Eddie Fisher

Eddie Gene Fisher

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2½", Weight 200 lb.
• School University of Oklahoma
• High School Friendship High School
• Debut June 22, 1959
• Final Game September 19, 1973
• Born July 16, 1936 in Shreveport, LA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Eddie Fisher pitched 15 years in the majors for 6 different teams. In the mid-1960s, he was one of the top relievers in baseball, earning the Sporting News Reliever of the Year award in 1965.

Originally a starter, Fisher was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent before the 1958 season. The righthander out of the University of Oklahoma went 11-7 with a 3.43 ERA for the Corpus Christi Giants of the Class AA Texas League that summer. He first came up with San Francisco in 1959.

After three years of going up and down from the big leagues to the minors, Fisher was traded to the Chicago White Sox following the 1961 campaign, in the deal that brought Billy Pierce to the Giants. After a couple of years of some spot starting, he moved primarily to the bullpen in 1964. Learning how to throw the knuckleball from the master of the pitch, teammate Hoyt Wilhelm, he became one of the more durable relievers in the American League for the next several seasons.

Fisher had his best season in the big leagues in 1965, winning 15 games and saving 24. He led the American League with 82 appearances, a junior circuit record at the time, was named "Fireman of the Year", and earned a spot on the AL All-Star squad. Midway through the next season, the White Sox, with a deep bullpen that included Wilhelm and Bob Locker, dealt him to the Baltimore Orioles for Jerry Adair. Between the two clubs, he led the AL with 67 appearances that summer. That fall, his team reached the World Series, but he did not pitch, as the O's used only four pitchers (Dave McNally, Wally Bunker, and Jim Palmer, along with reliever Moe Drabowsky) in the four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After wearing the uniforms of the Cleveland Indians and California Angels, Fisher was dealt back to the White Sox late in the 1972 season. Skipper Chuck Tanner attempted to convert him back to a starter, but he went 6-7 with a 4.88 ERA for the team in 1973. Late that year, he was acquired by the St. Louis Cardinals, and he ended his playing career after 6 outings for them.

Overall, Fisher spent 16 seasons in pro baseball. In the majors, he went 85-70 with a 3.41 ERA and 81 saves, while in the minors, he compiled a 47-28 mark and a 3.20 ERA from 1958 to 1961.

After baseball, Fisher moved back to Oklahoma and became the president of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association. He also owned a sporting goods business - Eddie Fisher's Sports World.

Notable Achievements

• AL All-Star (1965)
• AL Reliever of the Year Award Winner (1965)
• 2-time AL Games Pitched Leader (1965 & 1966)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 1 (1965)
• Won a World Series with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 (he did not play in the World Series)

Sources

Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page