page_title: Carlton Fisk
section_title: 1975 ALCS and World Series
hierarchical_section_title: Carlton Fisk / Professional career / Boston Red Sox (1969, 1971–1980) / 1975 ALCS and World Series
caption_attribution_description: English: Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk following game six of the 1975 World Series.
context_page_description: Carlton Ernest Fisk, nicknamed "Pudge" and "The Commander", is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1969 to 1993 for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. He was the first player to be unanimously voted American League Rookie of the Year. Fisk is best known for "waving fair" his game-winning home run in the 12th inning of Game 6 of the 1975 World Series.
  At the time of his retirement, Fisk held the record for most home runs all-time by a catcher with 351. He has held several age- or longevity-related records, including the record for most games played at the position of catcher with 2,226. Fisk still holds the American League record for most years served behind the plate. Fisk was voted to the All-Star team 11 times and won three Silver Slugger Awards which is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position. Fisk was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.
context_section_description: Fisk batted .417 in the 1975 ALCS, as Boston swept the three-time defending champion Oakland Athletics. 
  In Game 3 of the World Series at Riverfront Stadium, Fisk led off the second inning with a solo home run off Cincinnati starter Gary Nolan. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Reds pinch-hitter Ed Armbrister collided with Fisk at home plate while starting to run out a sacrifice bunt, leading to a wild throw by Fisk to second base that allowed Cesar Geronimo to reach third base and eventually score the winning run. Fisk and Boston manager Darrell Johnson argued the controversial call, claiming that Armbrister should have been ruled out for interference, but home plate umpire Larry Barnett ruled otherwise. "To this day, I still think it was interference," said Fisk in an interview after his retirement.
  Leading off the bottom of the 12th inning of Game 6 at Fenway Park, Fisk hit a pitch off of Cincinnati relief pitcher Pat Darcy that went down the left field line and appeared to be heading into foul territory. The image of Fisk jumping and waving the ball fair as he made his way to first base is considered by many to be one of baseball's greatest moments. The ball struck the foul pole for a home run, giving the Red Sox a 7–6 win and forcing a seventh and deciding game of the Fall Classic. "The celebration of that moment has made me realize how popular baseball is and how it affects people's lives," Fisk told the Boston Globe. "It's still the greatest moment in my career."
  The image of him waving the ball fair changed the way baseball was televised. During this time, cameramen covering baseball were instructed to follow the flight of the ball. In a 1999 interview, NBC cameraman Lou Gerard said that he had been distracted by a nearby rat. Unable to follow the ball, he kept the camera on Fisk instead. This play was perhaps the most important catalyst in getting camera operators to focus most of their attention on the players themselves.
caption: Carlton Fisk, 1975
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