Woodie Fryman
Encyclopedia
Woodrow Thompson Fryman (April 15, 1940 February 4, 2011) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. A two-time National League
All-Star, he is best remembered as the mid-season acquisition that helped lead the Detroit Tigers
to the 1972 American League Championship Series
.
in . He debuted out of the bullpen
for the Pirates in , however, made more appearances as a starter
, and was used pretty evenly in both roles throughout his career. He went 12-9 with a 3.81 earned run average
his rookie season, including three shutout
s in a row against the Philadelphia Phillies
, New York Mets
and Chicago Cubs
, respectively. His shutout against the Mets was nearly a perfect game, as Ron Hunt
led off the Mets' half of the first inning with a single
, and was immediately caught trying to steal second. Fryman retired the next 26 batters he faced without allowing another baserunner all game.
His record dipped to 3-8 with a 4.05 ERA in . Following the season, he was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies
with Bill Laxton
, Don Money
and Harold Clem for Jim Bunning
.
on June 18, Fryman's record stood at 10-5 with a 1.61 ERA, and he was named the Phillies' sole representative at the 1968 All-Star Game
. He dropped his next five decisions, and ended the season with a 12-14 record and 2.78 ERA.
Fryman was used almost exclusively as a starter his first two seasons in Philadelphia, but began being used more and more in relief in and . In , Fryman was 4-10 with a 4.36 ERA for the 34-61 Phillies when the club placed him on waivers at the end of July.
first first place in the American League East
when they claimed Fryman off waivers on August 2, 1972. Fryman turned his season around with the Tigers, and was 9-3 with a 2.21 ERA when the Red Sox came to Detroit for a three game set to end the season a half game up on the Tigers.
Manager Billy Martin
handed the ball to Mickey Lolich
for the first game of the set. Lolich pitched a complete game victory to put the Tigers up a half game on the Red Sox as Fryman took the mound for the second game of the set.
The Red Sox scored an unearned run in the first, and held onto a 1-0 lead until the Tigers clawed out a run
off Luis Tiant
in the sixth. They followed that up with two more runs in the seventh. Fryman, meanwhile, only allowed two hits
after the first inning. After giving up a lead-off single in the eighth, he retired the next two batters he faced before turning the game over to Chuck Seelbach
. Seelbach struck out two of the four batters he faced as Detroit beat the Red Sox 3-1 to clinch the division.
Fryman's .769 win percentage was tops in the American League
in 1972, and his ERA+ of 154 is one of the highest in Detroit franchise history.
3-2 in eleven innings. Fryman did not have his best stuff as he made the start in game two of the ALCS. He left the in the fifth inning behind 1-0 and the bases loaded. The bullpen allowed all three inherited runners to score as the A's cruised to a 5-0 victory, and a 2-0 lead in the ALCS.
Detroit came back to win the following two games in Tiger Stadium to take the series to five games. Fryman took the mound for the deciding game, as did his opponent from game two, Blue Moon Odom
. Fryman pitched well, allowing two runs and just four hits over eight innings. One run was scored on a steal of home by Reggie Jackson
, and the other was an unearned run, the result of a Dick McAuliffe
error
in the fourth. However, Oakland pitching was even better, as Odom and Vida Blue
combined to allow just one unearned run to send the A's to the 1972 World Series
.
for Terry Humphrey
and Tom Walker
in December .
Fryman's record stood at 8-6 with a 3.74 ERA when he earned his second All-Star nod in 1976
. As with his first selection in , he was his team's lone representative, and he did not appear in the game.
to the Cincinnati Reds
for Tony Pérez
and Will McEnaney
on December 16, . He and Reds manager Sparky Anderson
did not get along, and Fryman's record stood at 5-5 with a 5.38 ERA when he announced his retirement midway through the season rather than pitch for Anderson. Following the season, he was lured back out of retirement, and dealt with Bill Caudill
to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Bonham
.
by manager Dick Williams
. He made the post-season for the second time in his career following the strike shortened 1981 season. In the 1981 National League Division Series
against the Philadelphia Phillies, he pitched 1.1 inning, and gave up one earned run. In the 1981 National League Championship Series
, he gave up four earned runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers
in one inning pitched.
Fryman was 24-17 with 46 saves and a 2.73 ERA as a full-time reliever entering the season. He made one appearance in April before going on the disabled list. Fryman recalled: “It was early in the 1983 season and my arm just popped and I couldn't even raise it." He returned to the club in July, but after going 0-3 with a 21.00 ERA, and blowing his only save opportunity, he retired.
farmer, two months shy of his 71st birthday.
