Cherokee Fisher

William Charles Fisher

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 164 lb.

• Debut May 6, 1871
• Final Game July 9, 1878
• Born November, 1844 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died September 26, 1912 in New York, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Cherokee Fisher played eight seasons in the big leagues, appearing in 294 games of which 165 were as a pitcher. As a pitcher he had a lifetime ERA of 2.83 and was among the ERA leaders in every year of the National Association's existence. As a hitter, he was less impressive, having perhaps his best season in 1876, the first year of the National League, when he hit .248 on an awful Cincinnati Reds team that hit .234 as a whole. In spite of that, he was released in mid-season sporting a terrible 4-20 record and a 3.03 ERA, leaving the team with only one pitcher, Dory Dean, who had pitched but two games in his big league career to that point. Dean did even worse, ending with a record of 4-26, with a worse ERA. At 31, Fisher was already among the ten oldest players in the league during that inaugural season.

One source says Fisher gave up the first inside-the-park home run in the National League, to Ross Barnes.

He umpired a total of four games in the National Association and National League between 1871 and 1876.

In the late 1860s he played for the West Philadelphia Club.

Notable Achievements

• NA ERA Leader (1873)
• NA Winning Percentage Leader (1872)
• NA Saves Leader (1872)
• NA Shutouts Leader (1871)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1875)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1871 & 1874-1876)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1874 & 1875)

Related Sites

• BR minors page