Frank Huelsman

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Frank Elmer Huelsman (June 5, 1874 - June 9, 1959) was a Major League Baseball left fielder. Huelsman batted and threw right handed. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri.

A true baseball nomad, Huelsman started his major league career late in 1897 with St. Louis Browns of the National League, hitting a .286 average (2-for-7) in two games. Out of the majors for six full seasons, he later achieved the rare distinction of being the first player in major league history to play for four different teams in a season.

Huelsman reached the American League in 1904, appearing in three games with the Chicago White Sox before moving to the Detroit Tigers, the White Sox again, the new St. Louis Browns, and the Washington Senators. Technically, that's four teams, but Huelsman did have two separate stints with Chicago. He hit .245 (97-for-396) in 112 games, including two home runs and 35 RBI.

But it was not all. In January 1905, the Boston Americans obtained outfielder George Stone from the Senators. Then, the Browns reclaimed Huelsman from Washington, where he had been on loan, and sent him along with outfielder Jesse Burkett to Boston in exchange for Stone. Boston then sent Huelsman back to Washington in payment for Stone. For Huelsman, it was his eight transaction in less of a year. Nevertheless, he enjoyed a good season with the Senators, hitting .271 with three home runs and 62 RBI in 121 games, including 48 runs, 28 doubles, eight triples, and 11 stolen bases –all career-numbers, but he was sent down in 1906, and was never called back up.

In a three-season career, Huelsman was a .258 hitter with five home runs and 97 RBI in 235 games.

Following his baseball career, Huelsman became a minor league star, compiling a .342 career average over nearly 20 years, including five batting titles, six RBI titles, and two Triple Crowns between 1911 and 1913, missing a third title in 1912 by a .002 in batting average.

Huelsman died in Affton, Missouri, just four days after his 85th birthday.

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