Carlton Ernest "Pudge" Fisk (born December 26, 1947) is a former
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
catcherCatcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order...
who played for 24 years with both the
Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
(1969, 1971-1980) and
Chicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1981-1993). Known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame, he was the first player to be unanimously voted Rookie of the Year in 1972. He is best known for "waving fair" his game-winning home run in the 12th inning of Game 6 of the
1975 World SeriesThe 1975 World Series was between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds. It was ranked as the second greatest World Series by ESPN. Cincinnati won the series four games to three....
, one of the greatest moments in World Series history. At the time of his retirement in 1993 he held the records for most home runs all-time by a catcher with 351 (since passed by
Mike PiazzaMichael Joseph Piazza ; born September 4, 1968, in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, is an Italian American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics.He is a 12-time All-Star...
). A testament to his durability behind the plate, Fisk held the record for most games played at the position of catcher (2,226) until June 17, 2009 when he was surpassed by fellow "Pudge" Ivan Rodriguez. Fisk still holds the American League record for most years served behind the plate (24). Fisk was voted to the All-Star team 11 times and won 3 Silver Slugger awards. Fisk was known as a fierce competitor, a superb handler of pitchers and a natural on-field leader. He was elected to the
Hall of FameThe National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
in 2000.
Early life
Although born in Vermont, Fisk is quick to point out that he is actually from
Charlestown, New HampshireCharlestown is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,749 at the 2000 census. Charlestown includes the villages of North Charlestown, South Charlestown and Hemlock Center...
, just across the
Connecticut RiverThe Connecticut River is the largest river in New England, flowing south from the Connecticut Lakes in northern New Hampshire, along the border between New Hampshire and Vermont, through western Massachusetts and central Connecticut into Long Island Sound at Old Saybrook, Connecticut. It has a...
from
Bellows Falls, VermontBellows Falls is an incorporated village located in the town of Rockingham in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,165 at the 2000 census...
. This being the case, Fisk graduated from Charlestown High School, playing baseball for the
American LegionThe American Legion is a congressionally chartered mutual-aid veterans organization of the United States armed forces founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by the U.S. Congress. The American Legion was founded in 1919 by veterans returning from Europe after...
team in Bellows Falls. At the
University of New HampshireThe University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. The sixth college of the University, University of New Hampshire at Manchester, is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH...
, Fisk started for the
basketball teamThe New Hampshire Wildcats, or Cats, are the athletic teams of the University of New Hampshire. The wildcat is the school's official mascot, the colors are UNH Blue and white...
, while also playing baseball.
Boston Red Sox
Drafted-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1967 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The June draft was filled with talented prospects who would go on to pro careers...
by the
Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
in as the fourth overall pick of the draft, Fisk got the call to the big leagues for two games in . After some seasoning in the Boston minor league system and serving out a military commitment, Fisk was back with the Red Sox in , appearing in fourteen games. Pudge broke out for the Red Sox in his first full season in . Fisk hit .293 with 22 home runs, 28 doubles and a .909 OPS. He led the
American LeagueThe American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, that eventually aspired to major league...
with nine triples (tied with
Joe RudiJoseph Oden Rudi is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics , California Angels and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
of the
Oakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the Oakland Coliseum....
), and was the last catcher to lead the league in this statistical category. As the result of his 1972 season, Fisk won both the AL Gold Glove at Catcher and the AL Rookie of the Year awards. He was the first player in Major League Baseball history to be awarded Rookie of the Year by a unanimous vote.
In June 1974, Fisk suffered a devastating knee injury when
Cleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field . The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
Leron LeeLeron Lee is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played 8 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres. Lee, the oldest of six children, graduated from Grant High School in Sacramento with 36 football scholarship offers from major...
collided with him at home plate, tearing several knee ligaments. After undergoing reconstructive knee surgery, Fisk was told he would never play again, yet the backstop returned just twelve months later to hit .331 in 1975.
1975 World Series
The defining moment of Fisk's illustrious career came in the 12th inning of Game 6 of the 1975 World Series at
Fenway ParkFenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use...
. He hit
Cincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds' 1975 season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Reds winning the National League West with a record of 108-54, 20 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds also won the National League Championship Series by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the...
pitcher
Pat DarcyPatrick Leonard Darcy is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1974 to 1976....
's second pitch down the left field line that appeared to be heading into foul territory. The enduring image of Fisk jumping and waving the ball fair as he made his way to first base is considered by many to be one of baseball's greatest moments (it is referred to in the
Gus Van SantGus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American film director, screenwriter, photographer, musician, and author. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Achievement in Directing for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, and won the Palme d'Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival for his...
movie
Good Will HuntingGood Will Hunting is a 1997 drama film directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who both star in the film....
