Frank Worzniak

Frank Melvin Worzniak
(played professional baseball as Frank Ware)


Born:
November 26, 1912
Pennsylvania

Died:
January 17, 2014
Harper Woods, MI


Career
1930-31 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School)
1931-32 Michigan Normal - Ypsilanti (College) Freshmen
1931-32 Progressive 100 - Detroit (Independent)
1932-33 M.J. Baker - Detroit (Independent)
1932-33 Michigan Normal - Ypsilanti (College)
1934-35 Detroit Hed Aids (Independent)
1935-36 Detroit Hed Aids (MBC)
1935-36 Windsor Cooper Buses (MBC)
1936-37 Detroit Altes Lagers (MBC)
1937-38 Gibson (Detroit Basketball Association) 
1938-39 Michigan Normal - Ypsilanti (College)
1940-41 Sufferin - Detroit (Detroit Basketball Association)
1940-41 Michigan Normal - Ypsilanti (College) Head coach / player
1945-46 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1946-47 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1947-48 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1948-49 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1949-50 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1950-51 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1951-52 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1952-53 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1953-54 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1955-56 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1957-58 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Hamtramck High School - Michigan (High School) Head coach
 

Born in coal country in Pennsylvania, the Worzniak family moved to Detroit's Polish enclave, Hamtramack, in 1924. A talented athlete, Frank played baseball and basketball at a high level, being named captain to both sports teams at Hamtramck High School. Worzniak studied physical education at Michigan Normal (now Eastern Michigan University) and played for two seasons in the MBC. He left school and played pro basketball and minor league baseball (he played minor league baseball under the name Frank Ware), but returned to Normal to finish his education. He also served as the player coach one season. He entered the U.S. Navy during World War 2, and after the war went on to coach the basketball team at his hometown Hamtramck HS. He suffered from heart ailments and even suffered a heart attack in 1960 which eventually lead to his retirement from coaching.

Despite his heart issues, Frank lived to the age of 101, dying in 2014.

He was married to Jean Borowy in 1948 and they had one son and one daughter.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
http://www.ahpeters.com/obituary/Frank-Worzniak/Harper-Woods-MI/1333397

Source:
Detroit Free Press, December 8, 1938
Obituary, A.H. Peters Funeral Home


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/frank-worzniak-ware/