Gene Fodge
Encyclopedia
Gene Arlan "Suds" Fodge was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played briefly for the Chicago Cubs
during the season. Listed at 6' 0", Weight: 175 lb., Fodge batted and threw right handed. He was born in South Bend, Indiana
.
Fodge was a 1950 graduate of South Bend Central High School, lettering in baseball
, basketball
and tennis
. He was originally signed by the Cubs as an amateur free-agent in 1950, and was assigned to Class-D Janesville Cubs
in 1951. He ended with a 12-13 record and a 3.78 earned run average
in his first professional season. He then went on to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps for two years during the Korean War
.
Following his discharge, Fodge returned to play in 1954 and posted a 5-4 record with a 3.99 ERA in 29 games for Class-A Des Moines Bruins
.
Fodge improved markedly with Des Moines in 1955, going 16-10 with a 2.28 ERA in 36 games, including 29 starts. The next season he finished 19-7 with a 4.31 ERA in 44 games (25 starts) for the Los Angeles Angels
of the Pacific Coast League
. In 1957 Fodge pitched Double-A ball with the Fort Worth Cats
, Memphis Chickasaws and Portland Beavers
, going to a combined 8-14 with a 4.30 ERA in 34 games (22 starts).
Fodge made his big league debut with the Cubs in 1958. Facing the St. Louis Cardinals
in his first game, he appeared in relief
duties, pitching two perfect innings and striking out
two batters. He compiled a 1-1 record with a 4.76 ERA in 16 games (one start), giving up 22 runs (21 earned) on 47 hits and 11 walks while striking out 15 in 39⅔ innings of work. His only major league victory came at the expense of the Los Angeles Dodgers
, pitching a complete game
in a Cubs 15–2 beating at LA Memorial Coliseum, where Dodgers pitchers Don Drysdale
, Roger Craig
, Ron Negray
and Sandy Koufax
were unable to hold the visitors in hand.
He returned to Fort Worth for the rest of 1958, finishing with a 8-3 mark and a 2.23 ERA in 14 games. In a six-season minors career, he went 68-51 with a 3.47 ERA in 190 pitching appearances. After his baseball career ended, Fodge returned to South Bend to raise his family. He died in Mishawaka, Indiana
, aged 79.
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...
in Major League Baseball
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...
who played briefly for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
during the season. Listed at 6' 0", Weight: 175 lb., Fodge batted and threw right handed. He was born in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
.
Fodge was a 1950 graduate of South Bend Central High School, lettering in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
. He was originally signed by the Cubs as an amateur free-agent in 1950, and was assigned to Class-D Janesville Cubs
Janesville Cubs
The Janesville Cubs were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1941 to 1942 and from 1947 to 1953. They played in the Wisconsin State League and were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. They were based in Janesville, Wisconsin. They played their home games at the Rock County 4H...
in 1951. He ended with a 12-13 record and a 3.78 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 his first professional season. He then went on to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps for two years during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Following his discharge, Fodge returned to play in 1954 and posted a 5-4 record with a 3.99 ERA in 29 games for Class-A Des Moines Bruins
Des Moines Bruins
Based in Des Moines, Iowa, the Des Moines Bruins were a minor league baseball team that played in the Western League from 1947 to 1958. Their home ballpark was Sec Taylor Stadium, and they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers .-Year-by-year record:...
.
Fodge improved markedly with Des Moines in 1955, going 16-10 with a 2.28 ERA in 36 games, including 29 starts. The next season he finished 19-7 with a 4.31 ERA in 44 games (25 starts) for the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels (PCL)
The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. In 1957 Fodge pitched Double-A ball with the Fort Worth Cats
Fort Worth Cats (Texas League)
The Fort Worth Cats were a minor league baseball team that played in the Texas League from 1932 to 1942, from 1946 to 1958, and in 1964. They were affiliated with the Indianapolis Indians in 1933, the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1946 to 1956, and with the Chicago Cubs from 1957 to 1958 and in...
, Memphis Chickasaws and Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
, going to a combined 8-14 with a 4.30 ERA in 34 games (22 starts).
Fodge made his big league debut with the Cubs in 1958. Facing the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in his first game, he appeared 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...
duties, pitching two perfect innings and striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
two batters. He compiled a 1-1 record with a 4.76 ERA in 16 games (one start), giving up 22 runs (21 earned) on 47 hits and 11 walks while striking out 15 in 39⅔ innings of work. His only major league victory came at the expense of the Los Angeles 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...
, pitching a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
in a Cubs 15–2 beating at LA Memorial Coliseum, where Dodgers pitchers Don Drysdale
Don Drysdale
Donald Scott "Don" Drysdale was a Major League Baseball player and Hall of Fame right-handed pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was one of the dominant starting pitchers of the 1960s, and became a radio and television broadcaster following his playing career...
, Roger Craig
Roger Craig (baseball)
Roger Craig may refer to:*Roger Craig , former NFL running back*Roger Craig , former pitcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball...
, 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....
and Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
were unable to hold the visitors in hand.
He returned to Fort Worth for the rest of 1958, finishing with a 8-3 mark and a 2.23 ERA in 14 games. In a six-season minors career, he went 68-51 with a 3.47 ERA in 190 pitching appearances. After his baseball career ended, Fodge returned to South Bend to raise his family. He died in Mishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka is a city on the St. Joseph River and a Twin city of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. The population was 48,252 as of the 2010 Census...
, aged 79.