Freddie Fitzsimmons
Encyclopedia
Frederick Landis Fitzsimmons (July 28, 1901 - November 18, 1979), nicknamed "Fat Freddie," was an American
right-handed pitcher
, manager
and coach
in Major League Baseball
who played from 1925 to 1943 with the New York Giants
and Brooklyn Dodgers
. Known for his mastery of the knuckle curve
, his 217 wins
were the third most by a National League
right-hander in the period from 1920 to 1955, trailing only Burleigh Grimes
and Paul Derringer
. In he set an NL record, which stood until 1959, with a single-season winning percentage of .889 (16-2). He was an agile fielder in spite of his heavy build, holding the major league record for career double play
s (79) from 1938 to 1964, and tying another record by leading the league in putout
s four times; he ranked eighth in NL history in putouts (237) and ninth in fielding percentage
(.977) when his career ended.
Born in Mishawaka, Indiana
, Fitzsimmons broke in with the Giants in August , posting a 6-3 record over the rest of the year. After seasons of 14 and 17 wins, he earned a career-high 20 victories in , a year which saw the arrival of teammate Carl Hubbell
; until Fitzsimmons' departure in 1937, the two would form a formidable left-right combination at the heart of the Giants' staff. In he led the NL in winning percentage for the first time with a 19-7 record (.731), and an 18-11 season followed in 1931. In , the first full season after Bill Terry
took over from John McGraw
as manager, he won 16 games with a 2.90 earned run average
as the Giants won the NL pennant; in the 1933 World Series
against the Washington Senators
, he suffered a 4-0 defeat in Game 3, though it was New York's only loss as they captured their first title since 1922.
He had another 18-win season in 1934, and led the NL in putouts for the fourth time, tying Grover Cleveland Alexander
's major league mark. However, his career then began to struggle. He had years of 4-8 and 10-7 in and , with the Giants winning the NL pennant again the latter year; he led the NL in shutout
s in 1935, blanking opponents in all 4 of his victories. His troubles returned in the 1936 World Series
against the New York Yankees
; he lost Game 3 by a 2-1 score, and was bombarded in the final Game 6 loss, leaving in the fourth inning while trailing 5-2. After a 6-10 start in 1937, he was traded to the Dodgers in June for reliever Tom Baker, who made only 15 appearances for the Giants. Brooklyn shortstop Leo Durocher
praised his new teammate's competitiveness, saying, "I wish we had nine guys like Fitz. We'd never lose." Though his record in 1938-39 totaled only 18-17, in he tied Grimes' mark of 74 career double plays, passing him the following year; Warren Spahn
broke his record in . He came back in 1940 with a 16-2 campaign, finishing fifth in the MVP
voting. His .889 winning percentage broke the NL record of .842 (16-3) shared by Tom L. Hughes
( Boston Braves
) and Emil Yde
( Pittsburgh Pirates
), and stood until Roy Face
posted an 18-1 mark (.947) with the Pirates.
Fitzsimmons made only 12 starts in , going 6-1 as the Dodgers won their first pennant since 1920. He almost earned his long-elusive World Series
victory against the Yankees, holding them to four hits
through seven innings in Game 3. But he was forced to leave with a 0-0 score after being struck in the kneecap by a line drive hit by Marius Russo
, though he was alert enough to throw a runner out at second to end the inning. His replacement surrendered two runs in the eighth, and New York triumphed 2-1.
Following his knee injury, he made only one start in 1942, and the Dodgers traded him to the tailending Philadelphia Phillies
in the middle of the season; he was immediately tabbed as the Phils' manager, ending his playing career. He compiled a 217-146 (.598) record with an ERA of 3.51 and 870 strikeout
s in 513 games and 3223-2/3 innings pitched
. He ran the Phillies through the middle of the season, compiling only 105 wins against 181 losses (.367). In 1943 and 1944 he also served as general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers
in the All-America Football Conference
. Fitzsimmons then became a coach with the Boston Braves
, Giants (1949–55), Chicago Cubs
(1957–59; 1966) and Kansas City Athletics
(1960). On the Giants staff of Durocher, his teammate and manager in Brooklyn, he finally earned a championship as the pitching coach for the 1954 World Series
team.
