What is it with the 1969 Royals and catchers who have names commonly associated with females? First, they drafted an Ellie. Then with their 28th selection (#56 overall) they took a Fran. The Fran was Francis Healy, who I’m sure was named after his uncle, Francis Healy, who was a catcher for John McGraw’s New York Giants from 1930 to 1932, and for the World Series champion Gas House gang Cardinals in 1934. The senior Healy, a devout Catholic, was tutored by McGraw, who believed he could be molded into another Mel Ott.
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Both Healys were natives of Holyoke, Massachusetts, which was the birthplace of volleyball and home to famed sportscaster Jack Buck and former Atlanta Braves pitcher Mark Wohlers.