John (Tito) Francona would have been elected to the Beaver County Sports
Hall of Fame sooner if he had been willing to accept the honor. But
the modest former major league baseball player refused to be
considered until older men he felt were more worthy had been voted
in. Tito is a charter member of the Hall of Fame’s executive board
and served the organization as treasurer. He played 15 seasons of major league baseball
(1956-1970) for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Detroit
Tigers, Cleveland Indians, St Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia
Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Oakland A’s, and Milwaukee Brewers. He had
a .272 lifetime batting average with 1395 hits, 125 homers, 656
RBIs, and 81 pinch hits. Tito played both outfield and first base
during his long career. While playing for the Cleveland Indians in
1959, he batted .363 for the best average in the major leagues but
didn’t qualify for the American League batting title because he
didn’t have enough official times at bat (he was a pinch hitter
during the first three months of that season). After ending his major
league career, Tito coached briefly at the Community College of
Beaver County. In 1971 he became recreation director of Beaver
County. His son,
Terry,
went on to fame as a major league player and manager.
John (Tito) Francona would have been elected to the Beaver County Sports
Hall of Fame sooner if he had been willing to accept the honor. But
the modest former major league baseball player refused to be
considered until older men he felt were more worthy had been voted
in. Tito is a charter member of the Hall of Fame’s executive board
and served the organization as treasurer. He played 15 seasons of major league baseball
(1956-1970) for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Detroit
Tigers, Cleveland Indians, St Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia
Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Oakland A’s, and Milwaukee Brewers. He had
a .272 lifetime batting average with 1395 hits, 125 homers, 656
RBIs, and 81 pinch hits. Tito played both outfield and first base
during his long career. While playing for the Cleveland Indians in
1959, he batted .363 for the best average in the major leagues but
didn’t qualify for the American League batting title because he
didn’t have enough official times at bat (he was a pinch hitter
during the first three months of that season). After ending his major
league career, Tito coached briefly at the Community College of
Beaver County. In 1971 he became recreation director of Beaver
County. His son,