Harry Fanok
Encyclopedia
Harry Michael Fanok III (born May 11, 1940, at Whippany, New Jersey
) is a retired American
professional baseball
player, a right-handed pitcher
who was nicknamed "The Flame Thrower" for his blazing fastball
. Fanok made 16 appearances, all in relief
, for the – St. Louis Cardinals
of Major League Baseball
, but he sustained a career-shortening injury to his throwing arm in August 1963 while pitching for the Triple-A Atlanta Crackers
.
The 6 ft (1.8 m), 180 lb (81.6 kg) Fanok signed with St. Louis in 1959 after attending what is now the Morristown-Beard School
and Hanover Park High School
, where he was a baseball standout. After four seasons in minor league baseball
, originally as a third baseman
before converting to pitching, he began the 1963
season as a member of the MLB Cardinals' pitching staff. He stayed with them for almost two months and 12 games played
, fashioning a 2–1 record and recording one save, with 25 strikeouts in 25⅔ innings pitched
.
But Fanok allowed 21 bases on balls and 24 hits
, and was told to change his customary three-quarters throwing motion to a straight overhand delivery by Cardinal manager
Johnny Keane
. Sent back to Triple-A Atlanta to find his rhythm, Fanok pitched well — striking out 146 batters in 127 innings — but suffered his arm injury late in the season. He would make only four more appearances in the Majors, for the 1964 Cardinals
, and he retired from baseball after the 1967 campaign.
All told, Fanok struck out 35 batters in 33⅓ Major League innings, allowing 29 hits and 24 walks. He returned to New Jersey
after his playing days but eventually settled in Chardon, Ohio
.
Whippany, New Jersey
Whippany is an unincorporated area located within Hanover Township in Morris County, New Jersey. Whippany's name is derived from the Whippanong Native Americans, a tribe that once inhabited the area...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player, a 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...
who was nicknamed "The Flame Thrower" for his blazing fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
. Fanok made 16 appearances, all in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, for the – St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
of 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...
, but he sustained a career-shortening injury to his throwing arm in August 1963 while pitching for the Triple-A Atlanta Crackers
Atlanta Crackers
The Atlanta Crackers were minor league baseball teams based in Atlanta, Georgia, between 1901 and 1965. The Crackers were Atlanta's home team until the Atlanta Braves moved from Milwaukee in 1966....
.
The 6 ft (1.8 m), 180 lb (81.6 kg) Fanok signed with St. Louis in 1959 after attending what is now the Morristown-Beard School
Morristown-Beard School
Morristown-Beard School is a coeducational college-preparatory day school, serving students in sixth through twelfth grade, located in Morristown, in Morris County, New Jersey. Morristown-Beard School is the product of the 1971 merger of two institutions, Miss Beard's School for girls, founded in...
and Hanover Park High School
Hanover Park High School
Hanover Park High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from East Hanover Township and Florham Park, in Morris County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Hanover Park Regional High School District...
, where he was a baseball standout. After four seasons in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, originally as a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
before converting to pitching, he began the 1963
1963 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 82nd season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 72nd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 93-69 during the season, and finished 2nd in the National League, six games behind the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers...
season as a member of the MLB Cardinals' pitching staff. He stayed with them for almost two months and 12 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, fashioning a 2–1 record and recording one save, with 25 strikeouts in 25⅔ 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...
.
But Fanok allowed 21 bases on balls and 24 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....
, and was told to change his customary three-quarters throwing motion to a straight overhand delivery by Cardinal 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...
Johnny Keane
Johnny Keane
John Joseph Keane was an American manager in Major League Baseball. Born in St. Louis, Missouri and known as a patient manager of young players, Keane participated in one of the strangest turns of events in baseball history in , his final season at the helm of the St...
. Sent back to Triple-A Atlanta to find his rhythm, Fanok pitched well — striking out 146 batters in 127 innings — but suffered his arm injury late in the season. He would make only four more appearances in the Majors, for the 1964 Cardinals
1964 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 83rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 73rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 93-69 during the season and finished first in the National League, edging the co-runner-ups Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies by one game each on...
, and he retired from baseball after the 1967 campaign.
All told, Fanok struck out 35 batters in 33⅓ Major League innings, allowing 29 hits and 24 walks. He returned to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
after his playing days but eventually settled in Chardon, Ohio
Chardon, Ohio
Chardon is a city in Geauga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,148 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Geauga County.-History:Chardon is named after Peter Chardon Brooks, who donated land to build the historic Chardon Square....
.
External links
- Career record and playing statistics from Baseball Reference
- http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=2313&pid=4270Fanok, Harry, and Costello, Rory, Harry Fanok, SABRSociety for American Baseball ResearchThe Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
Baseball Biography Project]