Fred Link

Edward Theodore Link
(Laddie)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut April 15, 1910
• Final Game August 25, 1910
• Born March 11, 1886 in Columbus, OH USA
• Died May 22, 1939 in Houston, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Fred "Laddie" Link was in the big leagues with two teams: the 1910 Cleveland Naps for 25 games, of which 17 were starts, and the 1910 St. Louis Browns for three games, of which all were starts. His overall record was 5-7 with a 3.30 ERA. His very first appearance was a complete game victory in extra innings on April 15th. His next complete game, against the Browns on May 2nd, was also a victory in extra innings. Only Waite Hoyt, on July 31st and August 9th, 1919, has also posted extra-inning victories in the first two complete games of a career. Link relieved Cy Young in a game against the Washington Senators on June 4th. It was the second and last matchup between Young, then aged 43, and 22-year-old Walter Johnson, with the youngster prevailing on this day. Link shut out the Browns on June 28th to run his record to 5-4 with a 2.55 ERA. Link's performance declined over the remainder of the season, perhaps leading to his sale in August to the Browns team he had already beaten twice that year.

Fred was born in Columbus, OH and spent his first four minor league seasons winning plentiful games for Ohio-based teams. He was 22-13 for the 1906 Newark Cotton Tops, then 21-11 for the 1907 Newark Newks, 19-12 for the 1908 Lima Cigarmakers and 22-12 for the 1909 Columbus Senators. After his one season in the big leagues, he pitched three years with teams in Indianapolis. In his first season, with the 1911 Indianapolis Indians, he was 21-16. In his final professional season, Link posted a 13-4 record for the 1913 Indianapolis Hoosiers, champions that season (and the next) of the fledgling Federal League.

The Indianapolis News issue of March 15, 1916 carried an article that Fred was trying to make a comeback with the Columbus Senators.