Today in Wheeling History: June 18—Gene Freese, Major League Baseball third baseman and Wheeling Hall of Fame inductee, passed away (2013).
Gene Lewis Freese was born on January 8, 1934, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He grew up in Wheeling and developed a passion for baseball early on, eventually signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1953. Freese played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (1955–1966), earning a reputation as a journeyman third baseman. Over his career, he played for the Pirates (twice), St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox (twice), Cincinnati Reds, and Houston Astros. His best season came in 1961 with the Reds, when he hit .277 with 26 home runs and 87 RBIs, helping Cincinnati win the National League pennant. However, he struggled in the 1961 World Series, batting just .063 as the Reds lost to the New York Yankees.
Freese suffered a broken ankle in 1962, which impacted his career, though he remained in the majors until 1966. After retiring, he managed the Shreveport Captains and later operated the Basin Lounge sports tavern in New Orleans. He was inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame for his contributions to baseball. Freese passed away on June 18, 2013, in Metairie, Louisiana, at the age of 79.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/ycysvkd7); Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/4ysj3d5f), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/mtcy4342)
Photo credit and caption: 1956 Gene Free Topps Baseball Card, Pittsburgh Pirates (from the collections of the Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV)
Gene Lewis Freese was born on January 8, 1934, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He grew up in Wheeling and developed a passion for baseball early on, eventually signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1953. Freese played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (1955–1966), earning a reputation as a journeyman third baseman. Over his career, he played for the Pirates (twice), St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox (twice), Cincinnati Reds, and Houston Astros. His best season came in 1961 with the Reds, when he hit .277 with 26 home runs and 87 RBIs, helping Cincinnati win the National League pennant. However, he struggled in the 1961 World Series, batting just .063 as the Reds lost to the New York Yankees.
Freese suffered a broken ankle in 1962, which impacted his career, though he remained in the majors until 1966. After retiring, he managed the Shreveport Captains and later operated the Basin Lounge sports tavern in New Orleans. He was inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame for his contributions to baseball. Freese passed away on June 18, 2013, in Metairie, Louisiana, at the age of 79.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/ycysvkd7); Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/4ysj3d5f), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/mtcy4342)
Photo credit and caption: 1956 Gene Free Topps Baseball Card, Pittsburgh Pirates (from the collections of the Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV)
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