| Freddie Fitzsimmons | |
|---|---|
 Fitzsimmons on a 1933Goudey baseball card | |
| Pitcher /Manager | |
| Born:(1901-07-28)July 28, 1901 Mishawaka, Indiana, U.S. | |
| Died: November 18, 1979(1979-11-18) (aged 78) Yucca Valley, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 12, 1925, for the New York Giants | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 16, 1943, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 217–146 |
| Earned run average | 3.51 |
| Strikeouts | 870 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Managerial record at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| As player As manager As coach | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Frederick Landis Fitzsimmons (July 28, 1901 – November 18, 1979) was anAmerican professionalbaseball right-handedpitcher,manager, andcoach, who played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) from1925 to1943 with theNew York Giants andBrooklyn Dodgers. NicknamedFat Freddie (he carried as much as 205 pounds (93 kg) on his 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) frame),[1] and known for his mastery of theknuckle curve, Fitzsimmons' 217wins were the third most by aNational League (NL) right-hander in the period from1920 to1955, trailing onlyBurleigh Grimes andPaul Derringer. In1940 he set an NL record, which stood until1959, with a single-season winning percentage of .889 (16–2). He was an agile fielder in spite of his heavy build, holding the major league record for careerdouble plays (79) from1938 to1964, and tying another record by leading the league inputouts four times; he ranked eighth in NL history in putouts (237) and ninth infielding percentage (.977) when his career ended.
Born inMishawaka, Indiana, Fitzsimmons broke in with the Giants in August 1925, posting a 6–3 record over the rest of the year. After seasons of 14 and 17 wins, he earned a career-high 20 victories in 1928, a year which saw the arrival of teammateCarl Hubbell; until Fitzsimmons' departure in1937, the two formed a formidable left-right combination at the heart of the Giants' staff. In1930 he led the NL in winning percentage for the first time with a 19–7 record (.731), and an 18–11 season followed in1931. In1933, the first full season afterBill Terry took over fromJohn McGraw as manager, he won 16 games with a 2.90earned run average as the Giants won the NL pennant; in the1933 World Series against theWashington Senators, he suffered a 4–0 defeat in Game 3, though it was New York's only loss as they captured their first title since1922.
Fitzsimmons had another 18-win season in1934, and led the NL in putouts for the fourth time, tyingGrover Cleveland Alexander's major league mark. However, his career then began to plateau. He had years of 4–8 and 10–7 in1935 and1936, with the Giants winning the NL pennant again the latter year; he led the NL inshutouts in1935, blanking opponents in all 4 of his victories. His troubles returned in the1936 World Series against theNew York Yankees; he lost Game 3 by a 2–1 score, and was bombarded in the final Game 6 loss, leaving in the fourth inning while trailing 5–2. After a 6–10 start in1937, he was traded to the Dodgers in June for relieverTom Baker, who made only 15 appearances for the Giants. Brooklyn shortstopLeo Durocher praised his new teammate's competitiveness, saying, "I wish we had nine guys like Fitz. We'd never lose." Though his record in1938–1939 totaled only 18–17, in1938 he tied Grimes' mark of 74 career double plays, passing him the following year;Warren Spahn broke his record in1964. He came back in1940 with a 16–2 campaign, finishing fifth in theMVP voting. His .889 winning percentage broke the NL record of .842 (16–3) shared byTom L. Hughes (1916Boston Braves) andEmil Yde (1924Pittsburgh Pirates), and stood untilRoy Face posted an 18–1 mark (.947) with the1959 Pirates.
Fitzsimmons made only 12 starts in1941, going 6–1 as the Dodgers won their first pennant since1920. He almost earned his long-elusiveWorld Series victory against the Yankees, holding them to fourhits through seven innings in Game 3. But he was forced to leave with a 0–0 score after being struck in the kneecap by a line drive hit byMarius Russo, which caromed intoPee Wee Reese's glove to end the inning. His replacement surrendered two runs in the eighth, and New York triumphed 2–1.
Fitzsimmons compiled a 217–146 (.598) record with an ERA of 3.51 and 870strikeouts in 513 games and 3,2232⁄3innings pitched. According to Durocher, Fitzsimmons would tell hitters in advance that he was going to throw abrushback pitch.[2] Offensively, he was a better than average hitting pitcher in his career. He compiled a .200 average (231–1155) with 112 runs, 103 RBI and 14 home runs. In1930,1931, and1932 as a member of the New York Giants, he drove in 13, 18, and 10 runs respectively. In four World Series appearances, he batted .375 (3–8).[3]
Following his knee injury, Fitzsimmons made only one start in1942 and served as a coach on player-manager Durocher's staff. He then returned to the active list and made nine appearances for the1943 Dodgers before Brooklyn released him July 27. The following day, the tail-endingPhiladelphia Phillies tabbed him as their manager, replacingBucky Harris and ending Fitzsimmons' playing career.
He managed the Phillies through the middle of the1945 season, compiling only 105 wins against 181 losses (.367). In1943 and1944, he also served as general manager of theBrooklyn Dodgers in theAll-America Football Conference. AfterWorld War II, Fitzsimmons became a coach with theBoston Braves (1948), Giants (1949–1955),Chicago Cubs (1957–1959;1966), andKansas City Athletics (1960). He also managed inminor league baseball. On Durocher's Giants staff, Fitzsimmons finally earned a championship as a coach for the1954 World Series team.
Bob Lemon broke the major league mark shared by Fitzsimmons by leading theAmerican League in putouts five times between1948 and1954;Greg Maddux eventually broke the NL record.
Fitzsimmons died of a heart attack at age 78 inYucca Valley, California.[4] He was buried atMontecito Memorial Park, in Colton, California.[5]
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