Benny Frey

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Benjamin Rudolph Frey (April 6, 1906 - November 1, 1937) was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1929-37, playing primarily with the Cincinnati Reds. Born in Dexter, Michigan, Frey played in 256 major league baseball games (127 as a starter) and had a lifetime record of 57-82 in 1160 innings pitched. He was a sidearm pitcher with a sweeping motion that was effective with right-handed hitters. His lifetime earned run average of 4.50 was good for an Adjusted ERA+ of 90. In 1930, Frey lost 18 games, tops in the National League. His best season was 1934 when he was 11-16 for the Reds with a 3.52 ERA (Adjusted ERA+ of 116). Frey placed #16 in the 1934 National League Most Valuable Player voting.

Frey suffered an arm injury and was sent down to a minor league team in Nashville for the 1937 after eight years in the majors. Frey refused to report to Nashville and asked to be put on the voluntarily retired list. Frey committed suicide that November at age 31 in Spring Arbor Township, Michigan. Frey died of carbon monoxide after running a hose from the exhaust into his car. (Edward J. Rielly, "Baseball and American Culture: Across the Diamond" (2003), p. 274.)[1] [2]