Frank Elmer Huelsman (June 5, 1874 – June 9, 1959) was an American professional baseball left fielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Browns (NL), Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns (AL), and Washington Senators.

A true baseball nomad, Huelsman started his major league career late in with St. Louis Browns of the National League, hitting for a .286 average (2-for-7) in two games. Out of the majors for six full seasons, he later achieved the rare distinction of being the first player in major league history to play for four different teams in a season.

Frank Huelsman

Huelsman reached the American League in , appearing in three games with the Chicago White Sox before moving to the Detroit Tigers, the White Sox again, the new St. Louis Browns, and the Washington Senators. He hit .245 (97-for-396) in 112 games that season, including two home runs and 35 RBI.

Frank Huelsman

In January , the Boston Americans obtained outfielder George Stone from the Senators. Then, the Browns reclaimed Huelsman from Washington, where he had been on loan, and sent him along with outfielder Jesse Burkett to Boston in exchange for Stone. Boston then sent Huelsman back to Washington in payment for Stone. For Huelsman, it was his eighth transaction in less than a year. Nevertheless, he enjoyed a good season with the Senators, hitting .271 with three home runs and 62 RBI in 121 games, including 48 runs, 28 doubles, eight triples, and 11 stolen bases – all career-numbers, but he was sent down in 1906, and was never called back up.

Frank Huelsman

In a three-season career, Huelsman was a .258 hitter with five home runs and 97 RBI in 235 games.

Following his Major League Baseball career, Huelsman became a minor league star, compiling a .342 career average over nearly 20 years, including five batting titles and six RBI titles. While playing for the Salt Lake City Skyscrapers in the Class D Union Association, Huelsman won two Triple Crowns between 1911 and 1913, narrowly missing a third Triple Crown in 1912 by .002 points in batting average.

Huelsman died in Affton, Missouri, just four days after his 85th birthday.

References

Sources

1904 Detroit Tigers

Baseball Library

Baseball Reference

Retrosheet

1874 births

1959 deaths

Major League Baseball left fielders

St. Louis Browns (NL) players

Chicago White Sox players

Detroit Tigers players

St. Louis Browns players

Washington Senators (1901–1960) players

19th-century baseball players

Baseball players from St. Louis

Danville Champions players

Peoria Distillers players

Shreveport Giants players

Portland Browns players

Spokane Indians players

Montreal Royals players

Kansas City Blues (baseball) players

Harrisburg Senators players

New Orleans Pelicans (baseball) players

Mobile Sea Gulls players

Great Falls Electrics players

Salt Lake City Skyscrapers players

Albuquerque Dukes players

Omaha Rourkes players

Sherman Hitters players