Frank Killen

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Frank Killen

|position=Pitcher

|image=Frank Killen.jpg

|bats=Left

|throws=Left

|birth_date={{Birth date|1870|11|30}}

|birth_place=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|1939|12|3|1870|11|30}}

|death_place=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=August 27

|debutyear=1891

|debutteam=Milwaukee Brewers

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=June 27

|finalyear=1900

|finalteam=Chicago Orphans

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=164–131

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=3.78

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=725

|teams=

|highlights=

2× NL wins leader (1893, 1896)

}}

Frank Bissell "Lefty" Killen (November 30, 1870 – December 3, 1939) was a professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of ten seasons (1891–1900) with the Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Senators (NL), Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Beaneaters and Chicago Orphans."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/141551002/ Our Second Place: Only Two Out of Three from the Bostons]." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, September 17, 1893, p. 6 (subscription required)."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/535852849/ Late Sporting]." Grand Junction, Colorado: Grand Junction News, May 6, 1893, p. 2 (subscription required)."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/87581193/ Champion James Corbett: Frank Killen Signs a Pittsburgh Base Ball [sic] Contract]." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Post, March 25, 1893, p. 6 (subscription required).

He was born and later died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the age of 69."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/343930/ Two Clever Pitchers]." Logansport, Pennsylvania: Logansport Pharos-Tribune, August 12, 1893, p. 6 (subscription required).

Career

In 1893, Killen posted a league-best 36 victories against fourteen defeats. No left-hander in National League history has won as many games since then. He was the National League wins leader in 1893"[https://www.newspapers.com/image/87581687/ Sent It Back: Frank Killen Asked to Sign a Cheap John Contract]." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Post, February 12, 1893, p. 6 (subscription required). and 1896 with Pittsburgh, leading the league in complete games and shutouts in 1896.

For his career, he compiled a 164–131 record in 321 appearances, with a 3.78 ERA and 725 strikeouts.

As a hitter, Kileen posted a career .241 batting average (241-for-998) with eleven home runs, 127 RBI, 151 runs scored and drew 131 bases on balls.