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...
. A two-time 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...
All-Star, he is best remembered as the mid-season acquisition that helped lead the 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...
to the 1972 American League Championship Series
1972 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 7, 1972 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CaliforniaGame 1 pitted ace pitchers Catfish Hunter for the A's and Mickey Lolich for the Tigers, and, as expected, both were brilliant...
.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Fryman was 25 years old when he signed with the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh 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...
in . He debuted out of 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"...
for the Pirates in , however, made more appearances as a starter
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....
, and was used pretty evenly in both roles throughout his career. He went 12-9 with a 3.81 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...
his rookie season, including three shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s in a row against 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...
, 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...
and 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...
, respectively. His shutout against the Mets was nearly a perfect game, as Ron Hunt
Ron Hunt
Ronald Kenneth Hunt is a former Major League Baseball player. A second baseman who also played third base sparingly, Hunt played for the New York Mets , Los Angeles Dodgers , San Francisco Giants , Montreal Expos and St...
led off the Mets' half of the first inning with a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
, and was immediately caught trying to steal second. Fryman retired the next 26 batters he faced without allowing another baserunner all game.
His record dipped to 3-8 with a 4.05 ERA in . Following the season, he was dealt to 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...
with Bill Laxton
Bill Laxton
William Harry Laxton is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Laxton pitched in all or part of five seasons in the majors between and .- Early career :...
, Don Money
Don Money
Donald Wayne Money is a retired major league baseball player. He currently serves as the special instructor of player development for the Milwaukee Brewers....
and Harold Clem for Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
.
Philadelphia Phillies
After a complete game victory against the San Francisco GiantsSan 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 June 18, Fryman's record stood at 10-5 with a 1.61 ERA, and he was named the Phillies' sole representative at the 1968 All-Star Game
1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 39th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
. He dropped his next five decisions, and ended the season with a 12-14 record and 2.78 ERA.
Fryman was used almost exclusively as a starter his first two seasons in Philadelphia, but began being used more and more in relief in and . In , Fryman was 4-10 with a 4.36 ERA for the 34-61 Phillies when the club placed him on waivers at the end of July.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers were battling the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
first first place in the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
when they claimed Fryman off waivers on August 2, 1972. Fryman turned his season around with the Tigers, and was 9-3 with a 2.21 ERA when the Red Sox came to Detroit for a three game set to end the season a half game up on the Tigers.
Manager 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...
handed the ball to Mickey Lolich
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
for the first game of the set. Lolich pitched a complete game victory to put the Tigers up a half game on the Red Sox as Fryman took the mound for the second game of the set.
The Red Sox scored an unearned run in the first, and held onto a 1-0 lead until the Tigers clawed out a run
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...
off Luis Tiant
Luis Tiant
Luis Clemente Tiant Vega , born November 23, 1940 in Marianao, Cuba, , is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels...
in the sixth. They followed that up with two more runs in the seventh. Fryman, meanwhile, only allowed two 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....
after the first inning. After giving up a lead-off single in the eighth, he retired the next two batters he faced before turning the game over to Chuck Seelbach
Chuck Seelbach
Charles Frederick "Chuck" Seelbach is a right-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball.Seelbach played baseball at Dartmouth College from 1968-1970 and still ranks among Dartmouth's all time leaders in winning percentage , strikeouts , and shutouts .Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1st...
. Seelbach struck out two of the four batters he faced as Detroit beat the Red Sox 3-1 to clinch the division.
Fryman's .769 win percentage was tops 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...
in 1972, and his ERA+ of 154 is one of the highest in Detroit franchise history.
1972 ALCS
The Tigers lost the first game of the ALCS 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....
3-2 in eleven innings. Fryman did not have his best stuff as he made the start in game two of the ALCS. He left the in the fifth inning behind 1-0 and the bases loaded. The bullpen allowed all three inherited runners to score as the A's cruised to a 5-0 victory, and a 2-0 lead in the ALCS.
Detroit came back to win the following two games in Tiger Stadium to take the series to five games. Fryman took the mound for the deciding game, as did his opponent from game two, Blue Moon Odom
Blue Moon Odom
Johnny Lee Odom was a Major League Baseball pitcher who won three consecutive World Series championships with the Oakland Athletics in , and .-Early years:...
