Eddie Fisher
From BR Bullpen
Eddie Gene Fisher
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2½", *Weight 200 lb.
- School University of Oklahoma
- Debut June 22, 1959
- Final Game September 19, 1973
- Born July 16, 1936 in Shreveport, LA USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Before the 1958 season Eddie Fisher was signed as an amateur free agent by the San Francisco Giants. The Giants assigned him to the Corpus Christi Giants of the class AA Texas League and the righthander out of the University of Oklahoma went 11-7 with a 3.43 ERA. He would first come up with San Francisco in 1959.
After three years of going up and down from the big leagues to the minors, he ws traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1961, in the deal that brought Billy Pierce to the Giants. After a couple of years of some spot starting for the White Sox, Eddie became one of the more durable relievers in the American League for several seasons.
He learned how to throw the knuckleball from the master of the pitch, Hoyt Wilhelm, when the two were bullpen mates with the ChiSox. Although he was effective over many seasons, he had his career year in 1965 leading the American League in appearances with 82 and victories in relief with 15. He added 24 saves and was named the "Fireman of the Year".
Fisher was traded by the White Sox to the Orioles during the 1966 season and led the league with 67 appearances combined between the two clubs. But in his only World Series neither he nor three other outstanding Orioles relievers (Stu Miller, Eddie Watt, or Dick Hall) made it into games as Baltimore used only four pitchers (Dave McNally, Wally Bunker,and Jim Palmer, along with reliever Moe Drabowsky) in the four game sweep of the Dodgers.
After wearing the uniforms of the Cleveland Indians, California Angels and the White Sox again and the St. Louis Cardinals from 1968 to 1973, he concluded his 15 year stay at 85-70 plus 81 saves and a 3.41 ERA. Eddie had spent a total of 16 seasons in pro baseball and along with his major league stats he compiled a 47-28 record in 93 appearances (1958-61) with a 3.20 ERA, during his time in the minors.
Eddie who resided in Altus, OK, entered the world of finance and became the president of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association. He also owned a sporting goods business - Eddie Fisher's Sports World.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- AL All-Star (1965)
- AL Reliever of the Year Award Winner (1965)
- 2-time AL Games Pitched Leader (1965 & 1966)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 1 (1965)
- Won a World Series with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 (he did not play in the World Series)
[edit] Sources
Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page