). The ball struck the foul pole, giving the Red Sox a 7–6 win and forcing a seventh and deciding game of the fall classic. The next day, the Reds won the first of back-to-back World Series championships.
The image of him waving the ball fair changed the way baseball was televised. During this time, cameramen covering baseball were instructed to follow the flight of the ball. In a 1999 interview, NBC cameraman Lou Gerard admitted that the classic shot was not due to his own skills as a cameraman, but because he had been distracted by a nearby rat. Unable to follow the ball, he kept the camera on Fisk instead. This play was perhaps the most important catalyst in getting camera operators to focus most of their attention on the players themselves, and resulted in many future memorable World Series moments involving, among others,
Kirk GibsonKirk Harold Gibson is a former Major League Baseball player, best known for his clutch home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series....
(
1988The 1988 World Series matched the Oakland Athletics against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Dodgers upsetting the heavily favored A's to win the Series in five games...
),
Joe CarterJoseph Christopher Carter is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from to , most famous for hitting a walk-off home run to win the 1993 World Series, with the Toronto Blue Jays trailing 6–5 to the Philadelphia Phillies, just two outs away from a seventh...
(
1993The 1993 World Series was the second Series in a row with games played in Canada as well as the second Series to be won by a Canadian team.It pitted the defending champion Toronto Blue Jays of the American League against the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies...
) and
Edgar RenteríaEdgar Enrique Rentería is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the San Francisco Giants. He is also the first Colombian to play in the World Series.-Marlins and Cardinals:...
(
1997The 1997 World Series featured the Cleveland Indians, who were playing in their second World Series in three years. Their opponents were the Florida Marlins, who had set a record by reaching the Series in only their fifth season. The Marlins were underdogs, but they capped a stunning season by...
).
Last Years in Boston
Fisk was among the top offensive catchers in the American League in his eight full seasons with the Boston Red Sox. Over that time, he averaged 20 home runs and 70 RBIs per season. His best year in Boston was in 1977 when Pudge averaged .315 with 26 HRs and 102 RBI.
Fisk was reportedly among a group of several Red Sox players who lobbied Boston management for players to be paid what they deserved, which made him none too popular with
Haywood SullivanHaywood Cooper Sullivan was an American catcher, manager, general manager and club owner in Major League Baseball...
, the Boston general manager. When Fisk's contract expired at the end of the 1980 season, Sullivan in fact mailed him a new contract, but put it in the mail one day after the contractual deadline. As a result, Fisk was technically a free agent and he signed a $3.5 million deal with the Chicago White Sox, beginning with the 1981 season.
Chicago White Sox
Fisk was signed by the White Sox on March 18, 1981. At that time, his old number 27 was held on the White Sox by pitcher
Ken KravecKen Kravec , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1975-1982. Ken graduated from Midpark High School and played college baseball at Ashland University.-Fast Facts:...
. Fisk flip-flopped his old number and thus wore the unusual baseball number of 72 on his jersey. Although Kravec was traded just ten days later, Fisk retained the number 72 throughout his career with the White Sox.
After joining the White Sox, he played an instrumental role in helping the
teamThe Chicago White Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the White Sox winning the American League West championship. It marked their first postseason appearance since the 1959 World Series.- Offseason :...
win its first
American League Western DivisionThe American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment...
title in . His .289 batting average, 26 home runs, and 86 RBI, as well as his leadership on the young team, helped him to finish third in the MVP voting (behind
Baltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 1st in the American League East with a record of 98 wins and 64 losses...
teammates
Cal Ripken, Jr.Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr., , is a retired Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire career for the Baltimore Orioles....
and
Eddie MurrayEddie Clarence Murray is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who was known as one of the most reliable and productive hitters of his era, earning the nickname "Steady Eddie". Murray is regarded as one of the best switch hitters ever to play the game...
). Fisk also caught
LaMarr HoytDewey LaMarr Hoyt is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who won the American League Cy Young Award.-Chicago White Sox:...
that season, the 1983 Cy Young award winner.
Injuries once again befell Fisk in the 1984 season, limiting him to just 102 games and a .231 average. The experience led him to begin a new training regimen which he would use for the rest of his career. In his Hall of Fame induction speech, Fisk credited White Sox strength and conditioning coach Phil Claussen for his turnaround. Claussen introduced Fisk to a more scientific approach to physical conditioning which included long sessions of weight training. Fisk often credited the training program to extending his career.
