Profiles of the Wet One: Frank “The Fiddler” Corridon
After leaving the Philadelphia Phillies during a successful training season, Corridon joined the Toronto club of the International League. On April 18, Frank beat Milwaukee 7-4 in a complete game effort where he surrended 2 earned runs and earned 4 strikeouts. He started a pattern of deft pitching by using his newly acquired pitch to induce the ground ball, as many as 20 in a 10-inning 0-1 loss to Indianapolis on May 9. An ensuing five game unbeaten streak solidified Philadelphia’s purchase of his contract and later eased the trade of ace Ham Iburg to Chicago (5-7, 1.89 at the time, finished 21-12, 1.98 ERA). The deal was another of Colonel Rogers’ money-saving transactions in the face of rising salaries and contract jumping.
“The Fiddler” found himself in the bullpen, earning his first victory in relief against St. Louis. He made his first start in the majors his next appearance, against Boston, where nerves showed a lack of command in issuing 4 walks but kept hitters off-balance enough to scatter 5 hits over 6 innings in a no-decision. He was shipped back to Toronto when the team needed depth at other positions and regained his control in 3 starts, picking up 2 wins and 18 strikeouts. He finished his year at Toronto with a 9-3 record, 1.87 ERA in 14 starts, walking 24 while striking out 59.
Corridon was recalled to Philadelphia and suffered 10 runs in 5.1 innings in a 6-11 loss to Chicago. He bounced back in relief of Cy Vorhees on August 8 against eventual champion Pittsburgh by allowing 1 run in 6 innings of work. That performance earned him two starts that month, one a masterful 5-0 complete game shutout against St. Louis where the spitball was responsible for 19 groundballs and 3 double-plays, and the other a loss again to Chicago. Veteran and fellow spitballer
Chick Fraser barked about his role on the team and was awarded playing time over the rookie, leaving Frank with spotty action in relief the rest of the season. Overall, Corridon finished 2-3 with 1 save in 13 appearances, sporting a 3.51 ERA in 56.1 innings with 19 walks and 11 strikeouts.
At 21 and pitching for a last place team, Corridon’s start is promising but it’s unclear whether or not he can gain enough control to warrant a starting spot in the rotation next year. Meanwhile, mentor
George Hildebrand caught on with Worcester for a half-year stint in a bench role before being released. He filled in for San Antonio for one game, before heading back to California to round out the extended season there.