. Fryman pitched well, allowing two runs and just four hits over eight innings. One run was scored on a steal of home by Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
, and the other was an unearned run, the result of a Dick McAuliffe
Dick McAuliffe
Richard John McAuliffe is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and second baseman for the Detroit Tigers from to and for the Boston Red Sox from to . He was a part of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship, and was known for his...
error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in the fourth. However, Oakland pitching was even better, as Odom and Vida Blue
Vida Blue
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 17-year career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , and Kansas City Royals He won the American League Cy Young award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971...
combined to allow just one unearned run to send the A's to the 1972 World Series
1972 World Series
The 1972 World Series matched the American League champion Oakland Athletics against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds, with the A's winning in seven games. These two teams would meet again in the fall classic eighteen years later...
.
Montreal Expos
Fryman spent two more seasons with the Tigers before being dealt to the Montreal ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
for Terry Humphrey
Terry Humphrey
Terryal Gene Humphrey is a former professional baseball player who played nine seasons for the Montreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, and California Angels of Major League Baseball.-References:...
and Tom Walker
Tom Walker (1970s pitcher)
Robert Thomas Walker is a former professional baseball pitcher. Walker pitched all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1972 until 1977, for the Montreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals and California Angels....
in December .
Fryman's record stood at 8-6 with a 3.74 ERA when he earned his second All-Star nod in 1976
1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 47th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 13, 1976 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, home of...
. As with his first selection in , he was his team's lone representative, and he did not appear in the game.
Cincinnati Reds
Fryman was traded with Dale MurrayDale Murray
Dale Albert Murray is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos out of Blinn College in Brenham, Texas in the eighteenth round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft, and developed into one of the top relief pitchers in the National League in the mid...
to the 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....
for Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
and Will McEnaney
Will McEnaney
William Henry McEnaney is a former professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of 6 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. He was a member of the 1975 and 1976 World Series champion "Big Red...
on December 16, . He and Reds manager Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
did not get along, and Fryman's record stood at 5-5 with a 5.38 ERA when he announced his retirement midway through the season rather than pitch for Anderson. Following the season, he was lured back out of retirement, and dealt with Bill Caudill
Bill Caudill
William Holland Caudill is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. One of the wackier players to play the game, Caudill was also one of baseball's top closers from to . Caudill is perhaps most notable for being agent Scott Boras' first client.-Early years:Caudill was drafted by the St...
to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Bonham
Bill Bonham
William Gordon Bonham was a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds...
.
Return to Montreal
Fryman made just thirteen appearances and was 2-4 with a 5.17 ERA for the Cubs when he was dealt to the Montreal Expos for a player to be named later midway through the season. Turning 39 at the start of the season, Fryman was converted into a full-time relief pitcherRelief 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...
by manager Dick Williams
Dick Williams
Richard Hirschfeld "Dick" Williams was an American left fielder, third baseman, manager, coach and front office consultant in Major League Baseball. Known especially as a hard-driving, sharp-tongued manager from 1967–69 and 1971–88, he led teams to three American League pennants, one National...
. He made the post-season for the second time in his career following the strike shortened 1981 season. In the 1981 National League Division Series
1981 National League Division Series
-Philadelphia Phillies vs. Montreal Expos:-Game 1, October 6:Astrodome in Houston, TexasFernando Valenzuela faced Nolan Ryan, a matchup worthy of a pitcher's duel. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. Tony Scott singled home Terry Puhl to score the game's first run, but Steve...
against the Philadelphia Phillies, he pitched 1.1 inning, and gave up one earned run. In the 1981 National League Championship Series
1981 National League Championship Series
- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 13, 1981 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe Dodgers took the first game of the series behind the strong pitching of starter Burt Hooton. For the first seven innings the game stayed close, with the only scoring coming in the second inning when the Dodgers got...
, he gave up four earned runs to 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...
in one inning pitched.
Fryman was 24-17 with 46 saves and a 2.73 ERA as a full-time reliever entering the season. He made one appearance in April before going on the disabled list. Fryman recalled: “It was early in the 1983 season and my arm just popped and I couldn't even raise it." He returned to the club in July, but after going 0-3 with a 21.00 ERA, and blowing his only save opportunity, he retired.
Career stats
See also- Best pitching seasons by a Detroit Tiger
- Detroit Tigers award winners and league leaders
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders
Personal life
Fryman was inducted into the Montreal Expos’ Hall of Fame in , and the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame in . On February 4, 2011, Fryman died in his hometown of Ewing, Kentucky, where he was a tobaccoTobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
farmer, two months shy of his 71st birthday.