In 1985, following the advent of his new training program, Fisk had the most productive offensive year of his career. He hit 37 home runs and drove in 107 runs, both career-high numbers. At the age of 37, Fisk tied his career high for stolen bases with 17 thefts on the year.
On August 4, 1985 Fisk caught all nine innings of Tom Seaver's complete game 300th career victory, which was played in
Yankee StadiumYankee Stadium was a stadium at East 161st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx in New York City. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and after extensive renovations, from 1976 to 2008. The stadium had a capacity of 57,545 and hosted 6,581...
.
Supremely well-conditioned, Fisk went on to play eight more seasons with the White Sox. He caught
Bobby ThigpenRobert Thomas "Bobby" Thigpen is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is noted for setting the major league record of 57 saves during the season, which has since been broken by Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher Francisco Rodriguez...
as he set the then-record for most saves in a season (57) in 1990 and was instrumental in developing
Jack McDowellJack Burns McDowell is a former Major League Baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, McDowell won the American League Cy Young Award in 1993. He was nicknamed "Black Jack."...
who won the
Cy Young awardThe Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
in 1993. Along the way, Fisk set the then-record for most home runs by a catcher with 351 (since surpassed by
Mike PiazzaMichael Joseph Piazza ; born September 4, 1968, in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, is an Italian American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics.He is a 12-time All-Star...
) and most games caught in a career with 2,226. A single in the
1991 All-Star GameThe 1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 62nd playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 9, 1991 at SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, the home of the Toronto...
made him the oldest player to collect a hit in the history of All-Star competition. Fisk was also the final active position player in the 1990s who had played in the 1960s.
In a move that ended Fisk's relationship with the White Sox organization for many years, he was unceremoniously released from the White Sox mid-season just days after setting the games caught record. When the White Sox won the division title later that year, Fisk was reportedly not allowed to enter the clubhouse to congratulate his teammates of just a few months prior.
Thurman Munson
Fisk was known for his longstanding feud with
New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division...
counterpart
Thurman MunsonThurman Lee Munson was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played with the New York Yankees from 1969 to 1979. Munson was killed at age 32 while trying to land his personal airplane.-Life and career:...
. One particular incident that typified their feud, and the
Yankees-Red Sox rivalryThe New Yor Yankees-Boston Red Sox rivalry is one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in American professional sports. For nearly 100 years, Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees of the American League have been intense rivals...
in general, occurred on August 1, 1973 at
Fenway ParkFenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use...
. With the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the 9th, Munson attempted to score on
Gene MichaelEugene Richard Michael is a former player, manager and executive in Major League Baseball.-Playing career:Michael earned the nickname "Stick" due to his skinny frame. After finishing high school, he went to Kent State University...
's missed bunt attempt. Munson barreled into Fisk, triggering a 10-minute
bench-clearing brawlA bench-clearing brawl, sometimes known as a basebrawl or a rhubarb, is a form of ritualistic fighting that occurs in sports, most notably baseball and ice hockey, in which both teams leave their dugouts, bullpens, or benches and charge the playing area in order to fight one another.-Baseball:In...
in which both catchers were ejected. The feud ended in
In another incident typifying the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, Fisk was also involved in an altercation with
Lou PiniellaLouis Victor Piniella is the current manager of the Chicago Cubs and a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
during a May 2, 1976 game at Yankee Stadium. In the sixth inning of this game, Piniella barreled into Fisk trying to score on an
Otto VelezOtoniel "Otto" Vélez Franceschi was a Major League Baseball outfielder from to . He was nicknamed "The Swatto"....
single. Fisk and Piniella shoved each other at home plate, triggering another bench-clearing brawl. After the fight apparently died down and order appeared to be restored, Fisk's pitcher,
Bill LeeWilliam Francis Lee III , , is an American athlete and retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Boston Red Sox from - and the Montreal Expos from -...
, and Yankee third baseman
Graig NettlesGraig Nettles is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and left-handed batter who played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , San Diego Padres , Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos .Nettles was one of the best defensive third basemen...
began exchanging words and punches, igniting the brawl anew. Lee suffered a separated left shoulder in the altercation and missed much of the season.
Deion Sanders
In another memorable incident, pro-football and pro-baseball player
Deion SandersDeion Luwynn Sanders is a former National Football League cornerback, Major League Baseball outfielder, and is currently an NFL Network commentator. He carries the nicknames "Prime Time" and "Neon Deion"....
, then with the Yankees, hit a pop fly, and declined to run to first base, suspecting that the ball would be easily caught. Fisk yelled at Sanders to run the ball out and told Sanders during his next at-bat,
"If you don't play it [the game] right, I'm going to kick your ass right here."
