Born: 1865
Died: July 17, 1933
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Acquired: Signed by the St. Louis Whites before December 17, 1887 from Hot Springs (Southwest League).
Departed: Released by the St. Louis Whites on April 6, 1888; signed with Houston (Texas League).
Frank Weikart was a young player from St. Louis starting his second professional season in 1888. In 1887 he played both second base and pitched for the club in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the Southwestern League. As a pitcher, he was described as "so swift that none of the Southwestern League catchers could hold him" (Arkansas Democrat, December 17, 1887). He was signed by the Whites in December of 1887. In Spring Traing he played in three games for the Whites in the outfield before being released by the club at the end of March. Given the timing of his last game and release, and the first game by Ernie Burch (April 1), it seems likely the two were related. The Globe Democrat reported on April 6 that he had a telegram waiting for him, the Republican reported that he was released on April 7, and the Globe-Democrat reported he left town on the evening of April 7 to go to Houston to join the Texas League club there. It is unclear if he received a better offer from Houston and asked to be released, or if he was released and then got the offer.Weikart played with Houston and then San Antonio during the 1888 season. His career lasted 21 seasons in the minors through age 43, finishing as a player/manager in Galveston in 1907 and 1908. Baseball-Reference credits him with almost 1200 games and over 4000 ABs for his career, although records are not available for some seasons. His obituary notes that he was sold to the Louisville Colonels of the National League (sometime between 1892 and 1899 when they were members of the NL), but that he was released without ever playing for them.
Weikart was one of three players (the others being Pete Somers and Jerry McCormack) to appear in a Spring Training game with Whites, but not to appear in an official league game. While the other two had cards in the Old Judge cards set in which they were identified with St. Louis, Weikart did not, suggesting that he was released before the photos for the cards were taken.
Spring stats for the Whites Date Opponent Pos. AB R BH 2B 3B HR SB BB K 3/25/1888 Browns 3b 3 0 0 1 3/27/1888 Browns 3b 3 0 0 2 3/29/1888 Browns 3b 4 0 1 2 Totals (16 G) 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 putout, 1 error and no assists