Jack Fisher
| Birthdate | 3/4/1939 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1959 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Giants, Mets, Orioles, Reds, White Sox |
| Position | Pitcher |
A walking trivia answer, Jack Fisher threw the 1st pitch at Shea Stadium, gave up Ted Williams’ final hit and homer as well as Roger Maris’ #60.
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Jack Fisher recounts the amazing moments of his career
Jack Fisher recounts the amazing moments of his career
Jack Fisher witnessed and played a part in some of the most memorable moments in baseball history. In this questionnaire filled out and signed by Fisher he recalls a few of those highlights. The first question posed to Fisher is about facing Ted Williams in The Splendid Splinter’s final big league at bat.
Fisher writes, “Ted hit a 1-1 fastball into the Red Sox bullpen in the 8th inning to get to within one run. We lost the game on an error in the 9th inning.”
As if giving up Ted Williams last homer isn’t enough, Fisher also surrendered Roger Maris’ 60th homer of the 1961 season, a bomb that tied Babe Ruth for the single-season homer record.
Fisher’s memorable moments don’t stop there. He threw the first pitch in the history of Shea Stadium and is widely credited with starting the tradition of starting pitchers warming up in the bullpen before games. Reading the questionnaire reveals more insight into these events.
Jack Fisher had a memorable baseball career
Jack Fisher had a memorable baseball career
In the collection is this trio of index cards, each signed by Jack Fisher. In the first 3×5 Fisher has added, “I GAVE UP TED WILLIAMS’ LAST HR 1960”, in the second the inscription is, “I GAVE UP ROGER MARIS’ 60TH HOMERUN 1961”, while the third states, “I PITCHED THE FIRST PITCH AT SHEA STADIUM 1964”.
Fisher is also credited with starting the tradition of warming up before the game in the bullpen.
The right hander pitched in 400 big league ball games and retired in 1969 after an 11-year MLB career.
Ted Williams hit a homer in his final at bat on 9/28/1960 off of Fisher
Ted Williams hit a homer in his final at bat on 9/28/1960 off of Fisher
Ted Williams had a flair for the dramatic and a love/hate relationship with the Boston fans. Never was that more apparent than in his final career at bat.
Hitting against Jack Fisher of the Orioles in the 8th inning on 9/28/1960, Teddy Ballgame slammed a home run over the right field wall. He put his head down and silently rounded the bases. Sensing the moment was historical, the Boston faithful stood and cheered. Williams never acknowledged them
In his autobiography My Turn at Bat, Williams reflected on the moment.
“I thought about tipping my cap, you’re damn right I did, and for a moment I was torn, but by the time I got to second base I knew I couldn’t do it. Like I said, I was just fed up with that part of the act. You can’t imagine though the warm feeling I had, for the very fact that I had done what every ballplayer would want to do in his last time up, having wanted to do it so badly, and knowing how the fans really felt, how happy they were for me. Maybe I should have let them know I knew, but I couldn’t. It just wouldn’t have been me.”
Red Sox manager Mike “Pinky” Higgins instructed Williams to take his position in left field in the top of the 9th. Then with all eyes on the Splendid Splinter, Higgins called on Carroll Hardy to replace Williams and give the fans another chance to shower the adoration upon him.
Hardy tells the story’s punchline with his trademark humility. “They booed me all the way out and cheered him all the way in.”
The Red Sox had three games left in their season, all in New York against the Yankees. With his team out of the pennant race, Williams elected to stay home and let the home run be his final time at bat. He explained the part of his reasoning for the decision”…I knew the club was thinking about youth. … There was a kid named Carl Yastrzemski coming up who was going to be a hell of a ballplayer.”
In the collection is this Major League Baseball Players Association document. Teddy Ballgame has filled it out entirely in his hand, lending his signature to the top.
The document reads in part, “In order to have the Association act on matters important to you and the Association itself we would appreciate your stating any opinions or suggestions you may have. These opinions and suggestions will be treated with the upmost confidence and will be categorized and analyzed.”
Interestingly, Williams suggests playing double headers as two 7-inning contests. More importantly the eagle-eyed Red Sox hitter writes, “Improve Baltimore, Chicago & KC backgrounds, check intensity of lights in the older parks”.
In 2001 Jack Fisher was inducted into the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
In 2001 Jack Fisher was inducted into the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
Jack Fisher was born in Frostburg, Maryland and never forgot his home state. A veteran of exactly 400 big league contests, the pitcher played his first four seasons with his home state Baltimore Orioles.
In 2001 the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame recognized the 11-year MLB veteran by giving him the state’s highest athletic honor. Fisher’s fellow Maryland inductees include ten Cooperstown men and scores of big leaguers.
Shown here is a letter from Sam Sibler, the chairman of the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame. In the October 26, 1962 correspondence Sibler informs 16-year MLB vet Bill Nicholson of his selection for the state’s honor.
Nicholson was a four-time National League All Star. Twice he led the Senior Circuit in home runs and RBI. With three 6.0 WAR campaigns, Nicholson’s career WAR stands at 41.9. He earned votes in MVP balloting five seasons, and finished in the top three for the award in 1943 and 1944.
Nicholson’s career 132 OPS+ is equal to Cooperstown’s Tony Gwynn, Rafael Palmeiro, and one point higher than Rod Carew, and Wade Boggs. He left the game with 1,484 career hits, 235 dingers, and 948 RBI.
