Evening star., 1953-06-22

welcoming dinner when the Giants paused in Colorado
route home the Durocher the citizens
of Denver the back of his neck
If Stoneham not perturbed by Leos snub, other
baseball people Even Clark Griffith, normally
who stays out of other peoples business moved to
remark THAT fellow Durocher) didn't help the game.
Denver is the best baseball city in the world Those people
cleared of the field and $4,000 turned out to watch the
Giants play exhibition They've got to think less of
after what Durocher did,"
WHETHER IT'S AS MANAGER of the Giants or not it's
good know that Stoneham will bring Ftz back to the big
leagues which where he belongs Last of John Mcraws
Giants in uniform Fat Freddie has been around since 1925
as an arul and courageous pitcher coach and briefly
as manager of the Phies And nice top of it ALL
McGraw, himself, secuted Fitzsimmons, although by
chance and not design In the spring of rs the Giants
played Indianapolis in exhibition at Plant City Fla The
Indianapolis pitcher Fz who shut out the Giants dur
ing his hve-inning stint.
McGraw sought DOME Bush who was managing In
dianapos and asked where did you get him. Donie?"
From Muskegon" Bush replied Hes ahead of your
htters because he pitched all winter in Cuba But he's
good one and be wanting him Of these days.
II believe you" McGraw said. "I have somebody scout
ing him from now on"
and lost three Had McGraw bought him the spring
Giants might have their fifth pennant in instead
of finishing second to the Pirates Perhaps Bushs mention
OF winter ball an unfortunate deterrent for the Giants
FITz BEGAN WINNING REGULARLY for the Giants
starting in 1925 Later he be Big Three along
with Carl Hubbell and Hal Schumacher
the peer of Hubbe but he picked 49, 10 and 20
season at his peak and few teams had good No.
No. pitcher.
He didn't get into World Series however until 1885,
when the Giants the Mats the first of three
for Fz But like the great Walter johnson and others of
superior ability he had much luck in the classics In
3 Fz had the misfortune of drawing Earl Whiteh his
pitching foe day when the Washington lefhander
shutting out the Giants to for the only Washington
victory.
In 1886 the Giants another pennant and Fat Freddie
pitched the second game and lost 21 hearbreaker to the
Inexpicably Fitz beaten while allowing only
hits while the Giants combed Bump Hadey for H. One
Of the best of all fielding pitchers despite his hef his
fielding lapse that beat him. Ftz tried to back
in the sixth and last game but he past IS Of
and the Yankees chased him early and 13 to S. combng
Fitz and three other pitchers for II hits.
F1Tzs1NrMONs WAS A YEAR OLDER when in June
1887 Bill Terry traded Brooklyn young pitcher
the almost totally forgotten Tom Baker The veteran wasn't
too happy because he Giant at heart but he pitched
the best he knew how and IN 1910 ne posted 1872 record
and year. when the Dodgers their first pennant
in 81 years, Fitz was 6-1.
Durocher, who was managing the Dodgers, picked the
Ftz to start the third of the World Series
against the Yankees point where the series tied
H. And the old guy cagiy mixing knuclers with
fast balls up with what apparently be his
greatest series effort For nearly innings Fz and
Maus Russo locked in scoreess duel and then with
and in the bottom of the inning Russo lit
orally knocked his elderly rival out of the box
The Yankee pitcher slammed a line drive which struck
Fz the left kneecap Freddie collapsed and the ball few
in the air. Shortstop Peewee caught the
fly and doubled up to end the inning but
finished. They scraped him off the ground put him
hospital and he carried off the field he passed the
groundevel box in which Mrs Fzsimmons weeping into
her handkerchief.
Freddie tapped chubby hand in her direction and
managed smile He not only survived but pitched until
1943 for Brooklyn managed the Phs and back to
the Giants.