Jack Fisher | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Frostburg, Maryland, U.S. | March 4, 1939|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 14, 1959, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 26, 1969, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 86–139 |
Earned run average | 4.06 |
Strikeouts | 1,017 |
Teams | |
John Howard "Fat Jack" Fisher (born March 4,1939) is an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from 1959 through 1969 for the Baltimore Orioles,San Francisco Giants,New York Mets,Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. Fisher was a member of the 1960's Baltimore Orioles Kiddie Korps. [1] [2]
Fisher was born in Frostburg,Maryland. He attended Richmond Academy High School in Augusta,Georgia,graduating in 1957. [3] He then enrolled in the University of Georgia. He was used primarily as a starting pitcher during his 11-year MLB career. He is known for giving up a few historic home runs. One was Ted Williams's 521st in his final major league at bat (September 28,1960). Another was Roger Maris's 60th home run of the 1961 season (September 26,1961). Also,he gave up the first home run in Shea Stadium history,to Willie Stargell (April 17,1964). [4]
Fisher made his major league debut in relief on April 14,1959 against the New York Yankees at Memorial Stadium. He pitched three innings in the 13–3 loss,giving up seven hits,two walks,four runs (two earned),and striking out five. His first strikeout victim was All-Star catcher Elston Howard,the second batter he faced.
Fisher's best season was 1960,when he had his only winning record (12–11) and was tied for fourth in the American League with three shutouts. From August 24 to September 14 he pitched 29.2 consecutive scoreless innings and ended the year with a 3.41 earned run average,one of his lowest.
He was traded along with Billy Hoeft and Jimmie Coker from the Orioles to the Giants for Stu Miller,John Orsino and Mike McCormick on December 15,1962. [5]
Fisher's busiest seasons were with the early New York Mets. In four seasons (1964–1967) with the perennial losers he won 38 games,lost 73,and had an ERA of 4.58 in 931.2 innings pitched. (The Mets played .355 ball during this time.) Fisher led the National League twice in losses (1965 and 1967) and three times in earned runs allowed (1964,1965,and 1967). In 1965 he lost 24 games,still tied with Roger Craig for the most since 1935. In 1967,however,Fisher pitched the lowest-hit complete game of his career,a two-hit shutout over the Philadelphia Phillies (June 21 at Connie Mack Stadium).
The home starting pitcher in the first game ever at Shea Stadium,Fisher received the honor of throwing the stadium's first official pitch in 1964. Overwhelmed by the crowd noise and pre-game pomp,Fisher recounts that he asked Mets manager Casey Stengel if he could warm up in the bullpen rather than on the field's pitcher's mound,and credits himself with starting that day the big league custom of starting pitchers warming up in the bullpen before the game. [6]
Pitching for the White Sox in 1968,Fisher had a record of 8–13 with a 2.99 ERA,the lowest of his career. In 1969 he was 4–4 with Cincinnati and was traded to the California Angels in the off-season. He was released by the Angels on April 7,1970 (Opening Day),and his big league career was over at the age of 31.
Tommy John described Fisher as "a good,not great,journeyman pitcher...He could give you 200 to 250 innings,and pitch around .500 ball." [7]
In an eleven-season major league career,Fisher posted an 86–139 record with 1,017 strikeouts and a 4.06 ERA in 1,975.2 innings pitched,including 9 shutouts and 62 complete games. He had a batting average of .125 in 594 at bats with one home run,hit against Bobby Locke of the Cleveland Indians on August 7,1960.
Following his retirement from baseball,Fisher settled in Easton,Pennsylvania,where he lives five blocks from former world heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes. He once owned Fat Jack's,an Easton sports bar he sold in 1998. [4] Fisher was inducted into the Academy of Richmond County (his high school) Hall of Fame in October 2017. ARC won seven consecutive state championships from 1951 to 1957. Fisher played on four of those teams. Jack Fisher Way on the school's campus is named for him. [8]
Johan Alexander Santana Araque is a Venezuelan former professional baseball starting pitcher. Santana pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins from 2000 to 2007 and for the New York Mets from 2008 to 2012. A two-time Cy Young Award winner with the Twins,Santana is a four-time All-Star and earned a pitching triple crown in 2006. On June 1,2012,Santana pitched the first no-hitter in New York Mets history against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Jamie Moyer is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Over his 25-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB),Moyer pitched for the Chicago Cubs,Texas Rangers,St. Louis Cardinals,Baltimore Orioles,Boston Red Sox,Seattle Mariners,Philadelphia Phillies,and Colorado Rockies.
David Arthur McNally was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1962 through 1975,most notably as a member of the Baltimore Orioles dynasty that won four American League pennants and two World Series championships between 1966 and 1971. A three-time All-Star,McNally won 20 or more games for four consecutive seasons from 1968 through 1971. He was one of four 20-game winners for the 1971 Orioles,currently the last team as of 2023 to have four 20-win pitchers on the same roster.
