Frank Kitson

Who was Frank Kitson?

Frank R. Kitson was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played ten seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Superbas, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, and New York Highlanders.

Born in Hopkins, Michigan, Kitson's major league career got off to a roller coaster start. In his first start on May 19, 1898, he shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates. Six days later, the Cubs scored 20 runs off Kitson; the game was called after 7 innings with the Cubs ahead 20–4.

Kitson won 15 or more games for five straight years from 1899 to 1903, including 22 wins with the Baltimore Orioles in 1899. In 1899, he was among the National League leaders in ERA, wins, winning percentage, and complete games.

Kitson was one of the top left-handed pitchers at the turn of the century. After winning 22 games for the Orioles, he had consecutive 19-win seasons for Brooklyn in 1901 and 1902. In 1903, he jumped to the American League, where he did not have as much success.

Born in Hopkins, Michigan, he led the National League in saves in 1900 with 4. In 249 career games, Kitson posted a 128–117 record with a 3.18 ERA.

He died at age 60 in 1930 in Allegan, Michigan and was interred in Hudson Corners Cemetery.