Henry Franklin House (February 18, 1930 – March 13, 2005), nicknamed "Pig", was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played with the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

(1950–51, 1954–57, 1961), Kansas City Athletics (1958–59) and

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

(1960). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. In a 10-season career, House posted a .248 batting average with 47 home runs and 235

RBI RBI most often refers to: *Reserve Bank of India *Run batted in RBI may also refer to: Organisations *Radio Berlin International *Raiffeisen Bank International *Reed Business Information *Restaurant Brands International *Ruđer Bošković In ...

in 653

games A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (such ...

. As a catcher, in 580 games he compiled a .988

fielding percentage In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball. It is calculated by the sum of putouts and assists, div ...

with 2934

putout In baseball statistics, a putout (denoted by ''PO'' or ''fly out'' when appropriate) is awarded to a defensive player who (generally while in secure possession of the ball) records an out by one of the following methods: * Tagging a runner wit ...

s, 258 assists, and 34 errors in 2934 total chances. A native of

Bessemer, Alabama Bessemer is a southwestern suburb of Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. The population was 26,019 at the 2020 census. It is within the Birmingham- Hoover, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area, of which Jefferson County is the ...

, House signed out of Hueytown High School with the Tigers in 1948 for one of the biggest bonuses of the time – $75,000 and two automobiles, according to news reports. House made his debut in 1950 at 20 years of age. He earned his nickname as a baby, when his family used to say he was "big as a house" and he twisted "big" into "pig". As a player, he stood tall and weighed . His mother-in-law said the nickname came about when he came in very dirty from playing outside and his mother told him "you're dirty as a little pig, Frank." House was known as a solid defensive catcher with a fast release and a strong arm. He also called a good game and was great at blocking the plate. His most productive season came in 1955 when he hit .259 with 15 home runs and 53 RBI in 102 games. On April 21, 1958, House scored two runs as a pinch-hitter in an eight-run eighth inning, in a 9-4 Athletics victory over the Cleveland Indians. House's feat was only the sixth such occurrence in major league history. House later served in the Alabama Legislature, where he was instrumental in the creation of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1967. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975 and was honored in 2004 when the Hall instituted the ''Frank "Pig" House Award'' to recognize contributors to state sports. A municipal golf course in his home town of Bessemer, Alabama, bears his name. He was a multi-star athlete at Hueytown High School when he signed his pro contract. House died in Birmingham, Alabama, at age 75.Former Tiger Frank House dies
/ref> His interment was in Bessemer's Cedar Hill Cemetery.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:House, Frank 1930 births 2005 deaths 20th-century American politicians Baseball players from Alabama Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Cincinnati Reds players Detroit Tigers players Flint Arrows players Hueytown High School alumni Kansas City Athletics players Louisville Colonels (minor league) players Major League Baseball catchers Members of the Alabama House of Representatives Rochester Red Wings players Sportspeople from Bessemer, Alabama Toledo Mud Hens players