Howie Fox
| Howie Fox | |
|---|---|
San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 17, 1944, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 25, 1954, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 43–72 |
| Earned run average | 4.33 |
| Strikeouts | 342 |
| Teams | |
Howard Francis Fox (March 1, 1921 – October 9, 1955) was an American
The year after Fox's last big league appearance, he acquired a local tavern in San Antonio, while he pitched for the Missions of the Double-A Texas League; a month into the offseason, he was stabbed to death at age 34 during a disturbance at that establishment.
Early life
Fox was born in Coburg, Oregon. He played baseball and basketball at the University of Oregon.[1] Signed by the Cincinnati Reds as a free agent in 1943, he played for a Pioneer League team in Ogden, Utah, in 1943, followed by stints with minor league teams in Birmingham and Syracuse.[2]
Major league career
A hard thrower with a sharp curveball, Fox debuted in MLB in 1944 with the Reds, playing seven years before joining the Philadelphia Phillies, in 1952, and the Baltimore Orioles, in 1954. His most productive season came in 1950, for Cincinnati, when he went 11–8, a year after his 6–19 record gave him the most losses of any pitcher in the major leagues. In 1951, Fox collected nine victories, with a 3.83 earned run average (ERA), in a career-high 228 innings, but suffered 14 losses.
Before the 1952 season, Fox was dealt to Philadelphia in a seven-player transaction that included Smoky Burgess, Niles Jordan, Eddie Pellagrini, Connie Ryan, Andy Seminick, and Dick Sisler. In 1953, he played for Triple-A Baltimore, and a year appeared in 38 games for the MLB Orioles during their first year in MLB since 1902.
In nine major league seasons, Fox posted a 43–72 record, with 342
Fox also played in the
Death
While he was a minor league pitcher in the Texas League for the San Antonio Missions in 1955, Fox purchased a San Antonio tavern. That October, he was attempting to kick three men out of the bar and a struggle ensued in front of the business. Fox was stabbed three times and he died as he was trying to crawl back to the door of the establishment. A San Antonio College student, John Strickland, was arrested and two other men were held as material witnesses.[4] Strickland was charged with murder with malice and another man was indicted on an aggravated assault charge in the stabbing injury of Fox's bartender.[5]
References
- ISBN 0786446889. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- Milwaukee Journal. October 8, 1955. Archived from the originalon March 10, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- ^ Landino, Leonte. "Luis Aparicio". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- ^ Howie Fox stabbed to death. Telegraph Herald. October 9, 1955. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- ^ 2 indictments issued in Howie Fox stabbing. The Victoria Advocate. January 27, 1956. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Allen, Malcolm, Howie Fox. Society for American Baseball Research Biography Project
- Howie Fox at Baseball Library
- 1955 Murders: Howie Fox at The Deadball Era
- Howie Fox at Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)
- Howie Fox at Find a Grave