Juan Ramón Pizarro a.k.a. "Terín" was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher. He played for 18 seasons on 9 teams,from 1957 through 1974. In 1964,he won 19 games (19–9) and pitched 4 shutouts for the Chicago White Sox. He was selected for the Major League All-Star Baseball game in 1963 and 1964.
Donald William Aase is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1977 to 1990. During his MLB career,Aase played with the Boston Red Sox (1977),California Angels (1978–84),and Baltimore Orioles (1985–88),of the American League. In the National League,he played for the New York Mets (1989) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1990).
Milton Steven Pappas was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from 1957 through 1973. Nicknamed "Gimpy",the 17-year veteran pitched for the Baltimore Orioles (1957–1965),Cincinnati Reds (1966–1968),Atlanta Braves (1968–1970) and Chicago Cubs (1970–1973). A control specialist,Pappas pitched in 520 games,starting 465,with 209 wins,164 losses,43 shutouts,1,728 strikeouts and a 3.40 ERA in 3,186 innings pitched. He was a three-time All-Star player for the Orioles and was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1985. He was also a member of the 1960's Baltimore Orioles Kiddie Korps.
Peter Thomas Harnisch is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played in college at Fordham University from 1984 through 1987,and was an All-American pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball from 1988 through 2001 for the Baltimore Orioles,Houston Astros,New York Mets,Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds.
Jackie Delane Aker is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City / Oakland Athletics,Seattle Pilots,New York Yankees,Chicago Cubs,Atlanta Braves,and New York Mets.
Eddie Gene Fisher is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher with the San Francisco Giants,Chicago White Sox,Baltimore Orioles,Cleveland Indians,California Angels and St. Louis Cardinals between 1959 and 1973. He batted and threw right-handed.
Stephen David Barber was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) left-handed pitcher. He pitched for the Baltimore Orioles and six other teams from 1960 to 1974. Barber spent his first eight years with the Orioles,where he compiled an outstanding 95–75 record as a member of the 1960's Baltimore Orioles Kiddie Korps. Arm injuries hampered the rest of his career which saw him win only 26 and lose 31 for the rest of his 15-year career. While with the Orioles,Barber was an All-Star for two seasons. From 1961 to 1967,Barber bucked baseball superstition by wearing number 13. He also wore this number with the Seattle Pilots.
Douglas Randall Sisk,is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. His primary pitch was a sinker that was difficult for batters to drive in the air.
Thomas Gene Fisher was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. Nicknamed "Big Fish",the 6'0",180 lb. right-hander was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent before the 1962 season. He played briefly for the Orioles in 1967.
Charles Leonard Estrada is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a pitcher from 1960 to 1967,playing for the Baltimore Orioles,Chicago Cubs,and New York Mets. Estrada was a member of the 1960's Baltimore Orioles Kiddie Korps. After his retirement from the major leagues,Estrada served as pitching coach in the majors.
Orlando Gregorio Peña Guevara is a Cuban former professional baseball pitcher. The right-hander played in Major League Baseball for all or parts of 14 seasons between 1958 and 1975 for the Cincinnati Reds,Kansas City Athletics,Detroit Tigers,Cleveland Indians,Pittsburgh Pirates,Baltimore Orioles,St. Louis Cardinals and California Angels. Born in Victoria de Las Tunas,he was listed as 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and 154 pounds (70 kg).
Kenneth Darrell Rowe was an American professional baseball player and coach whose career spanned 60 seasons. The native of Ferndale,Michigan,was a veteran of minor league baseball who appeared in 26 games over parts of three Major League seasons as a middle-relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1963) and Baltimore Orioles (1964–1965). He also spent all but two seasons of his coaching career in the minors;the exceptions came in 1985 and 1986 when he was the big-league pitching coach of the Orioles under managers Joe Altobelli and Earl Weaver.
John Elvin Harshman was an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the New York Giants,Chicago White Sox,Baltimore Orioles,Boston Red Sox,and Cleveland Indians between 1948 and 1960. He batted and threw left-handed.
The 1964 Major League Baseball season was played from April 13 to October 15,1964. This season is often remembered for the end of the New York Yankees' third dynasty,as they won their 29th American League Championship in 44 seasons. However,the Yankees lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. As of 2023,the Cardinals are the only National League team to have an edge over the Yankees in series played (3–2),amongst the non-expansion teams,despite holding a losing record in World Series games against them (13–15).
Dylan Matthew Bundy is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles,Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins.
Kevin John Gausman,nicknamed "Gaus",is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Baltimore Orioles,Atlanta Braves,Cincinnati Reds,and San Francisco Giants. Before his professional career,Gausman attended Louisiana State University (LSU) and played college baseball for the LSU Tigers,with whom he was an All-American. The Orioles selected him in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2013. He was an All-Star in 2021 and 2023.
Shintaro Fujinami is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles,and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers.