Ken Frailing
- August 25, 2022
- 74 years
About Ken Frailing
Ken Frailing, 74, American baseball player (Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox).
Explore other notable deaths in 2022 or deaths in August 2022.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know Ken Frailing?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|Kenneth Douglas Frailing (January 19, 1948 – August 25, 2022) was an American professional baseball player, a left-handed pitcher who appeared in 116 Major League games for the Chicago White Sox (1972–1973) and Chicago Cubs (1974–1976).
Drafted by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 1966 Major League Baseball draft after graduating from Marion High School, the 6 ft (1.8 m), 190 lb (86 kg) Frailing spent seven seasons in the ChiSox farm system before his recall in the closing weeks of the 1972 season. He appeared in four games as a relief pitcher that year, then ten more in 1973 during a year largely spent with the Triple-A Iowa Oaks. However, his success in the minor leagues that season — he won 11 of 14 decisions with a stellar 2.86 earned run average and was named to the official American Association All-Star Team — attracted the attention of the crosstown Cubs who acquired Frailing along with Steve Stone and Steve Swisher from the White Sox for Ron Santo on December 11, 1973. Jim Kremmel was also sent to the Cubs to complete the transaction one week later on December 18.
Frailing made the 1974 Cubs' Major League roster and appeared in 55 games as a "swing" man, making 16 starts and compiling a 6–9 record and a 3.88 earned run average in 125+1⁄3 innings pitched. On May 27, he registered his only MLB complete game, a 12–4 triumph over the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field, despite surrendering 15 hits. Notably, though, Frailing helped his own cause as a batter that day, with three hits in four at bats and three runs batted in. Frailing made 41 more appearances for the Cubs, all in relief, in 1975, but his ERA ballooned to 5.43. He began 1976 in promising fashion, with only one earned run allowed in his first 14+2⁄3 innings pitched, but a lingering shoulder injury shut him down and effectively ended his career. He pitched in only 16 games in 1976 and 15 in 1977, all but six of them in the minor leagues, and retired as an active player after the 1978 season.
During his MLB career, Frailing made 19 starts and 97 relief appearances. He allowed 252 hits and 82 bases on balls, with 136 strikeouts, in 218+1⁄3 innings pitched. He compiled a 10–16 (3.96) record with two saves.
Frailing died suddenly on August 26, 2022, at the age of 74.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about Ken Frailing on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Frailing
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Ken Frailing's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the full birth name of Ken Frailing?
- A.Kenneth Douglas Frailingcorrect
- B.Kenneth David Frailing
- C.Kenneth Daniel Frailing
- D.Kenneth Donald Frailing
The biography explicitly identifies Kenneth Douglas Frailing as the full name of the baseball player.
Source: introduction
2.In what year was Ken Frailing born?
- A.1946
- B.1948correct
- C.1950
- D.1944
Ken Frailing was born on January 19, 1948.
Source: introduction
3.Which high school did Ken Frailing graduate from before being drafted?
- A.White Sox High School
- B.Chicago High School
- C.Iowa High School
- D.Marion High Schoolcorrect
Ken Frailing graduated from Marion High School before being drafted by the White Sox.
Source: early career section
4.How many Major League games did Ken Frailing appear in during his career?
- A.96
- B.126
- C.116correct
- D.106
Ken Frailing appeared in a total of 116 Major League games.
Source: introduction
5.Which round of the 1966 Major League Baseball draft was Ken Frailing selected in?
- A.Third round
- B.First round
- C.Fifth roundcorrect
- D.Tenth round
Ken Frailing was drafted by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 1966 MLB draft.
Source: early career section
6.Ken Frailing was traded to the Chicago Cubs in a deal that involved which legendary player?
- A.Jim Kremmel
- B.Steve Stone
- C.Ron Santocorrect
- D.Steve Swisher
Ken Frailing was acquired by the Cubs from the White Sox in exchange for Ron Santo.
Source: early career section
7.What was Ken Frailing's earned run average during his successful season with the Iowa Oaks?
- A.2.86correct
- B.3.96
- C.5.43
- D.3.88
During his minor league season with the Iowa Oaks, Ken Frailing achieved a 2.86 earned run average.
Source: early career section
8.On May 27, 1974, Ken Frailing pitched a complete game against which team?
- A.San Francisco Giantscorrect
- B.Iowa Oaks
- C.Chicago White Sox
- D.Chicago Cubs
Ken Frailing recorded his only MLB complete game in a 12–4 victory against the San Francisco Giants.
Source: career steps section
9.What specific injury eventually ended Ken Frailing's career?
- A.An elbow injury
- B.A shoulder injurycorrect
- C.A knee injury
- D.A hip injury
A lingering shoulder injury during the 1976 season effectively ended Ken Frailing's career.
Source: career steps section
10.How many Major League starts did Ken Frailing make throughout his career?
- A.16
- B.55
- C.19correct
- D.41
Ken Frailing made 19 starts and 97 relief appearances throughout his MLB career.
Source: career summary section
11.In what year did Ken Frailing retire as an active player?
- A.1977
- B.1975
- C.1978correct
- D.1976
Ken Frailing retired as an active player following the 1978 season.
Source: career steps section
12.What was Ken Frailing's career MLB save total?
- A.3
- B.2correct
- C.1
- D.0
Ken Frailing recorded two saves during his time in Major League Baseball.
Source: career summary section
13.When did Ken Frailing pass away?
- A.December 18, 2022
- B.January 19, 2022
- C.August 26, 2022correct
- D.August 25, 2022
Ken Frailing died suddenly on August 26, 2022.
Source: final section
14.What was Ken Frailing's weight during his playing career?
- A.200 lb
- B.190 lbcorrect
- C.180 lb
- D.195 lb
Ken Frailing weighed 190 lb according to the biography.
Source: early career section
15.In the game against the San Francisco Giants, how many hits did Ken Frailing have as a batter?
- A.4
- B.1
- C.3correct
- D.2
Ken Frailing helped his own cause by recording three hits in four at bats during his complete game victory.
Source: career steps section
16.How many strikeouts did Ken Frailing record in his MLB career?
- A.252
- B.136correct
- C.116
- D.82
Ken Frailing recorded 136 strikeouts over the course of his Major League career.
Source: career summary section
People who died on August 25
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for Ken Frailing →Advertisement