Bob Lemon
broke the major league mark shared by Fitzsimmons by leading the American League
in putouts five times between 1948 and 1954; Greg Maddux
eventually broke the NL record.
Fitzsimmons died of a heart attack at age 78 in Yucca Valley, California
.
[
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed 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...
, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in Major League Baseball
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...
who played from 1925 to 1943 with the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and Brooklyn 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...
. Known for his mastery of the knuckle curve
Knuckle curve
In Major League history, the term knuckle curve has been used to describe three entirely different pitches.The first, more common pitch called the knuckle curve is really a standard curveball, thrown with one or more of the index or mean fingers bent. According to practitioners, this gives them a...
, his 217 wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
were the third most by a 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...
right-hander in the period from 1920 to 1955, trailing only Burleigh Grimes
Burleigh Grimes
Burleigh Arland Grimes was an American professional baseball player, and the last pitcher officially permitted to throw the spitball. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1954. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.-Career:Nicknamed "Ol' Stubblebeard", Grimes was...
and Paul Derringer
Paul Derringer
Samuel Paul Derringer was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three National League teams from 1931 to 1945, primarily the Cincinnati Reds....
. In he set an NL record, which stood until 1959, with a single-season winning percentage of .889 (16-2). He was an agile fielder in spite of his heavy build, holding the major league record for career double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s (79) from 1938 to 1964, and tying another record by leading the league in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s four times; he ranked eighth in NL history in putouts (237) and ninth in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(.977) when his career ended.
Born in Mishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka is a city on the St. Joseph River and a Twin city of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. The population was 48,252 as of the 2010 Census...
, Fitzsimmons broke in with the Giants in August , posting a 6-3 record over the rest of the year. After seasons of 14 and 17 wins, he earned a career-high 20 victories in , a year which saw the arrival of teammate Carl Hubbell
Carl Hubbell
Carl Owen Hubbell was an American baseball player. He was a member of the New York Giants in the National League from 1928 to 1943, and remained on the Giants' payroll for the rest of his life, long after their move to San Francisco.Twice voted the National League's Most Valuable Player, Hubbell...
; until Fitzsimmons' departure in 1937, the two would form a formidable left-right combination at the heart of the Giants' staff. In he led the NL in winning percentage for the first time with a 19-7 record (.731), and an 18-11 season followed in 1931. In , the first full season after Bill Terry
Bill Terry
William Harold Terry was a Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Terry was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954. In 1999, he ranked number 59 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was a nominee...
took over from John McGraw
John McGraw
John McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
as manager, he won 16 games with a 2.90 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...
as the Giants won the NL pennant; in the 1933 World Series
1933 World Series
The 1933 World Series featured the New York Giants and the Washington Senators, with the Giants winning in five games for their first championship since , and their fourth overall....
against the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, he suffered a 4-0 defeat in Game 3, though it was New York's only loss as they captured their first title since 1922.
He had another 18-win season in 1934, and led the NL in putouts for the fourth time, tying Grover Cleveland Alexander
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Grover Cleveland Alexander , nicknamed "Old Pete", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.-Career:Alexander was born in Elba, Nebraska, one of thirteen...
