Chico Fernandez
Encyclopedia
Humberto "Chico" Fernández Pérez (born March 2, 1932 in Havana, Cuba) is a former Major League Baseball
shortstop who played eight seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers
(1956), Philadelphia Phillies
(1957-1960), Detroit Tigers
(1960-1963), and New York Mets
(1963). Fernández played in 856 Major League games, 810 at shortstop. He scored 270 runs, collected 666 hits, and had a career batting average of .240.
Fernández began his career as a bright prospect for the Brooklyn Dodgers but was not able to break into the lineup with Pee Wee Reese
at the shortstop position. On April 5, 1957, the Dodgers traded Fernández to the Philadelphia Phillies
for five players (Ron Negray
, Tim Harkness
, Elmer Valo
, and Mel Geho), plus $75,000. Fernández was the first African American to play in a game for the Phillies, appearing for Philadelphia on April 16, 1957. Fernández was the Phillies' regular shortstop for two seasons. In his first year with the Phillies, Fernández collected 131 hits for a .262 batting average and a .302 on base percentage. He also stole 18 bases, 5th best in the National League. He also stole 12 bases in 1958, 9th best in the National League. Fernández' batting average dropped over the next two seasons, and he saw limited time in 1959, hitting .211.
In December 1959, the Phillies traded Fernández to the Detroit Tigers
, and he became the Tigers' regular shortstop for three seasons from 1960-1962. In 1960, he led American League shortstops with 34 errors; his fielding percentage was .947. By 1962, he increased his fielding percentage to .960. More surprising, Fernández displayed power as a hitter in 1962. After six seasons in which he never hit more than 6 home runs, Fernández hit 20 home run
s and 59 RBIs for the Tigers in 1962. Both were career highs.
With a young Dick McAuliffe
ready to assume the shortstop position for the Tigers, Detroit traded Fernández to the New York Mets
in May 1963. Fernández played 58 games for the Mets in 1963 and was then traded to the Chicago White Sox
in April 1964. Fernández did not play for the Sox. He finished his career playing in Japan in for the Hanshin Tigers
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop who played eight seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1956), Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1957-1960), Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1960-1963), and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
(1963). Fernández played in 856 Major League games, 810 at shortstop. He scored 270 runs, collected 666 hits, and had a career batting average of .240.
Fernández began his career as a bright prospect for the Brooklyn Dodgers but was not able to break into the lineup with Pee Wee Reese
Pee Wee Reese
Harold Peter Henry "Pee Wee" Reese was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from to . A ten-time All Star, Reese contributed to seven National League championships for the Dodgers and, was inducted...
at the shortstop position. On April 5, 1957, the Dodgers traded Fernández to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for five players (Ron Negray
Ron Negray
Ronald Alvin Negray was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in 66 games from 1952-1958 with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies....
, Tim Harkness
Tim Harkness
Thomas William Harkness is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1961 to 1964 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets....
, Elmer Valo
Elmer Valo
Elmer William Valo , born Imrich Valo, was a Slovak-American right fielder, coach and scout in Major League Baseball, making his debut on September 22,...
, and Mel Geho), plus $75,000. Fernández was the first African American to play in a game for the Phillies, appearing for Philadelphia on April 16, 1957. Fernández was the Phillies' regular shortstop for two seasons. In his first year with the Phillies, Fernández collected 131 hits for a .262 batting average and a .302 on base percentage. He also stole 18 bases, 5th best in the National League. He also stole 12 bases in 1958, 9th best in the National League. Fernández' batting average dropped over the next two seasons, and he saw limited time in 1959, hitting .211.
In December 1959, the Phillies traded Fernández to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, and he became the Tigers' regular shortstop for three seasons from 1960-1962. In 1960, he led American League shortstops with 34 errors; his fielding percentage was .947. By 1962, he increased his fielding percentage to .960. More surprising, Fernández displayed power as a hitter in 1962. After six seasons in which he never hit more than 6 home runs, Fernández hit 20 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 59 RBIs for the Tigers in 1962. Both were career highs.
With a young Dick McAuliffe
Dick McAuliffe
Richard John McAuliffe is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and second baseman for the Detroit Tigers from to and for the Boston Red Sox from to . He was a part of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship, and was known for his...
ready to assume the shortstop position for the Tigers, Detroit traded Fernández to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in May 1963. Fernández played 58 games for the Mets in 1963 and was then traded to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located 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...
in April 1964. Fernández did not play for the Sox. He finished his career playing in Japan in for the Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
.