Joe Frazier was a professional baseball player who played as a first baseman and outfielder. He was born on February 12, 1944, in Beaufort, South Carolina. Frazier began his baseball career in the minor leagues in 1963, playing for the Jamestown Falcons, a Class A affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics. He played for several minor league teams over the next few years, including the Birmingham Barons, the Modesto Reds, and the Vancouver Mounties.
Frazier made his major league debut on September 12, 1967, with the Athletics. He played in 11 games that season, hitting .200 with one home run and three RBIs. Frazier spent the next two seasons with the Athletics, playing in a total of 99 games and hitting .237 with six home runs and 28 RBIs.
In 1970, Frazier was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. He played in 123 games that season, hitting .269 with 14 home runs and 59 RBIs. Frazier had his best season in 1971, when he hit .319 with 25 home runs and 73 RBIs in 139 games. He was named to the American League All-Star team that year.
Frazier played for the Brewers for four seasons, from 1970 to 1973. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974, and played for them for two seasons. Frazier finished his career with the Chicago Cubs, playing for them in 1976 and 1977.
In his 11-year career, Frazier played in 1,086 games, hitting .257 with 139 home runs and 540 RBIs. He was known for his power hitting and his ability to play multiple positions, including first base, outfield, and designated hitter.
After retiring from baseball, Frazier worked as a scout for the San Francisco Giants and the Milwaukee Brewers. He also coached baseball at the high school and college levels.
Frazier passed away on April 13, 2011, at the age of 67. He was remembered by his former teammates and colleagues as a hardworking and dedicated player who loved the game of baseball.
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