Carlton Fisk (2000)


Date of Birth: 12/26/1947
Birthplace: Bellows Falls, Vermont
College: Keene State College / University of New Hampshire

Carlton Fisk played baseball and basketball in high school. In baseball, he was a catcher, third baseman, and pitcher on the same team as two of his brothers. In 1964, he played semi-pro baseball in the American Legion league. He then went to the University of New Hampshire on a basketball scholarship.

Boston Red Sox

Fisk was drafted by the Boston Red Sox on January 28, 1967. He was a first round pick and the fourth selection overall. He played in their minor league system from 1967 through most of 1971. He joined the Red Sox for 2 games in 1969, and 14 games in 1971.

In 1972, Fisk's first full season in the major leagues, he led the American League in triples and he won the AL Rookie of the Year award and the Sporting News Rookie Player of the Year award. He batted .293 with 134 hits, 28 doubles, 22 home runs, and 61 RBIs in 131 games. He also played well defensively, winning his only Gold Glove and leading all AL catchers in assists with 72 and in putouts with 846.

Fisk struggled offensively in 1973, batting just .246 in 135 games. He had 125 hits, 21 doubles, 26 home runs, and 71 RBIs. He struck out 99 times and walked 37 times. He played well, however, defensively, again leading AL catchers in putouts with 739.

Fisk had limited playing time with the Red Sox in 1974 and 1975. He played in just 52 games in 1974, and in 79 games in 1975. He had a career high batting average of .331 in 1975, and he had 87 hits, 14 doubles, and 52 RBIs. He played in 134 games in 1976, and he batted .255. He finished the season with 124 hits, 17 doubles, 17 home runs, and 58 RBIs.

Fisk played much better offensively in 1977, when he batted .315 in 152 games. He had a career high 169 hits, 26 doubles, 26 home runs, and 102 RBIs. He showed good discipline at the plate, walking 75 times and striking out 85 times. The following season, he played in a career high 157 games. He finished the 1978 season with 162 hits, a career high 39 doubles, 20 home runs, 88 RBIs, 83 strikeouts to 71 walks, and a .284 batting average.

In 1979, Fisk played in just 91 games. He batted .272 with 87 hits, 23 doubles, and 42 RBIs. The following season he batted .289 in 131 games. He finished the 1980 season with 138 hits, 25 doubles, 18 home runs, and 62 RBIs.

Chicago White Sox

Fisk became a free agent on February 12, 1981, and he signed a new contract with another Sox team, the Chicago White Sox, on March 18th. Although he batted only .263 with 89 hits in 96 games in the strike shortened 1981 season, he won his first of three Silver Slugger awards. That season, he again led AL catchers in putouts with 470. The following season, he batted .267 in 135 games. He had 127 hits, 17 doubles, 14 home runs, 17 stolen bases, and 65 RBIs in 1982.

Fisk was named the Baseball Digest Player of the Year in 1983. He finished the season with 141 hits, 26 doubles, 26 home runs, 86 RBIs, and a .284 batting average in 138 games. Defensively, he once more led AL catchers in putouts with 709. The following season, he struggled offensively, batting just .231 in 102 games.

In 1985, Fisk batted just .238, but he had career highs in home runs with 37 and in RBIs with 107. He also had 129 hits, 23 doubles, and 17 stolen bases in 153 games. He won his second Silver Slugger award that year.

Fisk batted just .221 in 125 games in 1986. He improved in 1987, batting .256 with 116 hits, 22 doubles, 23 home runs, and 71 RBIs in 135 games.

Fisk won his third Silver Slugger award in 1988 at the age of 40. He played in just 76 games that year, and he batted .277 with 70 hits, 19 home runs, and 50 RBIs. He had a better season in 1989, when he batted .293 in 103 games. He finished that season with 110 hits, 25 doubles, and 68 RBIs.

Fisk had a strong season in 1990, at the age of 42. He batted .285 with 129 hits, 21 doubles, 18 home runs, and 65 RBIs in 137 games. He walked 61 times and struck out 73 times. His batting average dropped to .241 in 1991. That year, he had 111 hits, 25 doubles, 18 triples, and 74 RBIs in 134 games.

In 1992, Fisk played in just 62 games, and he batted .229. The following year, his last one as a major league player, he played in only 25 games.

Awards

  • Gold Glove
  • Silver SLugger award (3 times)
  • AL Rookie of the Year
  • Sporting News Rookie Player of the Year
  • Baseball Diges Player of the Year

Career Statistics

Career batting statistics for Fisk include:

  • 2,499 games played
  • 2,356 hits
  • 421 doubles
  • 376 home runs
  • 128 stolen bases
  • 1,330 RBIs
  • 1,386 strikeouts to 849 walks
  • .269 batting average
  • .341 on-base percentage
  • .798 OPS

Career fielding statistics for Fisk as a catcher include:

  • 2,226 games played
  • 155 errors
  • 1,048 assists
  • 11,369 putouts
  • .988 fielding percentage

Post Playing Years

Fisk was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2000 on the second ballot with 79.6% of the vote.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Carlton Fisk
ESPN - Carlton Fisk
Baseball Reference - Carlton Fisk

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