| Frank Isbell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First baseman/Second baseman | |
| Born:(1875-08-21)August 21, 1875 Delevan, New York, U.S. | |
| Died: July 15, 1941(1941-07-15) (aged 65) Wichita, Kansas, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 1, 1898, for the Chicago Orphans | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 1909, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .250 |
| Home runs | 13 |
| Runs batted in | 455 |
| Stolen bases | 253 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
William Frank Isbell (August 21, 1875 – July 15, 1941) was an AmericanMajor League Baseballfirst baseman,second baseman, andoutfielder in the 1900s.
Born inDelevan, New York, Isbell wasnicknamedBald Eagle due to his receding hairline, something he was quite sensitive about. Isbell was a good enough hitter to earn a starting spot on some very good White Sox teams, including the pennant-winning 1901 team,managed byClark Griffith, the second-place 1905 team led byFielder Jones, and finally the1906 World Series champion White Sox team that includedshortstopGeorge Davis and pitchersDoc White andEd Walsh. It was known as one of the worst-hitting teams to ever win the World Series, with only Davis and Isbell hitting above .260 (Davis hit .277, Isbell .279).
He played for theChicago Cubs in 1898, briefly, with 37hits in 159at bats (.233batting average), and pitched as well as playing the outfield. Thirteen of his seventeen games pitched came with the Cubs.
After not being seen in baseball for the next year, Isbell showed up again in 1900 playing for theChicago White Sox as a full-time first baseman. TheAmerican League was not recognized in the Majors until 1901. Isbell played with the Sox until 1909. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
Isbell set many offensive World Series records that year, includingdoubles andextra base hits in a game. Until2025, Isbell was the only player to get four extra-base hits in a single postseason game.[1] However, he was better known for his outstanding speed, including his 1901 season when he had 52stolen bases and led the Majors. He averaged 37 steals a year and ended with 253 for his career.
In 1,119 games, Isbell finished with a .250 batting average with 13home runs and 455RBIs. He had 1,056 career hits in 4,219at bats. As a pitcher, he went 4–7 with a 3.59ERA.
Isbell also became notable for being manager and owner of many teams in theWestern League. He died inWichita, Kansas.
