Jack Fisher: 1960's Mets Pitcher Who Claims He Began the Tradition of Pitchers Warming Up in the Bullpen (1964 - 1967)

John Howard Fisher known as "Fat Jack", was born on March 4, 1939, in Frostburg, Maryland. In 1957 the six-foot two right hander was signed out of high school at Augusta, Georgia by the Baltimore Orioles. 

In 1958 he won 14 games going 14-12 at the low levels of the minors' leagues, getting up to AAA Miami the following season. There he was 8-4 making it to the big leagues as part of the Orioles “kiddie corps” pitching staff, going 1-6 on the year.

MLB Career: On Opening Day Fisher made his debut in New York pitching three innings of relief allowing four runs on seven hits in a loss to the A.L. New York team. 

He was sent back to the minors & returned in late June. 

Shut Out: After going 0-4, he earned his first career victory on September 11th, pitching a three-hit shutout over the Chicago White Sox 

On the year he went 1-6 with a 3.05 ERA.

In 1960 he won a career high 12 games (12-11). From August 7th to September 8th, he was 6-0 holding opponents to a .206 batting average. On August 29th, he threw his second career shutout, coming on a four hitter over the White Sox where he struck out a season high eight batters. He posted a 3.41 ERA, striking out 99 batters & walking 78 in 197 innings pitched in 40 appearances (20 starts).

Historic HRs Trivia: On September 28th, 1960, Fisher went into the record books giving up Ted Williams last career HR (#521) in Williams' final at bat. 

The next season he gave up another notable HR, this one was Roger Maris’ 60th HR tying him with Babe Ruth for the single season record. 

In 1961, Jack was 10-13 with a save, posting a 3.90 ERA pitching ten complete games. He led the league with 10 wild pitches. On August 4th he shut out the L.A. Angels on a five hitter.

 

After spending the 1962 season in Baltimore (going 7-9) he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for pitcher Mike McCormick, Stu Miller & John Orsino.

He spent just one season in the Bay Area pitching his fourth career shut outs, going 6-10, leading all N.L. pitchers in fielding.  

Mets Career: In 1964 he was drafted away by the New York Mets.

Opening Day at the New Shea Stadium: On April 17, 1964, Fisher immediately secured himself a place in Mets history, getting the start in the first game played in the new Shea Stadium.

According to Fisher, the crowd noise was so loud & the confusion of festivities on the field area was so overwhelming during the pregame, he asked Mets manager Casey Stengel if he could warm up in the bull pen instead of on the pitcher's mound.

As per this request, he credits himself with starting the tradition of having the game's starting pitcher warm up in the bullpen before a game. 

Quotes- Jack Fisher: "I could actually feel the sound waves hitting me on the chest," he said of the game that day. 

As legendary Mets broadcaster Bob Murphy made the call, Fisher threw a strike on the outside corner of the plate to the Pirates Dick Schofield, christening the beginning of Mets baseball at the new Shea Stadium. 

Fisher pitched into the 7th inning that Opening day, although he allowed eleven hits, he only gave up three runs while getting no decision in the 4- loss. 

Trivia: That day he also allowed the first HR at Shea Stadium, to Pittsburgh’s future Hall of Famer; Willie Stargell. It was the start of Stargell's leading home run hitting at Shea Stadium as a visiting player.

 Fisher got two more starts that April, taking a loss to the Pirates in Pittsburgh. 

On May 13th he beat the Braves at Shea pitching into the 8th inning allowing two runs to earn his first win. He helped his own cause with an RBI single & RBI sac fly in the 5-2 win. Fisher would have a career best eight RBIs that season.

On May 17th Fisher lost a heart breaker in San Francisco, as Ron Herbel beat him in a 1-0 pitcher's duel. The only run scored when he threw a wild pitch allowing Orlando Cepeda to score in the 2nd inning.

On May 21st, he gave up six runs in Los Angeles. On June 6th he gave up six earned runs for the second time to the Dodgers, this in a 9-2 loss at Shea Stadium. He would give up six runs or more five times on the season. 

At the end of May, Jack tossed back-to-back complete game victories where he allowed just one earned run each time. On May 26th the Mets scored 19 runs for him in a in the 19-1 win for Fat Jack. On May 30th, he beat the Giants at Shea Stadium in front of 38,472 fans in a complete game victory to get to 3-3.

After going 2-3 in June, Fisher started out July with three straight losses falling to 5-9 on the season. On July 19th he broke the streak, giving up just two runs, in a complete game 3-2 win over the Curt Simmons & the Cardinals in the first game of a double header.

By the All-Star break Fisher was 5-8 with a 4.12 ERA. He was consistent with that in the second half of the season as well going 5-9 with a 4.35 ERA.

On August 15th he gave up a season high eight runs in terrible 8-1 loss to the Phillies for his 15th loss of the year. 

Shut Out: On August 21st Fisher pitched his best game of the year, a seven-hit shutout at Shea Stadium beating the Chicago Cubs. He walked four & struck out just one in the 7-0 win. It was his sixth career shutout.

On September 7th, he won his tenth game of the year reaching double digits in victories for the third time in his career.

