Fritz Fisher
Encyclopedia
Frederick Brown "Fritz" Fisher (born November 28, 1941, at Adrian, Michigan
) is a retired American
professional baseball
player. A left-handed
pitcher
who attended the University of Michigan
, Fisher played five years in minor league baseball
and was a standout at the Double-A level, but in his only Major League
appearance, in April for the Detroit Tigers
, he was treated roughly and gained only one out
. In one-third of an inning, Fisher yielded two hits
, four earned runs and two bases on balls.
Fisher was listed at 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and 180 pounds (81.6 kg). After a successful professional debut with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies and impressing manager
Chuck Dressen
during workouts in 1963, Fisher was added to the Tigers' 40-man spring training
roster for 1964. He was kept on the team's early-season 28-man squad. During Detroit's fourth game of the American League
campaign, on April 19 at Tiger Stadium
, Fisher made his debut in relief
the ninth inning with the Tigers trailing the Minnesota Twins
, 8–3. The first batter he faced was a future Hall of Famer, Harmon Killebrew
, and Fisher struck him out. But that was the only out he recorded; he walked the next two batters and gave up run-scoring hits to Jerry Zimmerman
and Camilo Pascual
before being relieved by Ed Rakow
, who allowed the inherited runners to score.
Fisher spent the rest of 1964 with Knoxville and the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, and he retired after the 1967 season, never returning to the Majors. His minor league record of 44 wins and 25 defeats and a 3.05 earned run average
in 103 games included a 33–15 (2.66) mark at the Double-A level.
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. A left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, Fisher played five years in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
and was a standout at the Double-A level, but in his only Major League
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...
appearance, in April for 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...
, he was treated roughly and gained only one out
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
. In one-third of an inning, Fisher yielded two hits
Hit (baseball)
In 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....
, four earned runs and two bases on balls.
Fisher was listed at 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and 180 pounds (81.6 kg). After a successful professional debut with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies and impressing manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Chuck Dressen
Chuck Dressen
Charles Walter Dressen , known as both "Chuck" and "Charlie," was an American third baseman, manager and coach in professional baseball during a career that lasted almost fifty years, and was best known as the manager of the powerful Brooklyn Dodgers of 1951–1953...
during workouts in 1963, Fisher was added to the Tigers' 40-man spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
roster for 1964. He was kept on the team's early-season 28-man squad. During Detroit's fourth game of the American League
American League
The 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, which eventually aspired to major...
campaign, on April 19 at Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. It hosted the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team from 1912 to 1999, as well as the National Football League's Detroit Lions from 1938 to 1974...
, Fisher made his debut in relief
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...
the ninth inning with the Tigers trailing the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, 8–3. The first batter he faced was a future Hall of Famer, Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Clayton Killebrew , nicknamed "Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon", was an American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. During his 22-year career in Major League Baseball , he played for the Washington Senators, a team which later became the Minnesota Twins, and...
, and Fisher struck him out. But that was the only out he recorded; he walked the next two batters and gave up run-scoring hits to Jerry Zimmerman
Jerry Zimmerman
Gerald Robert Zimmerman was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds and the Minnesota Twins from 1961 to 1968...
and Camilo Pascual
Camilo Pascual
Camilo Alberto Pascual is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During an 18-year baseball career , he played for the Washington Senators , the second Washington Senators franchise, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Cleveland Indians...
before being relieved by Ed Rakow
Ed Rakow
Edward Charles "Rock" Rakow was a pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1960 to 1967. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
, who allowed the inherited runners to score.
Fisher spent the rest of 1964 with Knoxville and the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, and he retired after the 1967 season, never returning to the Majors. His minor league record of 44 wins and 25 defeats and a 3.05 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 103 games included a 33–15 (2.66) mark at the Double-A level.