Franklin Lindsay Forbes (March 30, 1891 – August 19, 1983) was a Negro league infielder for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League.

Nicknamed "Strangler" and sometimes appearing as "Joe" Forbes, he played for his hometown team Philadelphia Giants at the age of 22.

In 1917, 26 year-old Forbes registered for the WWI draft.

He listed his occupation as a porter for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

[3] Forbes died at the age of 92 in his hometown of Philadelphia in 1983.