Fred Scherman
Encyclopedia
Frederick John Scherman, Jr. (born July 25, 1944) was a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
for eight years with the Detroit Tigers
(1969–1973), Houston Astros
(1974–1975), and Montreal Expos
(1975–1976). Born in Dayton, Ohio
, Scherman was a left-handed pitcher who attended Ohio State University
before making his major league debut for the Tigers on April 26, 1969. Scherman pitched in only 4 games in 1969, but became one of the Tigers' main relief pitchers for the next four years. Between 1970 and 1973, Scherman appeared in 208 games for the Tigers (an average of 52 games per season), with all but four appearances as a reliever.
Scherman's best year was 1971, when he appeared in 69 games, compiled a record of 11-6, and had 20 saves and 40 games finished. His ERA in 1971 was a career low 2.71—well below the league average ERA of 3.61. Scherman's performance in 1971 ranked him among the American League leaders in winning percentage (10th best at .647), games (2nd), saves (3rd), and games finished (3rd).
Scherman had another strong year in 1972, appearing in 57 games, and finishing 7-3. Scherman played in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series in 1972, holding the Oakland A's scoreless in 2/3 of an inning. That proved to be Scherman's last game for the Tigers.
After the 1973 season, Scherman was traded to the Houston Astros
on December 3, 1973 for Jim Ray
and Gary Sutherland
. Sutherland became the Tigers' starting second baseman, while Scherman never regained the level of performance he achieved with the Tigers in 1971 and 1972. Scherman went 2-6 in two seasons for the Astros. On June 8, 1975, Scherman was purchased by the Montreal Expos
. Scherman was 6-5 in two seasons in Montreal. He played his final Major League game on July 6, 1976, and was released by the Expos two days later.
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...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for eight years with 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...
(1969–1973), Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(1974–1975), and Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
(1975–1976). Born in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, Scherman was a left-handed pitcher who attended Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
before making his major league debut for the Tigers on April 26, 1969. Scherman pitched in only 4 games in 1969, but became one of the Tigers' main relief pitchers for the next four years. Between 1970 and 1973, Scherman appeared in 208 games for the Tigers (an average of 52 games per season), with all but four appearances as a reliever.
Scherman's best year was 1971, when he appeared in 69 games, compiled a record of 11-6, and had 20 saves and 40 games finished. His ERA in 1971 was a career low 2.71—well below the league average ERA of 3.61. Scherman's performance in 1971 ranked him among the American League leaders in winning percentage (10th best at .647), games (2nd), saves (3rd), and games finished (3rd).
Scherman had another strong year in 1972, appearing in 57 games, and finishing 7-3. Scherman played in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series in 1972, holding the Oakland A's scoreless in 2/3 of an inning. That proved to be Scherman's last game for the Tigers.
After the 1973 season, Scherman was traded to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
on December 3, 1973 for Jim Ray
Jim Ray
James Francis Ray , is a retired American professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1965–1966 and 1968–1974 for the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers....
and Gary Sutherland
Gary Sutherland
Gary Lynn Sutherland was a Major League Second Baseman and Shortstop for 13 seasons from 1966-1978....
. Sutherland became the Tigers' starting second baseman, while Scherman never regained the level of performance he achieved with the Tigers in 1971 and 1972. Scherman went 2-6 in two seasons for the Astros. On June 8, 1975, Scherman was purchased by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. Scherman was 6-5 in two seasons in Montreal. He played his final Major League game on July 6, 1976, and was released by the Expos two days later.