[1] Born in Mill Valley, California, Freitas attended Tamalpais High School in the mid-1920s.

His father, who was Portuguese, was reluctant to allow Freitas to play baseball because of his duties on the family farm.

Freitas was ultimately allowed to play for the school's baseball team while his older brothers, George and Arthur, tended to the cows.

After pitching a no-hitter on his birthday in 1932, Freitas moved up to the Philadelphia Athletics for two seasons, followed by three with the Cincinnati Reds.

He has been selected for the Pacific Coast League's Hall of Fame and for its All-Century Team.