Brad Fischer
Encyclopedia
Bradley James Fischer is a major league baseball coach who was most recently the third base
coach for the Milwaukee Brewers
. He previously spent most of his career with the Oakland Athletics
.
He joined the A's in 1995 as the bullpen coach, then moved to first-base coach in 1997, shifted back to the bullpen in 1998, shifted back to first base in 2003 and finally back to the bullpen in 2006. At the conclusion of the 2007 season, the A's announced that he would not return, thus ending a 29-year relationship that began in the A's minor-league system (see below).
as a free agent
out of Western Michigan University
in 1978. A catcher, he played just one season in the minors, hitting .267 in 160 at-bats for the A's rookie league club in Bend, Oregon
.
in 1980. In 1981, he piloted Medford to a Northwest League
championship and earned Manager of the Year honors.
After the season, he ran into Billy Martin
at the Phoenix airport. Fischer recalls the encounter with the A's manager, who also served as the team's general manager
at the time: "Billy saw me and said, 'Great year, kid. Where do you want to manage next year?' I said I had heard of an opening in Madison, Wisconsin
. He said, 'The job's yours.' ... I was just glad he remembered it the next day."
Fischer took the Madison club to a league championship as well, and in 1984, added another playoff appearance.
From 1985 to 1987, Fischer managed the Double-A Huntsville Stars
to three playoff appearances and a Southern League
championship, with the likes of José Canseco
and Mark McGwire
on his roster (albeit briefly).
He was promoted to the Triple-A Tacoma Tigers in 1988, where he managed for three seasons. In his final season, 1990, he took the Tigers to the postseason.
Fischer's final managerial record: 743-670, seven total postseason appearances.
From 1991-93, Fischer worked as an instructor in the A's minor-league system, after which he spent two years as assistant director of player development, working alongside Keith Lieppman (who is still working in the same capacity today).
In 2008 he managed the State College Spikes
, a Class A club affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
On November 4, 2008, Fischer was named the new third base coach for the Milwaukee Brewers
. He was released after the 2010 season.
On December 22, 2010, Fischer was named an adviser to the Pittsburgh Pirates
player development department.
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
coach for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He previously spent most of his career with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
He joined the A's in 1995 as the bullpen coach, then moved to first-base coach in 1997, shifted back to the bullpen in 1998, shifted back to first base in 2003 and finally back to the bullpen in 2006. At the conclusion of the 2007 season, the A's announced that he would not return, thus ending a 29-year relationship that began in the A's minor-league system (see below).
Playing career
Fischer was not drafted; but signed with the Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
out of Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
in 1978. A catcher, he played just one season in the minors, hitting .267 in 160 at-bats for the A's rookie league club in Bend, Oregon
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
.
Managing/coaching career
After spending 1979 out of baseball, the 23-year-old Fischer was hired to manage the A's Single-A team in Medford, OregonMedford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
in 1980. In 1981, he piloted Medford to a Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
championship and earned Manager of the Year honors.
After the season, he ran into Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
at the Phoenix airport. Fischer recalls the encounter with the A's manager, who also served as the team's general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
at the time: "Billy saw me and said, 'Great year, kid. Where do you want to manage next year?' I said I had heard of an opening in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
. He said, 'The job's yours.' ... I was just glad he remembered it the next day."
Fischer took the Madison club to a league championship as well, and in 1984, added another playoff appearance.
From 1985 to 1987, Fischer managed the Double-A Huntsville Stars
Huntsville Stars
The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...
to three playoff appearances and a Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
championship, with the likes of José Canseco
José Canseco
José Canseco Capas, Jr. is a Cuban-American professional baseball manager, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League and former Major League Baseball player. He is the identical twin brother of former major league player and current teammate Ozzie Canseco...
and Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
on his roster (albeit briefly).
He was promoted to the Triple-A Tacoma Tigers in 1988, where he managed for three seasons. In his final season, 1990, he took the Tigers to the postseason.
Fischer's final managerial record: 743-670, seven total postseason appearances.
From 1991-93, Fischer worked as an instructor in the A's minor-league system, after which he spent two years as assistant director of player development, working alongside Keith Lieppman (who is still working in the same capacity today).
In 2008 he managed the State College Spikes
State College Spikes
The State College Spikes are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the New York – Penn League. The Spikes play their home games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park located on the main campus of Pennsylvania State University located in University Park, Pennsylvania. Medlar Field is...
, a Class A club affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
On November 4, 2008, Fischer was named the new third base coach for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He was released after the 2010 season.
On December 22, 2010, Fischer was named an adviser to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
player development department.
External links
- 2006 Oakland Athletics Media Guide. Pg. 22. Produced by the Oakland Athletics Public Relations Department.
- SFGate.com: Fischer A Lone Constant With A's - John Shea
- OaklandAthletics.com: A's Announce Coaching Staff Changes