The rest of the month he was used as a reliever making seven appearances. 

In 1964 Fisher went 10-17 (5th most losses in the league) with a 4.23 ERA. He struck out 115 batters, walked 56 & allowed the most earned runs in the NL with 107. Fisher topped the Mets staff in starts (34) innings (227) hits (256) HRs (27) & runs (124).

1965: On April 22nd, Fisher's first decision was a 2-1 loss to Sandy Koufax & the eventual World Champion Dodgers in Los Angeles. 

Losses in Both Ends of a Double Header: On May 2nd, he started the first game of a double header at Crosley Field, taking the loss to the Reds. In the night cap he came in relief of Dennis Ribant with one on & one out leading 8-6. He gave up an RBI triple to Johnny Edwards. In the 7th inning he gave up a HR to Gordy Coleman & took the loss. Fisher was the losing pitcher of record in both ends of the twin bill.

After that, he won three straight starts, beating the Cardinals, Braves & Reds all at home. After a loss to St. Louis, he collected a pair of wins on the road at Wrigley Field & at Pittsburgh which brought him to 5-4 by early June.

On June 9th he began a personal four-game losing streak, giving up four runs in three of the four losses. From July 3rd to the end of the season, he lost 16 of his last 18 decisions. In that time, he posted a 4.34 ERA with the Mets scoring just two runs or less 14 times. In four other games in that stretch, they put up just three runs.

In September he went 0-7 as the Mets put up one run or less in five of those games. He lost his last eight decisions of the year. 

13 Inning Game: On October 3rd, in the last game of the season, he pitched 13 innings at Shea Stadium against the Philadelphia Phillies. He allowed just three runs, but a top of the 13th an RBI single to "Dr. Strange Glove" Dick Stuart ended up being the game winning hit & he took the loss. 

In 1965, Fisher led the league in losses, going 8-24, allowing the most earned runs in the league, for the second straight year (111). He pitched in 253 innings which gave him a respectable 3.94 ERA & strangely the best ERA on the staff.

 More amazingly, he actually led the staff with his eight. He struck out 116 walked 68 made 43 appearances in 36 starts.

 1966: Fisher started out the year at 0-4, giving him twelve straight losing decisions, dating back to the previous August. On May 14th, he finally broke the string as the Mets provided him with 11 runs, in a win over the Giants at Shea as he pitched into the 8th inning allowing four runs.

On June 3rd, Fisher beat the Dodgers Don Drysdale in a 6-2victory. Ken Boyer ed the way with a two run HR off Drysdale, Cleon Jones collected three hits with an RBI, as Ed Kranepool & Al Luplow also drove in runs.

23 Scoreless Innings Streak: In June, he had two starts where he gave up five runs, but in between he went 3-0 giving up just two earned runs in 27 innings.

From June 12th to June 22nd, he put up 23 consecutive scoreless innings. 

On June 12th he earned no decision, allowing just two runs & striking out a season high ten batters, in nine innings to the Reds. The Mets won it in the 11th inning on Jerry Grote's Walk off hit. 

In his next start in the battle of the Fisher's he beat the Reds Hank Fischer in a 2-1 thriller in Cincinnati. Eddie Bressoud's two run single provided the Mets offense.

On June 22nd, he & former Met Al Jackson went nine shutout innings against each other. In the top of the 10th Cleon Jones hit a two-run single giving the Mets the 2-0 win.

He then took two straight losses. On July 4th in Philadelphia, in the second game of a twin bill, he pitched a one run complete game striking out seven Phillies for his 6th win. Then on July 8th in the second game of a doubleheader in Pittsburgh, he gave up a season high eight runs, serving up a grand slam to Bill Mazeroski & a three run HR to Willie Stargell in the 9-2 loss.

On July 20th, Jack pitched ten innings at Candlestick Park, allowing just two runs to the Giants, earning the victory, getting his record to 7-9. On July 24th the Dodgers beat him in L.A. as he earned his tenth loss.

In August after a loss to the Giants, he collected back-to back victories over the St. Louis Cardinals, beating Al Jackson at home & Ray Washburn at Busch Stadium. Fisher then lost three straight before winning his last two decisions of the season.

Shut Outs: On September 30th, he threw a four-hit shutout in Houston to earn his tenth victory. On September 30th, he closed out the season shutting the Astros again, this time on a six hitter at Shea Stadium. They were the seventh & eight shut outs of his career.

1966 would be his best Mets season, as Fat Jack won double digits for the fourth time in his career, going 11-14 with a 3.68 ERA, striking out a career high 127 batters, walking 54 in 230 innings pitched in 38 appearances (33 starts).

Jack allowed 26 HRs which was 7th most in the league & his 229 hits allowed was tenth most. Fisher was always a good fielding pitcher; he led the league with 26 put outs.

1967: Fisher started the third game of the season, allowing four runs on eight hits in a 5-1 loss to the Phillies in Philly. The next day he came in relief & closed out the 6-2 loss. On April 21st, when the Phillies came to Shea, he beat them next time around 6-3.

In May he began the month pitching eleven innings in two consecutive games. On May 2nd he pitched into the 12th inning when Willie Mays put the Giants ahead 2-1. