Dave Frost
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Carl David Frost (born November 17, 1952 in Long Beach, California) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. The 6'6", 225 lb. right-hander was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round of the 1974 amateur draft. He played for the White Sox (1978), California Angels (1978-1981), and Kansas City Royals (1982).
Frost made his major league debut on September 11, 1977 against the California Angels at Anaheim Stadium. He turned in a quality start, pitching 6.1 innings and giving up just two earned runs. He struck out three, walked no one, and received no decision in the 5-4 White Sox loss. His first big league win came a week later in another great start against the Angels, this time at Comiskey Park. He went 7.2 innings, gave up three runs, and won 7-3.
He was traded to the Angels on December 5, 1977 in a six-player deal, and became a valuable addition to the Angel pitching staff. He split time between Salt Lake City (PCL) and the big leagues in 1978, and went 5-4 with a 2.58 earned run average in 11 games (10 starts) for the Angels. Next year would be even better.
Frost had his biggest year in 1979. He won 16, lost 10, and led Angel starters in ERA (3.57), winning percentage (.615), and innings pitched (239.1). California had an impressive group of starters that year, including Nolan Ryan, Don Aase, Jim Barr, Chris Knapp, and Frank Tanana, and won the American League West Division that year with an 88-74 record.
Unfortunately, elbow problems severely limited his effectiveness the remainder of his career. In the next three seasons (two with the Angels and one with the Kansas City Royals) he was a combined 11-22 with a 5.43 ERA.
Career totals for 99 games pitched include a 33-37 record, 84 games started, 16 complete games, 3 shutouts, 1 save, and 7 games finished. He allowed 251 earned runs in 550.2 innings pitched, giving him a lifetime ERA of 4.10.
Career highlights include:
- a four-hit, no walk complete game shutout vs. the Oakland A's (July 3, 1979)
- an 8-strikeout, no walk complete game win (10-1) vs. the Baltimore Orioles (July 7, 1979)
- a 10-inning, four-hit complete game win (2-1) vs. the Minnesota Twins (April 16, 1980)
- held All-Stars Sal Bando, Buddy Bell, Mike Hargrove, Rickey Henderson, Roy Howell, Pat Kelly, Hal McRae, Willie Randolph, Jim Rice, and Roy Smalley to a .103 collective batting average (15-for-145)
- held Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson, Cal Ripken, Jr., and Robin Yount to a .167 collective batting average (3-for-18)
[edit] Trivia
- The first batter to get a hit off Frost was Bobby Bonds. He hit a double, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. {Anaheim Stadium -- September 11, 1977}
- Pete LaCock, son of Hollywood Squares host Peter Marshall, was the first batter to hit a home run against Frost. {Royals Stadium -- July 4, 1978}
- In the 14 games in which Frost threw a wild pitch, his record was 2-11 with one no decision.
