Larry Fritz
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Joseph Fritz [Zeb] (February 14, 1949 - July 22, 2010) was a first baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Philadelphia Phillies
during the season. Listed at 6' 2", 225 lb., Fritz batted and threw left-handed. A native of East Chicago, Indiana
, he attended Arizona State University
.
Fritz was drafted in 1969 by the New York Mets
, playing in their minor league
system for the Marion Mets
(1969, 1971-'72), Visalia Mets (1970, 1972), Memphis Blues
(1972) and Tidewater Tides (1972-'73), before joining the Phillies organization in 1974.
Fritz began 1974 with Double-A Reading Phillies
, for whom he hit eight home run
s with 19 runs batted in in 15 games. During the midseason, he gained a promotion to Triple-A Toledo Mudhens, where he batted three homers and drove in seven runs in 16 games.
In 1975, Fritz was purchased by Philadelphia from Toledo after Phillies shortstop Larry Bowa
broke his hand in a game against the San Francisco Giants
on May 27.
Fritz made his lone Major League appearance on May 30, 1975 at Veterans Stadium
against the Houston Astros
. With the Phillies trailing 5 to 0, and with two-outs and Mike Anderson on first in the bottom of the ninth-inning, Fritz pinch-hit for Larry Christenson
. Facing Astros pitcher Doug Konieczny
, Fritz flew out to left-field to end the game.
On June 6, 1975, Mud Hens first baseman Andy Kosco
broke his wrist. The Phillies returned Fritz to Toledo and in his place recalled outfielder Mike Rogodzinski
from Reading.
In a seven-year minors career, Fritz was a .273 hitter with 117 home runs and 235 RBI in 635 games, including a .356 on-base percentage and a .498 of slugging.
Following his baseball career, Fritz went on to play softball
for numerous Indiana teams. He also served in the Indiana National Guard, Company C 113th Engineer Battalion, and worked as a truck driver until his retirement in 2004 from Metro Intermodal due to a disability.
Fritz died in Munster, Indiana
, at the age of 61.
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
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 for 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...
during the season. Listed at 6' 2", 225 lb., Fritz batted and threw left-handed. A native of East Chicago, Indiana
East Chicago, Indiana
East Chicago is a city in Lake County, Indiana. The population was 29,698 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East Chicago is located at ....
, he attended Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
.
Fritz was drafted in 1969 by 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...
, playing in their minor league
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...
system for the Marion Mets
Marion Mets
The Marion Mets were a minor league baseball team based in Marion, Virginia that played in the Appalachian League from 1965 to 1976. They were affiliated with the New York Mets and played their home games at the Marion High School baseball field....
(1969, 1971-'72), Visalia Mets (1970, 1972), Memphis Blues
Memphis blues
The Memphis blues is a style of blues music that was created in the 1920s and 1930s by Memphis-area musicians like Frank Stokes, Sleepy John Estes, Furry Lewis and Memphis Minnie...
(1972) and Tidewater Tides (1972-'73), before joining the Phillies organization in 1974.
Fritz began 1974 with Double-A Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
, for whom he hit eight 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 with 19 runs batted in in 15 games. During the midseason, he gained a promotion to Triple-A Toledo Mudhens, where he batted three homers and drove in seven runs in 16 games.
In 1975, Fritz was purchased by Philadelphia from Toledo after Phillies shortstop Larry Bowa
Larry Bowa
Lawrence Robert Bowa is a former middle infielder, playing mainly as a shortstop, and manager in Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
broke his hand in a game against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
on May 27.
Fritz made his lone Major League appearance on May 30, 1975 at Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
against 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...
. With the Phillies trailing 5 to 0, and with two-outs and Mike Anderson on first in the bottom of the ninth-inning, Fritz pinch-hit for Larry Christenson
Larry Christenson
Larry Richard 'L.C.' Christenson , is a former professional baseball pitcher who played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1973-1983....
. Facing Astros pitcher Doug Konieczny
Doug Konieczny
Douglas James Konieczny is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Konieczny pitched in all or part of four seasons between and , all for the Houston Astros....
, Fritz flew out to left-field to end the game.
On June 6, 1975, Mud Hens first baseman Andy Kosco
Andy Kosco
Andy Kosco is a former Major League Baseball player who was affiliated at various times with the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels, Boston Red Sox, and Cincinnati Reds....
broke his wrist. The Phillies returned Fritz to Toledo and in his place recalled outfielder Mike Rogodzinski
Mike Rogodzinski
Michael George "Mike" Rogodzinski is a former Major League Baseball player. Rogodzinski played for the Philadelphia Phillies from to .-External links:...
from Reading.
In a seven-year minors career, Fritz was a .273 hitter with 117 home runs and 235 RBI in 635 games, including a .356 on-base percentage and a .498 of slugging.
Following his baseball career, Fritz went on to play softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
for numerous Indiana teams. He also served in the Indiana National Guard, Company C 113th Engineer Battalion, and worked as a truck driver until his retirement in 2004 from Metro Intermodal due to a disability.
Fritz died in Munster, Indiana
Munster, Indiana
Munster is a town located in North Township, Lake County, in Northwest Indiana in the United States. This bedroom community lies in the Chicago metropolitan area, approximately southeast of the Chicago Loop, and shares municipal boundaries with Hammond to the north, Highland to the east, Dyer and...
, at the age of 61.