Former American League All-Star, World Series Champion Eddie Fisher Dies


Eddie Fisher’s 1965 season is one Major League Baseball might never see again.

The Chicago White Sox pitcher led the American League in games pitched (80), games finished (62) and WHIP (0.974) while also recording 24 saves. Remarkably, he also went 15-7 with a 2.40 ERA while qualifying for the ERA title because he pitched 165.1 innings.

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Fisher made the only All-Star team of his 15-year career that season, and finished fourth in AL MVP voting — a remarkable achievement for a relief pitcher in any era.

Eddie Fisher San Francisco Giants
Pitcher Eddie Fisher #39 of the San Francisco Giants throws the pitch to Bill Henry #44 of the Cincinnati Reds as he tries to bunt during an MLB game on May 30, 1961 at Candlestick…


Hy Peskin/Getty Images

Fisher, who died Monday at age 88, played for the San Francisco Giants, White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, California Angels, and St. Louis Cardinals from 1959-73.

The right-handed knuckleballer was signed by the New York Giants out of the University of Oklahoma, and debuted in San Francisco during the franchise’s second year on the West Coast. In 35 appearances with the Giants from 1959-61, Fisher made seven starts, struggling with a 3-8 record and 6.25 ERA.

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In Nov. 1961, Fisher was traded to Chicago for two starting pitchers, former World Series hero Don Larsen and White Sox franchise icon Billy Pierce. It was there that he settled in as one of the preeminent relief pitchers of the decade.

Fisher shuffled between the bullpen and starting rotation from 1962-64, before his dominant 1965 campaign as the White Sox closer. At the end of the season, he was chosen the sixth-ever winner of the Sporting News’ AL Reliever of the Year Award.

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Fisher picked up where he left off in 1966, posting a 2.29 ERA across 23 relief appearances. But in June of that year he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for light-hitting infielder Jerry Adair and a minor leaguer. It was fortuitous timing for Fisher, as the Orioles were on a collision course with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1966 World Series.

In 44 regular season games with Baltimore, Fisher logged 14 saves and a 2.64 ERA. Although he didn’t appear in any games that October, the Orioles swept the Dodgers in four games to claim the championship and give Fisher the only World Series ring of his career.

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From 1967-73, Fisher would be traded four times, playing for five teams across parts of seven seasons. He finished with a career record of 85-70 and a 3.41 ERA (101 ERA+).

Fisher moved back to Oklahoma after retiring and became the president of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association. He also owned an eponymous sporting goods business, and managed golf operations as a state director for the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department.

In 2007, Fisher was elected to the University of Oklahoma Baseball Hall of Fame. The following year he was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.



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