William Charles "Cherokee" Fisher (November 1844 – September 26, 1912) was an American
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
who played in the
National Association from 1871 to 1875 and the
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team ...
in 1876 and 1878.
Career
Fisher was a pitcher during organized baseball's formative years, from about 1867 to the end of his career in 1878. He was known for his fastball on the field and his heavy drinking off it. William J. Ryczek wrote:
There appeared to be a connection between a predilection for alcohol and the tendency to revolve .e., change teams frequently.. Cherokee Fisher, whose meandering will be detailed later, was another case which strengthens this connection. A heavy consumer of alcohol would logically be much more susceptible to the overtures of other clubs, as well as more likely to be in need of money.
He played for the West Philadelphias in 1867, the
Cincinnati Buckeyes in 1868,
the
Troy Haymakers
The Troy Haymakers were an American professional baseball team.
History
Established in 1860 as the Union Base Ball Club Lansingburgh, located in neighboring Lansingburgh, New York, the Haymakers participated in the first professional pennant ra ...
in 1869 and 1870, and the Chicago Dreadnaughts in 1870 as well.
[Gustaf W. Axelson, ''"Commy": The Life Story of Charles A. Comiskey'' (The Reilly & Lee Co., 1919), p. 20.]
Fisher was part of
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
from to . He played for the
Rockford Forest Citys
Rockford Forest Citys (officially the Forest City Club), from Rockford, Illinois was one of the first professional baseball clubs. Rockford played for one season during the National Association inaugural year of . They are not to be confused wit ...
,
Baltimore Canaries
The Baltimore Canaries were a professional baseball club in the National Association from 1872 to 1874.
History
The team was usually listed as Lord Baltimore in the box scores of the day, and were also referred to as the Yellow Stockings. The can ...
,
Athletic of Philadelphia
Athletic may refer to:
* An athlete, a sportsperson
* Athletic director, a position at many American universities and schools
* Athletic type, a physical/psychological type in the classification of Ernst Kretschmer
* Athletic of Philadelphia, a ba ...
,
Hartford Dark Blues
The Hartfords (more commonly called the Hartford Dark Blues because of their uniform color) were a 19th-century baseball team. The team was based in Hartford, Connecticut.
History
In 1874, baseball in Hartford, CT was being played in a fever pit ...
,
Philadelphia White Stockings
The Philadelphia White Stockings were an early professional baseball team. They were a member of the National Association from 1873 to 1875. Their home games were played at the Jefferson Street Grounds. They were managed by Fergy Malone, Jimmy ...
,
Cincinnati Reds, and
Providence Grays
The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island who played in the National League from until . The Grays played at the Messer Street Grounds in the Olneyville neighborhood. The team won the National Leag ...
. With the
Baltimore Canaries
The Baltimore Canaries were a professional baseball club in the National Association from 1872 to 1874.
History
The team was usually listed as Lord Baltimore in the box scores of the day, and were also referred to as the Yellow Stockings. The can ...
in , Fisher had 10 wins, one loss, and a league-leading 1.80
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
. He repeated as ERA champion the next season while pitching for the
Philadelphia Athletics, posting a nearly identical 1.81 mark.
On May 2, , he gave up the first
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
in
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team ...
history to
Chicago White Stockings star
Ross Barnes
Charles Roscoe Barnes (May 8, 1850 – February 5, 1915) was one of the stars of baseball's National Association (1871–1875) and the early National League (1876–1881), playing second base and shortstop. He played for the dominant Boston R ...
. After retiring, Fisher served for many years in the Chicago Fire Department.
See also
*
List of Major League Baseball career ERA leaders
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of in ...
*
List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fisher, Cherokee
1844 births
1912 deaths
19th-century baseball players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Cincinnati Buckeyes players
Troy Haymakers (NABBP) players
Rockford Forest Citys players
Baltimore Canaries players
Philadelphia Athletics (NA) players
Hartford Dark Blues players
Philadelphia White Stockings players
Cincinnati Reds (1876–1879) players
Providence Grays players
Baseball players from Philadelphia