Jack Fisher
Encyclopedia
John Howard Fisher was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. The right-hander was signed by the Baltimore Orioles
as an amateur free agent on June 24, 1957. He played for the Orioles (1959–1962), San Francisco Giants
(1963), New York Mets
(1964–1967), Chicago White Sox
(1968), and Cincinnati Reds
(1969). Nicknamed "Fat Jack", he stood 6'2" and weighed 215 lbs.
Fisher was used primarily as a starting pitcher
during his 11-year MLB career. He is known for giving up a few historic home runs. One was Ted Williams's
521st in his final major league at bat
(September 28, 1960). Another was Roger Maris's
60th home run of the 1961 season (September 26, 1961). Also, he gave up the first home run in Shea Stadium
history, to Willie Stargell
(April 17, 1964).
He made his major league debut in relief on April 14, 1959 against the New York Yankees
at Memorial Stadium
. He pitched three innings
in the 13-3 loss, giving up seven hits
, two walks, four runs
(two earned), and striking out
five. His first strikeout victim was All-Star
catcher
Elston Howard
, the second batter he faced.
Fisher's best season was 1960, when he had his only winning record (12-11) and was tied for fourth in the American League
with three shutouts. From August 24 to September 14 he pitched 29.2 consecutive scoreless innings and ended the year with a 3.41 earned run average
, one of his lowest.
His busiest seasons were with the early New York Mets. In four seasons (1964–1967) with the perennial losers he won 38 games, lost 73, and had an ERA of 4.58 in 931.2 innings pitched
. (The Mets played .355 ball during this time.) Fisher led the National League
twice in losses (1965 and 1967) and three times in earned runs allowed (1964, 1965, and 1967). In 1965 he lost 24 games, still tied with Roger Craig
for the most since 1935. In 1967, however, Fisher pitched the lowest-hit complete game
of his career, a two-hit shutout over the Philadelphia Phillies
(June 21 at Connie Mack Stadium
).
The home starting pitcher in first game ever at Shea Stadium
, Fisher received the honor of throwing the stadium's first official pitch in 1964. Overwhelmed by the crowd noise and pre-game pomp, Fisher recounts that he asked Mets manager Casey Stengel
if he could warm up in the bullpen
rather than on the field's pitcher's mound, and credits himself with starting that day the big league custom
of starting pitchers warming in the bullpen before the game.
Pitching for the White Sox in 1968, he had a record of 8-13 with a 2.99 ERA, the lowest of his career. In 1969 he was 4-4 with Cincinnati and was traded to the California Angels
in the off-season. He was released by the Angels on April 7, 1970 (Opening Day
), and his big league career was over at the age of 31.
Career totals include a record of 86-139 in 400 games pitched
, 265 games started
, 62 complete games, 9 shutouts, 65 games finished
, 9 saves, and an ERA of 4.06. In 1975.2 innings he struck out 1017 and walked 605. He had a batting average
of .125 in 594 at bats with one home run, hit against Bobby Locke
of the Cleveland Indians
on August 7, 1960.
Following his retirement from baseball, Fisher settled in Easton, Pennsylvania
where he currently lives five blocks from former world heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes
. He once owned Fat Jack's, an Easton sports bar
he sold in 1998.
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...
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...
. The right-hander was signed by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
as an amateur free agent on June 24, 1957. He played for the Orioles (1959–1962), 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....
(1963), 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...
(1964–1967), 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...
(1968), and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1969). Nicknamed "Fat Jack", he stood 6'2" and weighed 215 lbs.
Fisher was used primarily as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
during his 11-year MLB career. He is known for giving up a few historic home runs. One was Ted Williams's
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
521st in his final major league at bat
At 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...
(September 28, 1960). Another was Roger Maris's
Roger Maris
Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
60th home run of the 1961 season (September 26, 1961). Also, he gave up the first home run in Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
history, to Willie Stargell
Willie Stargell
Wilver Dornell "Willie" Stargell , nicknamed "Pops" in the later years of his career, was a Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
(April 17, 1964).
He made his major league debut in relief on April 14, 1959 against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
at Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
. He pitched three innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
in the 13-3 loss, giving up seven 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....
, two walks, four runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(two earned), 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....
five. His first strikeout victim was All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Elston Howard
Elston Howard
Elston Gene Howard was an American Negro League and Major League Baseball catcher, left fielder and coach. During a 14-year baseball career, he played from 1955–1968, primarily for the New York Yankees...
, the second batter he faced.
Fisher's best season was 1960, when he had his only winning record (12-11) and was tied for fourth 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 three shutouts. From August 24 to September 14 he pitched 29.2 consecutive scoreless innings and ended the year with a 3.41 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...
, one of his lowest.
His busiest seasons were with the early New York Mets. In four seasons (1964–1967) with the perennial losers he won 38 games, lost 73, and had an ERA of 4.58 in 931.2 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. (The Mets played .355 ball during this time.) Fisher led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
twice in losses (1965 and 1967) and three times in earned runs allowed (1964, 1965, and 1967). In 1965 he lost 24 games, still tied with 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...
for the most since 1935. In 1967, however, Fisher pitched the lowest-hit 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...
of his career, a two-hit shutout over 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...
(June 21 at Connie Mack Stadium
Connie Mack Stadium
Shibe Park, known later as Connie Mack Stadium, was a major league baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When it opened April 12, 1909, it became baseball's first steel-and-concrete stadium. In different eras it was home to "The $100,000 Infield", "The Whiz Kids" and "The 1964 Phold"...
).
The home starting pitcher in first game ever at Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
, Fisher received the honor of throwing the stadium's first official pitch in 1964. Overwhelmed by the crowd noise and pre-game pomp, Fisher recounts that he asked Mets manager Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
if he could warm up in the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
rather than on the field's pitcher's mound, and credits himself with starting that day the big league custom
Norm (sociology)
Social norms are the accepted behaviors within a society or group. This sociological and social psychological term has been defined as "the rules that a group uses for appropriate and inappropriate values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. These rules may be explicit or implicit...
of starting pitchers warming in the bullpen before the game.
Pitching for the White Sox in 1968, he had a record of 8-13 with a 2.99 ERA, the lowest of his career. In 1969 he was 4-4 with Cincinnati and was traded to the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in the off-season. He was released by the Angels on April 7, 1970 (Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
), and his big league career was over at the age of 31.
Career totals include a record of 86-139 in 400 games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
, 265 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, 62 complete games, 9 shutouts, 65 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
, 9 saves, and an ERA of 4.06. In 1975.2 innings he struck out 1017 and walked 605. He had a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .125 in 594 at bats with one home run, hit against Bobby Locke
Bobby Locke (baseball)
Lawrence Donald "Bobby" Locke is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1959 to 1968 for the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and California Angels. He stood 5'11" tall and weighed 185 pounds. He was sometimes called Larry,...
of the 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...
on August 7, 1960.
Following his retirement from baseball, Fisher settled in Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
where he currently lives five blocks from former world heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes is a former professional boxer. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname, The Easton Assassin....
. He once owned Fat Jack's, an Easton sports bar
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
he sold in 1998.