Ferris Fain
Encyclopedia
Ferris Roy Fain was an American first baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played for nine seasons in the American League
with the Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Sox
, Detroit Tigers
and Cleveland Indians
. Nicknamed the Burrhead, he appeared in 1,151 career games.
and grew up in Oakland, California
.
From 1939 through 1946 he was with the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League; he missed three seasons, 1943–45, owing to military service.
s in his rookie
season, playing full-time. That year, he batted a solid .291 with 7 home run
s and 71 RBIs. Two years later in 1949 he turned 194 double plays while playing for the then-Philadelphia A's, still a Major League record.
Fain broke through in batting .344 with 6 homers and 57 RBIs, although a broken foot held him to 425 at-bats. That year and the following, he finished sixth in Most Valuable Player Award
voting. Yogi Berra
won in '51 and A's teammate Bobby Shantz
took the prize in . Fain was the league batting champion in both seasons. But he was gone to the Chicago White Sox by 1953.
Known for a hot temper on the field, Fain had an off-year in '53 after getting into a brawl in a Maryland
café
with White Sox fans. Fain was fined $600 by the White Sox, then sued for $50,000. After suffering a knee injury the following year, he never really got back on track. But on June 16, 1954, he did hit an inside-the-park grand slam.
Fain finished with an on-base percentage of over .400 every full year that he played, and was in the top 10 in that category seven times in his career; he ranked in the top 10 in walks
eight times. His ability to get on base helped make him an All-Star five straight times (1950–54).
In a nine-season career, he hit .290 with 48 home runs and 570 RBIs. He had 213 career doubles
and a career .424 on-base percentage. He totalled 1139 career hits
in 3930 at bats. Not least of all, Fain was regarded by some as the best fielding first baseman in the majors until Vic Power
showed up to play Fain's old position for the A's.
, in the 1970s. In 1985, he was charged with growing marijuana and sentenced to four months' house arrest
. In 1988, he was charged again with growing marijuana and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. Fain said, "I knew how to grow the stuff. I was as adept at it as I was in playing baseball."
Ferris Fain died October 18, 2001 in Georgetown of complications from leukemia
and diabetes. He was 80 years old.
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 nine seasons in 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...
with the Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, 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...
and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. Nicknamed the Burrhead, he appeared in 1,151 career games.
Early life
Ferris Fain was born in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
and grew up in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
From 1939 through 1946 he was with the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League; he missed three seasons, 1943–45, owing to military service.
Career
Coming to the majors in 1947, the lefty was a top prospect and had 461 at batAt bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s in his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season, playing full-time. That year, he batted a solid .291 with 7 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 and 71 RBIs. Two years later in 1949 he turned 194 double plays while playing for the then-Philadelphia A's, still a Major League record.
Fain broke through in batting .344 with 6 homers and 57 RBIs, although a broken foot held him to 425 at-bats. That year and the following, he finished sixth in Most Valuable Player Award
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
voting. Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
won in '51 and A's teammate Bobby Shantz
Bobby Shantz
Robert Clayton Shantz was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics , Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates , Houston Colt .45's , St...
took the prize in . Fain was the league batting champion in both seasons. But he was gone to the Chicago White Sox by 1953.
Known for a hot temper on the field, Fain had an off-year in '53 after getting into a brawl in a Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
with White Sox fans. Fain was fined $600 by the White Sox, then sued for $50,000. After suffering a knee injury the following year, he never really got back on track. But on June 16, 1954, he did hit an inside-the-park grand slam.
Fain finished with an on-base percentage of over .400 every full year that he played, and was in the top 10 in that category seven times in his career; he ranked in the top 10 in walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
eight times. His ability to get on base helped make him an All-Star five straight times (1950–54).
In a nine-season career, he hit .290 with 48 home runs and 570 RBIs. He had 213 career doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and a career .424 on-base percentage. He totalled 1139 career 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....
in 3930 at bats. Not least of all, Fain was regarded by some as the best fielding first baseman in the majors until Vic Power
Victor Pellot
Victor Pellot a.k.a. "Vic Power" was the second black Puerto Rican to play in Major League Baseball and the first Puerto Rican to play in the American League...
showed up to play Fain's old position for the A's.
Later life
Fain became a custom home builder in Georgetown, CaliforniaGeorgetown, California
Georgetown is a census-designated place in El Dorado County, California. It is the northeastern-most town in the Californian Mother Lode. The population was 2,367 at the 2010 census, up from 962 at the 2000 census...
, in the 1970s. In 1985, he was charged with growing marijuana and sentenced to four months' house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
. In 1988, he was charged again with growing marijuana and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. Fain said, "I knew how to grow the stuff. I was as adept at it as I was in playing baseball."
Ferris Fain died October 18, 2001 in Georgetown of complications from leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
and diabetes. He was 80 years old.