Reputation
Records and Legacy
Fisk retired with the then-record of 72 home runs hit after the age of 40, since eclipsed by Barry Bonds (79).
Pudge's .481 slugging percentage while with the Red Sox is the tenth best in that club's long history.
Fisk is one of only seven players in history who have caught more than 150 games in a season multiple times (
Jim SundbergJames Howard Sundberg is a former professional baseball catcher for a number of teams, most significantly the Texas Rangers. He batted and threw right-handed. As of October 2008 he is employed by the Texas Rangers as Senior Executive Vice-President of Public Relations.Sundberg graduated from the...
,
Randy HundleyCecil Randolph Hundley Jr. is a former Major League Baseball Gold Glove winning catcher who played for the San Francisco Giants for 16 at bats , the Chicago Cubs , the Minnesota Twins , the San Diego Padres , and for the Cubs again in 1976 and 1977.Hundley came to the Cubs in one of the best...
,
Ted SimmonsTed Lyle Simmons is a retired American catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves . Simmons was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
,
Frankie HayesFrank Witman Hayes was an American catcher in Major League Baseball from 1933 to 1947. He batted and threw right-handed, and played for the Philadelphia Athletics in the most significant portion of his career. Other teams he was a member of, all fairly briefly, included the St...
and
Gary CarterGary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid", or "Kid Carter" is a Hall of Fame Major League Baseball catcher from –. During his career, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold Glove awards and five Silver Slugger awards...
).
Fisk is one of only sixteen catchers elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Among those, Fisk has the most hits (2,356) and runs scored (1,276).
Pudge finished in the top ten in American League Most Valuable Player voting four times (1972, 1977-78, and 1983).
Honors
Fisk was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in , choosing the Boston Red Sox cap for his plaque, although he played for more seasons with the
Chicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
Fisk was known to fans by two endearing nicknames. While "Pudge" is a common name given to catchers (a nickname shared, for example, by catcher
Iván RodríguezIván Rodríguez Torres commonly nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Texas Rangers...
), he is also known as "The Commander" for his ability to take control on the field.
Fisk is also one of a small numbers of baseball players embraced by the fans of two teams. The Chicago White Sox retired his uniform number 72 on September 14, 1997. The Boston Red Sox retired his uniform number 27 on September 4, 2000. He is one of eight people to have their uniform number retired by at least two teams, and one of only three to have different numbers retired by two teams.
In , he was selected as a finalist for the
Major League Baseball All-Century TeamIn 1999, Major League Baseball All-Century Team was chosen. To select the team, a panel of experts first compiled a list of the 100 greatest players from the past century. Fans then voted on the players using paper and online ballots....
, and finished third in the balloting.
In 2004 he was named the greatest New Hampshire athlete of all time.
In May 2008, Fisk returned to the White Sox as a team ambassador, and a member of the team's speakers bureau.
The Fisk Foul Pole
On June 13, 2005, the Red Sox honored Fisk and the 12th-inning
home runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
that won Game 6 of the
1975 World SeriesThe 1975 World Series was between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds. It was ranked as the second greatest World Series by ESPN. Cincinnati won the series four games to three....
by naming the left field foul pole where it landed the
Fisk Foul Pole. In a pregame ceremony from the
Monster SeatsThe Green Monster is the nickname of the thirty-seven foot, two-inch high left field wall at Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team...
, Fisk was cheered by the
Fenway ParkFenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use...
crowd while the shot was replayed to the strains of
HandelHANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
’s
Hallelujah ChorusMessiah is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel based on a libretto by Charles Jennens. Composed in the summer of 1741 and premiered in Dublin on 13 April 1742, Messiah is Handel's most famous creation and is among the most popular works in Western choral literature...
. The Red Sox scheduled the ceremony to coincide with an
interleagueInterleague play is the term used to describe regular season Major League Baseball games played between teams in different leagues, introduced in . Before the 1997 season, teams in the American League and National League did not meet during the regular season...
series against the
Cincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. They are members of the Central Division of the National League....
, who were making their first trip back to Fenway Park since the '75 Series. Thirty years later, the video of Fisk trying to wave the ball fair remains one of the game's enduring images. Game 6 is often considered one of the best games played in major league history. The crowd remembered that magical moment at precisely 12:34 a.m. ET early on the morning of Oct. 22, 1975, when Fisk drove a 1-0 fastball from Cincinnati right-hander Pat Darcy high into the air, heading down the left-field line. "The ball only took about two and half seconds," recalled Fisk. "It seemed like I was jumping and waving for more than two and a half seconds." Two and a half seconds later, the ball caromed off the bright yellow pole, ending one of the most dramatic World Series games ever played and giving the Red Sox a 7-6 win over the Reds in 12 hard-fought innings.
