, he produced a career-high 26 round-trippers and 87 runs-batted-in. He experienced World Series action, as he appeared in 5 games during the 1961 Fall Classic. In 1,115 regular season games, he compiled 877 hits with a .254 lifetime batting average. After retiring as a player, he served as manager of the Shreveport Captains (the Minor League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers) from 1973 to 1974. Freese would settle in the New Orleans-area where he operated a sports bar. He was the younger brother of former Major League player, coach and scout George Freese.
Bio by: C.S.
Family Members
Advertisement
