Creed Napoleon "Frank" Bates (September 28, 1876 – after 1918) was an American professional pitcher and outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1898 to 1899.

He started his professional baseball career in 1896 with the Columbus Babies and Mobile Blackbirds of the Southern Association.

However, in 1898, Bates started the season with the Interstate League's Dayton Old Soldiers and posted a winning record of 23–18.

[1] In 1899, "syndicate baseball" was allowed in the National League, which meant that a single group could own more than one team.

The Cleveland Spiders and St. Louis Perfectos were both owned by Frank and Stanley Robison, and in March 1899, Bates was "assigned" to St.

[5] The Cleveland Spiders had transferred their best players to St. Louis and were on their way to a 20–134 campaign, which set a record for the lowest winning percentage in Major League Baseball history.