Dee Fondy

Dee Virgil Fondy

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 3", Weight 196 lb.
• High School San Bernardino High School
• Debut April 17, 1951
• Final Game September 21, 1958
• Born October 31, 1924 in Slaton, TX USA
• Died August 19, 1999 in Redlands, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Arguably the major league's fastest first baseman during his career, fleet-footed Dee Fondy served in the Army during World War II and was part of the forces that landed on Utah Beach in Normandy in 1944, three months after D-Day. He received the Purple Heart.

Originally signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers by scout Tom Downey, Fondy was traded to the Chicago Cubs with Chuck Connors, who was later to become famous as a movie and television actor. Connors played more at first, but eventually Fondy won the first base job and kept it for over five years. Connors, sent back to the minors, was then discovered by Hollywood when playing for the minor-league Los Angeles Angels. Fondy was a free-swinging, solid hitter who batted over .300 three times in his short major league career. Long, lanky and fast, he racked up 20 stolen bases for the Cubs in 1954, and previously averaged 34 stolen bases during his minor league career. Fondy was clocked at a stunning 9.9 seconds for 100 yards while in college.

Fondy was the Scouting Director of the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976-1977 and then was a special assistant to the GM until 1997.

Famous Last

He was the last player to bat in Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, NY. (1957)