Fritz Brickell

From BR Bullpen

Fritz Darrell Brickell

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 5' 5½", Weight 157 lb.

Debut April 30, 1958
Final Game May 15, 1961
Born March 19, 1935 in Wichita, KS USA
Died October 15, 1965 in Wichita, KS USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Before the 1953 season, shortstop Fritz Brickell , was signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Yankees. Fritz, who stood just 5'5½", was optioned out to the Joplin Miners of the class C Western Association. The 18 year old Kansas native got into only 37 games his first year, hitting .221.

Fritz was in the same league in 1954 but with the St. Joseph Saints, where he played 121 games at short and hit .306. He would spend the next few years in the high minors until he had a look-see in a couple games, with no record, for the Yankees in 1958. They gave him another look the next season and he appeared in 18 games at short and hit .256 before being sent back to the IL Richmond Virginians where he finished out the 1959 year, hitting .247 in 88 games.

Brickell stayed in the Yankees organization until April 4, 1961 when they traded him to the Los Angeles Angels for Duke Maas. Fritz became the first starting shortstop for the expansion Angels but was waylaid by injuries, appearing in only 21 games. He was dispatched to the Toronto Maple Leafs, where after he healed a bit, had probably his best season yet, hitting .307 in 108 games and fielding .985, while holding down the second base position.

Fritz was with both the Toronto Maple Leafs squad and the Louisville Colonels team in 1962 hitting a combined .234 in 68 games. It was apparent he wasn't his old self and he called it a career after the season. He had spent 10 years in professional baseball from 1953 through 1962. Fritz's minor league records show he appeared in 982 games with 3,549 at bats, 979 base hits, including 82 home runs and had a .275 career batting average.

When he was diagnosed with cancer, Fritz Brickell Night was held in August of 1965 at the National Semi-Pro Tournament in Wichita, Kansas with his former teammate Mickey Mantle on hand to stage a hitting exibition as part of the activities. Fritz died just a few months later on October 15, 1965, at age 30 in his hometown of Wichita.

Fred Brickell, Fritz's father, was a National League outfielder who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the New York Yankees in the 1927 World Series.