On the field, Fisk threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his former batterymate
Luis TiantLuis Clemente Tiant Vega , born November 23, 1940? in Marianao, Cuba, , is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels .-Cuba and Mexico:Tiant...
. From now on, like the Pesky Pole down the right-field line, the left-field pole will officially be called the
Fisk Foul Pole. The idea was the inspiration of the countless fans who contacted the Red Sox about recognizing the historic moment. Fenway's right field foul pole, which is just 302 feet from the plate, is named
Pesky's PolePesky's Pole, or The Pesky Pole, is the nickname for the right field foul pole at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. It is named after Johnny Pesky, who played second base, shortstop and third base for the Red Sox from 1942 to 1952, except for 1943-45 during World War II. The pole sits only...
, for light-hitting former Red Sox
shortstopShortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Johnny PeskyJohn Michael Pesky , nicknamed "The Needle," is a former Major League Baseball shortstop/third baseman who played in the American League from 1942 to 1954. He missed all of the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons while serving in World War II.Johnny Pesky's biography is Mr. Red Sox by Bill Nowlin,...
.
Mel ParnellMelvin Lloyd Parnell is a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher.Parnell spent his entire ten-year career with the Boston Red Sox , compiling a 123-75 record with 732 strikeouts, a 3.50 earned run average, 113 complete games, 20 shutouts, and 1752.2 innings pitched in 289 games...
named the pole after Pesky in when he won a game with a home run just inside the right field pole.
Rings
After the June 13 ceremony in Boston, Fisk received an honorary
World SeriesThe World Series has been the annual championship series of the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada since 1903, concluding the postseason of Major League Baseball...
ring from the Red Sox commemorating their
2004 World SeriesThe 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
victory. On Saturday, August 12, 2006, the Chicago White Sox presented Fisk with another ring, this one in honor of the White Sox'
2005 championshipThe 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros 4 games to 0 in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home field advantage...
.
Statue
The
Chicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
unveiled a life-sized bronze statue of Carlton Fisk on August 7, 2005. The statue is located inside
U.S. Cellular FieldU.S. Cellular Field is a baseball ballpark in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, it is the home of the Chicago White Sox of the American League. The park opened for the 1991 season, after the White Sox had spent 81 years at old Comiskey Park...
on the main concourse in left field. It joined similar statues depicting
Charles ComiskeyCharles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey was a Major League Baseball player, manager and team owner. He was a key player in the formation of the American League and later owned the Chicago White Sox...
and
Minnie MiñosoSaturnino Orestes Armas Miñoso Arrieta, commonly referred to as Minnie Miñoso , is a former star left fielder in Major League Baseball. He had earlier been a standout third baseman in the Negro Leagues, and would later play several seasons in Mexican baseball...
and eventually
Luis AparicioLuis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel is a former shortstop in professional baseball. His career spanned three decades, from through . Aparicio played for the Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
,
Nellie FoxJacob Nelson Fox was a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Chicago White Sox. Fox was born in St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania. He was selected as the MVP of the American League in...
,
Billy PierceWalter William Pierce is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Chicago White Sox...
, and
Harold BainesHarold Douglas Baines is a former right fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for five American League teams from 1980 to 2001. He is best known for his three stints with the Chicago White Sox, the team on which he now serves as coach...
.
Career statistics
Carlton Fisk's career statistics.
| G |
AB |
HIn baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
|
2B In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
|
3B In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
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HRIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
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RIn baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded. A player may score by hitting a home run or by any combination of plays that puts him safely "on base" as a...
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RBI Runs batted in or RBI is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play...
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SB In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate. In baseball statistics, stolen bases are denoted by SB...
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BB A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
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IBB |
SO Strike Out, , North American Harness racing championStrike Out was born in 1969 at Castleton Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and is by Bret Hanover out of the mare Golden Miss....
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SH In baseball, a sacrifice bunt is the act of deliberately bunting the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base. The batter is almost always sacrificed but sometimes reaches base due to an error or fielder's choice...
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SF In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
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HBP In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher...
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AVG |
OBP |
SLG In baseball statistics, slugging percentage is a popular measure of the power of a hitter. It is calculated as total bases divided by at bats:...
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| 2,499 |
8,756 |
2,356 |
421 |
47 |
376 |
1,276 |
1,330 |
128 |
849 |
105 |
1,386 |
26 |
79 |
143 |
.269 |
.341 |
.457 |
See also
External links