Today in Wheeling History: September 12--George Freese, a talented athlete at Wheeling High School who excelled in football, basketball, and track, and went on to become a Major League Baseball player known for his time with the Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Cubs, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia (1926).
George Walter Freese, born on September 12, 1926, in Wheeling, West Virginia, was a notable Major League Baseball player. He grew up in Wheeling, where he attended Wheeling High School and excelled in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and track. Freese went on to attend West Virginia University, where he played college baseball for the Mountaineers in 1947 and was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. He later transferred to the University of Pittsburgh, where he continued his athletic career. George’s younger brother, Gene Freese, also made a name for himself in Major League Baseball as a third baseman, playing for several teams including the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds.
George Freese made his Major League debut on April 29, 1953, with the Detroit Tigers. He also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955 and the Chicago Cubs in 1961. Over his career, he played in 61 Major League games, achieving a batting average of .257 with three home runs and 23 runs batted in. After his playing career, Freese served as a coach for the Chicago Cubs from 1964 to 1965 and managed several minor league teams.
George Freese’s contributions to baseball extended beyond his playing days. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 for his achievements with the Portland Beavers, where he played from 1957 to 1960. George Freese passed away on July 27, 2014, in Portland, Oregon, and is buried at Willamette National Cemetery.
To learn more: Baseball Almanac (https://tinyurl.com/57rnznaw), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/msjawvbx), Oregon Sports Hall of Fame (https://tinyurl.com/2eppm9e7), Seamheads(https://tinyurl.com/3tuvyvsj)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
George Walter Freese, born on September 12, 1926, in Wheeling, West Virginia, was a notable Major League Baseball player. He grew up in Wheeling, where he attended Wheeling High School and excelled in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and track. Freese went on to attend West Virginia University, where he played college baseball for the Mountaineers in 1947 and was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. He later transferred to the University of Pittsburgh, where he continued his athletic career. George’s younger brother, Gene Freese, also made a name for himself in Major League Baseball as a third baseman, playing for several teams including the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds.
George Freese made his Major League debut on April 29, 1953, with the Detroit Tigers. He also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955 and the Chicago Cubs in 1961. Over his career, he played in 61 Major League games, achieving a batting average of .257 with three home runs and 23 runs batted in. After his playing career, Freese served as a coach for the Chicago Cubs from 1964 to 1965 and managed several minor league teams.
George Freese’s contributions to baseball extended beyond his playing days. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 for his achievements with the Portland Beavers, where he played from 1957 to 1960. George Freese passed away on July 27, 2014, in Portland, Oregon, and is buried at Willamette National Cemetery.
To learn more: Baseball Almanac (https://tinyurl.com/57rnznaw), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/msjawvbx), Oregon Sports Hall of Fame (https://tinyurl.com/2eppm9e7), Seamheads(https://tinyurl.com/3tuvyvsj)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
1955 Bowman baseball card of George Freese of the Pittsburgh Pirates (Wikimedia Commons)
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