Howie Fox
Encyclopedia
Howard Francis Fox was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for three different teams between the 1944
and 1954
seasons. Listed at 6' 3", 210 lb., Fox batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Coburg, Oregon
.
A hard thrower with a sharp curveball
, Fox was signed by the Cincinnati Reds
as a free agent in 1943 out of the University of Oregon
. He entered the majors in 1945 with the Reds, playing seven years before joining the Philadelphia Phillies
(1952) and Baltimore Orioles
(1954). His most productive season came in 1950 for Cincinnati, when he went 11-8, a year after his 6-19 record made him the losingest pitcher in the major leagues. In 1951, he collected nine victories with a 3.83 ERA
in a career-high 228 innings, but got 14 losses.
Before the 1952 season, Fox was dealt to Philadelphia in a seven-player transaction that included Smoky Burgess
, Niles Jordan
, Eddie Pellagrini
, Connie Ryan
, Andy Seminick
and Dick Sisler
. In 1953, he played for Triple-A Baltimore
, and a year later pitched his last season, for the Orioles.
In nine major league seasons, Fox posted a 43-72 record with 342 strikeout
s and a 4.33 ERA in 248 appearances, including 132 starts
, 42 complete game
s, five shutout
s, six saves
, and 1,108⅓ innings of work. A good-hitting pitcher, he was used to pinch-hit periodically. In 253 games he hit .189 with two home run
s and 25 RBI
.
Fox also played in the Venezuelan Winter League
(1953–55) and in the 1954 Caribbean Series
. After pitching in the Texas League
in 1955, he was stabbed to death while fighting with three men in a tavern near San Antonio
. He was 34 years old at the time of his death.
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...
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 for three different teams between the 1944
1944 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over St. Louis Browns , in the "Streetcar Series"*All-Star Game, July 11 at Forbes Field: National League, 7-1-Other champions:...
and 1954
1954 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* World Series: New York Giants over Cleveland Indians * All-Star Game, July 13 at Municipal Stadium: American League, 11-9-Other champions:* Caribbean World Series: Caguas Creoles [Criollos de Caguas]...
seasons. Listed at 6' 3", 210 lb., Fox batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Coburg, Oregon
Coburg, Oregon
Coburg is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States, north of Eugene. The city's population as of the 2010 census was 1,035.- History :...
.
A hard thrower with a sharp curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, Fox was signed by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
as a free agent in 1943 out of the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. He entered the majors in 1945 with the Reds, playing seven years before joining the 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...
(1952) and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1954). His most productive season came in 1950 for Cincinnati, when he went 11-8, a year after his 6-19 record made him the losingest pitcher in the major leagues. In 1951, he collected nine victories with a 3.83 ERA
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...
in a career-high 228 innings, but got 14 losses.
Before the 1952 season, Fox was dealt to Philadelphia in a seven-player transaction that included Smoky Burgess
Smoky Burgess
Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1949 to 1967. Later in his career, he became known for his ability as a pinch hitter, setting the major league career record for career pinch-hits...
, Niles Jordan
Niles Jordan
Niles Chapman Jordan [Sonny] was a starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball during the and seasons...
, Eddie Pellagrini
Eddie Pellagrini
Edward Charles Pellagrini was an American infielder in Major League Baseball from to for the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, Connie Ryan
Connie Ryan
Cornelius Joseph Ryan was an American second baseman, third baseman, coach and manager in Major League Baseball....
, Andy Seminick
Andy Seminick
Andrew Wasal Seminick was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies between 1943 and 1951, and the Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs from 1952 through part of 1955, when he rejoined the Phillies for the rest of his career until...
and Dick Sisler
Dick Sisler
Richard Alan Sisler was an American player, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Sisler was the son of Hall of Fame first baseman and two-time .400 hitter George Sisler. Younger brother Dave Sisler was a relief pitcher in the 1950s and 1960s with four MLB...
. In 1953, he played for Triple-A Baltimore
Baltimore Orioles (minor league)
The city of Baltimore, Maryland has been home to two minor league baseball teams called the Baltimore Orioles.-Name history:"Orioles" is a traditional name for baseball clubs in Baltimore . It was used by major league teams from 1882 through 1899 in the American Association/National League and by...
, and a year later pitched his last season, for the Orioles.
In nine major league seasons, Fox posted a 43-72 record with 342 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 and a 4.33 ERA in 248 appearances, including 132 starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, 42 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, five 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, six saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
, and 1,108⅓ innings of work. A good-hitting pitcher, he was used to pinch-hit periodically. In 253 games he hit .189 with two home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 25 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
.
Fox also played in the Venezuelan Winter League
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League or Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional is the highest level baseball league in Venezuela.-Brief history:Baseball exploded in Venezuela in 1941, following the world championship in Havana....
(1953–55) and in the 1954 Caribbean Series
1954 Caribbean Series
The VI edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 1954. It was held from February 18 through February 23 with the champions teams from Cuba Panama Puerto Rico and Venezuela . The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice...
. After pitching in the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
in 1955, he was stabbed to death while fighting with three men in a tavern near San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. He was 34 years old at the time of his death.