's major league mark. However, his career then began to struggle. He had years of 4-8 and 10-7 in and , with the Giants winning the NL pennant again the latter year; he led the NL in 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 1935, blanking opponents in all 4 of his victories. His troubles returned in the 1936 World Series
1936 World Series
The 1936 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the New York Giants, with the Yankees winning in six games to earn their fifth championship....
against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
; he lost Game 3 by a 2-1 score, and was bombarded in the final Game 6 loss, leaving in the fourth inning while trailing 5-2. After a 6-10 start in 1937, he was traded to the Dodgers in June for reliever Tom Baker, who made only 15 appearances for the Giants. Brooklyn shortstop Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
praised his new teammate's competitiveness, saying, "I wish we had nine guys like Fitz. We'd never lose." Though his record in 1938-39 totaled only 18-17, in he tied Grimes' mark of 74 career double plays, passing him the following year; Warren Spahn
Warren Spahn
Warren Edward Spahn was an American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career in the National League. He won 20 games each in 13 seasons, including a 23-7 record when he was age 42...
broke his record in . He came back in 1940 with a 16-2 campaign, finishing fifth in the MVP
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
voting. His .889 winning percentage broke the NL record of .842 (16-3) shared by Tom L. Hughes
Tom L. Hughes
Thomas L. Hughes born in Coal Creek, Colorado, USA, was a right-handed pitcher for the New York Highlanders and Boston Braves...
( Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
) and Emil Yde
Emil Yde
Emil Ogden Yde , was a left-handed pitcher in major league baseball, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers in 1929. As a rookie in 1924, Yde led the National League in shutouts with four and in Winning Percentage with a won-loss record of 16-3.-External links:...
( Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh 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...
), and stood until Roy Face
Roy Face
Elroy Leon Face is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953–1969, pitching primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
posted an 18-1 mark (.947) with the Pirates.
Fitzsimmons made only 12 starts in , going 6-1 as the Dodgers won their first pennant since 1920. He almost earned his long-elusive World Series
1941 World Series
The 1941 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning in five games to capture their fifth title in six years, and their ninth overall....
victory against the Yankees, holding them to four 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....
through seven innings in Game 3. But he was forced to leave with a 0-0 score after being struck in the kneecap by a line drive hit by Marius Russo
Marius Russo
Marius Ugo Russo was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees . Russo batted right-handed and threw left-handed.-Profile:...
, though he was alert enough to throw a runner out at second to end the inning. His replacement surrendered two runs in the eighth, and New York triumphed 2-1.
Following his knee injury, he made only one start in 1942, and the Dodgers traded him to the tailending 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...
in the middle of the season; he was immediately tabbed as the Phils' manager, ending his playing career. He compiled a 217-146 (.598) record with an ERA of 3.51 and 870 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 513 games and 3223-2/3 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. He ran the Phillies through the middle of the season, compiling only 105 wins against 181 losses (.367). In 1943 and 1944 he also served as general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers
Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC)
The Brooklyn Dodgers was an American Football team that played in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1948. The team is unrelated to the Brooklyn Dodgers that played in the National Football League from 1930 to 1943...
in the All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
. Fitzsimmons then became a coach with the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Giants (1949–55), 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...
(1957–59; 1966) and Kansas City Athletics
Oakland 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....
(1960). On the Giants staff of Durocher, his teammate and manager in Brooklyn, he finally earned a championship as the pitching coach for the 1954 World Series
1954 World Series
The 1954 World Series matched the National League champion New York Giants against the American League champion Cleveland Indians. The Giants swept the Series in four games to win their first championship since , defeating the heavily favored Indians, who had won an AL-record 111 games in the...
team.
Bob Lemon
Bob Lemon
Robert Granville Lemon was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976....
broke the major league mark shared by Fitzsimmons by leading 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 putouts five times between 1948 and 1954; Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan Maddux , nicknamed "Mad Dog" and "The Professor", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
eventually broke the NL record.
Fitzsimmons died of a heart attack at age 78 in Yucca Valley, California
Yucca Valley, California
Yucca Valley is an incorporated town located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 20,700 at the 2010 census, up from 16,865 at the 2000 census...
.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- MLB all-time leaders in home runs by pitchersMLB all-time leaders in home runs by pitchersThis is a list of the all-time leaders in home runs hit by Major League Baseball pitchers, with the pitcher being defined as a player who pitches in at least three games in the given year...
External links
- BaseballLibrary - career highlights
- The Baseball Page - biography
- The Deadball Era - New York Times obituary
- Freddie Fitzsimmons at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
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