John Fischer (baseball): Difference between revisions

{{Short description|American baseball player (1856–1942)}}

|birth_date={{Birth date|1856|8|15}}

|birth_place=[[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], U.S.

|death_date={{Death date and age|1942|2|9|1856|8|15}}

|death_place=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

|stat1value=1–8

}}{{Distinguish|John Fisher (baseball owner)}}

'''John Fischer''' (August 15, 1856 – February 9, 1942), frequently spelled '''Fisher''' during his [[baseball]] career, was an American [[professional baseball]] [[pitcher]] and occasional [[first baseman]]. He played [[Major League Baseball]] for the [[Philadelphia Keystones]] in 1884 and the [[Buffalo Bisons (NL)|Buffalo Bisons]] in 1885.

==Early years==

Fischer was born in [[Philadelphia]] in 1856.<ref name=BR/> He was the son of Christian and Dora Fischer.<ref name=Carle/>

==Professional baseball==

Fischer played professional baseball in 1884 for Johnstown of the [[Iron & Oil Association]].<ref name=Nemec>{{cite book|title=The Rank and File of 19th Century Major League Baseball|author=[[David Nemec]]|publisher=[[McFarland & Company, Inc.]]|year=2012|isbn=9780786468904|page=31}}</ref><ref name=Carle>{{cite journal|title=Biographical Research Committee Report (May/June 2014)|publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]|author=Bill Carle}}</ref> He may have also played for a Williamsport club.<ref name=Carle/>

In the summer of 1884, he joined the [[Philadelphia Keystones]] of the [[Union Association]]. He made his major-league debut against Cincinnati on July 17, 1884, pitching a [[complete game]], striking out six batters and giving up six runs. After the game, ''The Philadelphia Times'' wrote that the game was marked by very poor fielding (eight errors by the Keystones) and that Fischer would have won the game had he "been properly supported."<ref>{{cite news|title=The Team from Cincinnati Wins Another Ball Game from the Keystones|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Times]]|date=July 18, 1884|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122561946/the-team-from-cincinnati-wins-antoher/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> His sole major-league victory was on July 28, 1884, against the Washington Nationals at [[Washington, DC]]. ''The Philadelphia Times'' reported on Fischer's performance as follows: "Fisher pitched a magnificent game, his swift balls completely demoralizing the Washingtonians."<ref>{{cite news|title=The Keystones Make a Trip to Washington and Win a Game|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Times]]|date=July 29, 1884|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122560548/the-keystones-make-a-trip-to-washington/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Fisher appeared in eight games as a starting pitcher for the Keystones, compiling a 1-7 win-loss record with eight [[complete game]]s, a 3.57 [[earned run average]] (ERA), and 42 [[strikeout]]s.<ref name=BR/> His 3.57 ERA was second best on the Keystones' pitching staff.<ref>{{cite web|title=1884 Philadelphia Keystones|publisher=[[Sports Reference LLC]]|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=April 9, 2023|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHK/1884.shtml}}</ref> He also appeared in two games at first base for the Keystones. At the plate, he compiled a .222 [[Batting average (baseball)|batting average]] and .278 [[on-base percentage]] in 39 plate appearances with the Keystones.<ref name=BR/>

After the Keystones folded on August 7,<ref name=Nemec/> Fischer joined the Continentals. On August 30, 1884, he "made a remarkable record, striking out eighteen . . . while but one safe hit was made off him."<ref>{{cite news|title=Base Ball Notes|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Times]]|date=August 31, 1884|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122562545/fisher/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

In 1885, Fisher played semipro baseball for the Molineaux club.<ref name=Nemec/> He briefly returned to [[Major League Baseball]] as a pitcher for the [[Buffalo Bisons (NL)|Buffalo Bisons]] of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]]. He started one game for the Bisons on August 6, 1885,<ref name=BR/> on the road against at Philadelphia, and gave up nine runs in 10 innings. ''The Times'' of Philadelphia described Fischer's appearance as follows: "Fisher, a local amateur pitcher, was given a trial by the visiting club and he did fairly well."<ref>{{cite news|title=One For Philadelphia: Hitting Hard and Beating the Buffalos Without Much Trouble|newspaper=The Times|date=August 7, 1885|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122561304/one-for-philadelphia-hitting-hard-and/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

For his career, Fischer started nine major-league games as a pitcher, compiling a 1-8 record with a 3.73 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 79-2/3 innings pitched.<ref name=BR>{{cite web|title=John Fischer|publisher=[[Sports Reference LLC]]|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=April 5, 2023|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fishe01.shtml}}</ref>

In 1886, he appeared in 10 games for the Williamsport club of the [[Pennsylvania State Association]]. He compiled a 2-1 record and 1.08 ERA during the 1886 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Fischer Minor League Statistics|publisher=[[Sports Reference LLC]]|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=April 9, 2023|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=fisher002j--}}</ref>

==Family and later years==

Fischer was married to Mary (Hepburn) Fischer.<ref name=Carle/><ref name=obit>{{cite news|title=Fischer|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|date=February 11, 1942|page=|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122506176/obituary-for-john-fischfr/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> They lived in Philadelphia.<ref name=Carle/> Fischer died in 1942 in Philadelphia.<ref name=BR/><ref name=obit/>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{Baseballstats|mlb=114157|espn=|br=f/fishe01|fangraphs=|brm=fisher002j--|retro=F/Pfishu102}}

[[Category:1856 births]]