Fred Besana (baseball)

Fred Besana
Pitcher
Born: April 5, 1931 (1931-04-05) (age 80)
Lincoln, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right 
MLB debut
April 18, 1956 for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
May 13, 1956 for the Baltimore Orioles
Career statistics
Earned run average     5.60
Record     1-0
Strikeouts     7
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Frederick Cyril Besana (born April 5, 1931 in Lincoln, California, USA) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Baltimore Orioles in 1956. He also played in the minor leagues for eight seasons.

Besana made his major league debut on April 18, 1956 at the age of 25. In his first appearance, he pitched two innings, allowing two walks while striking out one batter (Don Buddin) and allowing no runs to score. In total, he appeared in seven games in his sole big league season and posted a 1-0 record with a 5.60 ERA. On April 22, he made the first of two career starts, picking up the victory against the Washington Senators.[1] He appeared in his final big league game on May 13.

Besana pitched in the minor leagues in 1950, from 1954 to 1959 and in 1960. In his first professional season, he won 18 games for the Sweetwater Swatters and Albuquerque Dukes, despite posting a 5.14 ERA. With the Vancouver Mounties in 1959, he posted a 2.77 ERA in 32 games. Overall, Besana went 58-67 with a 4.33 ERA in 254 minor league games.[2]

He son, Fred Besana, played in the National Football League and United States Football League.

References