Bill Fagan
From BR Bullpen
William A. Fagan (Clinkers)
- Bats Unknown, Throws Left
- Height 5' 11", Weight 165 lb.
- Debut September 15, 1887
- Final Game July 20, 1888
- Born February 15, 1869 in Troy, NY USA
- Died March 21, 1930 in Troy, NY USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Bill Fagan played in the majors at ages 18 and 19. Born in Troy, NY, he played for the 1887 New York Metropolitans, and then moved over to the 1888 Kansas City Cowboys.
His name was sometimes misspelled "Fagin".
"Scribners Magazine for November has a collection of pictures showing the muscular attitude of athletes in action. . . Scribner's cut has the back of the pitcher toward the reader . . . but the wart on the left calf gives the snap away. It is 'Clinkers', otherwise known as Fagin, the lamplighter of Lansingburgh." - Sporting Life, Nov. 23, 1887
The most similar pitcher at age 19 was Bobby Mathews, but whereas Mathews went on to a long career, Fagan pitched no more in the majors after that. He did, however, have a minor league career which went from at least 1885-92. Some of the minor league teams were far from New York, including Denver, Omaha and Des Moines.
"Clinkers Fagan . . . pitched for the Denver team a portion of last summer and his work at times was remarkable. After he joined the Denvers he won the first eleven games, and all because he pitched all of the games on cloudy afternoons. On the afternoon of the twelfth game old Sol was smiling down on us . . . Charlie had no command of the ball . . . In the future Clinkers was always saved for cloudy weather . . ." - Sporting Life, Jan. 15, 1890, quoting Ed Silch
" 'Clinkers' Fagin and Tom Flanagan, two old Omaha players, have doubled up as a song and dance team. 'Clinkers' is the immortal who, when President McCormick, of Omaha, offered him his release, said: - 'Keep it yourself, I've got a pocket full of 'em.' " - Sporting Life, May 28, 1892
