Frenchy Bordagaray

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Stanley George "Frenchy" Bordagaray (January 3, 1910 - April 13, 2000) was a major-league baseball player for eleven seasons with the Chicago White Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Yankees.

Born in Coalinga, California, Bordagaray lettered in four sports at Fresno State College (later renamed California State University, Fresno) before making his professional baseball debut in 1931 with the Sacramento Solons of the Pacific Coast League. He moved to the majors in 1934 and played until 1945. Over his career, Bordagaray hit .283 with 13 home runs and 270 RBIs in 2,632 at-bats. He played in two World Series--with the Reds in 1939 and the Yankees in 1941.

Bordagaray sported a mustache--common among 19th century ballplayers and also in later decades of the 20th century, but almost unheard of during his era.

He also authored a famous baseball quote. Upon being suspended for several games due to spitting at an umpire, and being asked by a reporter about the length of the suspension, Bordagaray puckishly answered, "It was more than I expectorated."

After his baseball career, Bordagaray owned restaurants and clubs in St. Louis and Kansas City and developed land as cemeteries in the Midwest. In 1961 he moved to Ventura, California, where he was supervisor of youth sports and recreation programs.

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• The Deadball Era