Passed away Dec. 29 at the age of 85. A Topps Vault favorite: to date, 20 images released. These are not among them:
From the Boston Globe:
Malzone was a six-time all-star who had a career .274 batting average with 133 home runs and 728 RBIs. Malzone was a member of the Red Sox organization all but one of the last 69 years since signing as a free agent in 1947. After ending his 12-year major league playing career with the California Angels in 1966, he returned to Boston as a scout and instructor, and went on to work in Boston’s front office. Beginning in 2008, he served as a Red Sox player development consultant.
“We mourn the loss of a man we all came to know as ‘Malzie,’ who was venerated by Red Sox fans not only for his great glove at third base but for his blue-collar dedication to his craft,” said Red Sox chairman Tom Werner.
Malzone lost two seasons of development serving in the United States Army during the Korean War in 1952 and 1953, but made it to the majors two years later in 1955. A full-time big leaguer by 1957, he immediately impressed both defensively and with the bat, finishing second in Rookie of the Year balloting after hitting .292 with 15 home runs and a team-leading 103 RBI.
Malzone hit at least 13 home runs every season from 1957-64, the only American League third baseman to reach double-digits in homers in each of those eight campaigns. In 1959, he had a team-high 34 doubles to go along with 19 home runs. His career-high 21 homers in 1962 led the team and tied the then-club single-season record by a third baseman, a mark that would not be passed for another 15 years.
Malzone played in every game in back-to-back seasons from 1958-59, starting each Red Sox contest from May 21, 1957-June 7, 1960. His 475 consecutive games played in that time remain the team’s longest streak in the live ball era (since 1920).
In 1967, his first season as a Red Sox scout, Malzone is credited with providing crucial advance scouting reports that helped Boston defeat the Minnesota Twins to claim the American League pennant and push the St. Louis Cardinals to seven games in the World Series. He also instructed numerous major leaguers, including Hall of Famers Wade Boggs and Jim Rice.
“Early on in my minor league career, Frank Malzone and Eddie Popowski would tirelessly work with me on becoming a better third baseman,” Hall of Famer Wade Boggs said. “Not only Johnny Pesky but Frank Malzone was instrumental in my development as a third baseman. Thoughts and prayers go out to the Malzone family at this time.”