Fred Valentine

Fred Lee Valentine
(Squeaky)

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
• School Tennessee A&I State College
• High School Booker T. Washington High School (Memphis)
• Debut September 7, 1959
• Final Game September 24, 1968
• Born January 19, 1935 in Clarksdale, MS USA
• Died December 26, 2022 in Washington, DC USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Fred Valentine played seven seasons in the majors. He showed both moderate power and some speed.

Valentine and George Altman were the first players out of Tennessee State University to reach the major leagues. They were both signed in 1956 and both came up in 1959. The two were teammates at Tennessee State in 1954 and 1955, and Altman came up early in 1959 while Fred came up late in the season. Altman played his entire major league career in the National League while Valentine played his entire career in the American League. Both eventually played in Japan.

He was the 1958 MVP in the Carolina League with the Wilson Tobs.

Valentine also played quarterback at Tennessee State and was an All-American. He had four offers from pro baseball teams and three offers from pro football teams, and chose Baltimore as it was the "best" offer. Valentine felt Paul Richards, the manager, was a great thinker, and Richards was a key reason why Valentine went with the Orioles.

Valentine later served as Vice President and Secretary of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association.

Notable Achievements

• 1958 MVP Carolina League Wilson Tobs

Related Sites

• Fred Valentine at the SABR Bio Project