| Paul Fitzke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:see note (1900-07-30)July 30, 1900 La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| Died: June 30, 1950(1950-06-30) (aged 49) Sacramento, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 1, 1924, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 1, 1924, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 0–0 |
| Earned run average | 4.50 |
| Strikeouts | 1 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Paul Frederick Herman Fitzke (July 30, 1900 – June 30, 1950), also known asBob Fitzke, was an Americanprofessional athlete, who played briefly as apitcher inMajor League Baseball (MLB) during 1924 and as awingback in theNational Football League (NFL) in 1925. He later was acollege football head coach at theUniversity of Dubuque.
Fitzke was a three-sport athlete in college, competing in baseball and football for theUniversity of Wyoming and later theUniversity of Idaho; he also played basketball for Idaho.[1]
Fitzke playedcollege baseball at Wyoming, where hebatted .372 in 1921; he later played for Idaho.[1] Fitzke went on to playminor league baseball for parts of 10 seasons during 1924–1943.[2] He pitched in 168 minor league games, compiling a 41–48win–loss record.[2] He best season, statistically, was in 1926 with theScranton Miners when he was 16–8 with a 2.74earned run average (ERA).[2] Listed at 5 feet 11.5 inches (1.816 m) and 185 pounds (84 kg), he threw and batted right-handed.[3]
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Fitzke appeared in onemajor league game, with the1924 Cleveland Indians.[3] On September 1, 1924, Fitzke pitched in relief in the first game of adoubleheader against theSt. Louis Browns.[4] He entered the game to pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning, with the Browns leading, 6–2.[4] In four innings of work, he faced 19 batters, allowing two runs on five hits and threewalks, while striking out one batter (Browns shortstopNorm McMillan).[4] Fitzke batted once during the game; he was called out on strikes in the sixth inning while facing Browns relieverRay Kolp.[4] Fitzke was removed in the top of the eighth inning whenGlenn Myatt entered the game as apinch hitter.[4] Cleveland used pitcherBub Kuhn to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning, taking the loss in what was also Kuhn's only major league appearance.[4] Fitzke'searned run average (ERA) for his one major league appearance was 4.50.
Fitzke playedcollege football for Wyoming in 1921, before transferring to Idaho where he played two seasons.[5] He played in theNational Football League (NFL) for theFrankford Yellow Jackets in 1925, appearing in 16 games (13 starts).[6] The NFL's website lists him as awingback.[7] Fitzke later coachedcollege football for theDubuque Spartans in Iowa in 1937 and 1938,[1] and at Carbon College (nowUtah State University Eastern) inPrice, Utah, circa 1941.[1]
Fitzke was born inLa Crosse, Wisconsin,[3] and graduated from high school there.[1] After his sports career, he became achiropractor inSacramento, California.[1] He died ofleukemia in Sacramento on June 30, 1950,[5] and was buried inBoise, Idaho.[3]
Sources are inconsistent about what Fitzke's full name was.Pro-Football-Reference.com and theSociety for American Baseball Research (SABR) list it as Paul Frederick Herman Fitzke.[6][1]Retrosheet lists it as Robert Paul Fitzkené Frederick Herman Fitzke.[3] TheAssociated Press news article about his death noted it was Paul Robert Fitzke.[5] On draft registration cards, which he signed, it was listed as Paul Frederick Fitzke in March 1942,[8] and as Paul FrederickFietzke in September 1918.[9]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque Spartans(Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)(1937–1938) | |||||||||
| 1937 | Dubuque | 3–4–1 | 3–1–1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1938 | Dubuque | 5–1–2 | 4–1 | 4th | |||||
| Dubuque: | 8–5–3 | 7–2–1 | |||||||
| Total: | 8–5–3 | ||||||||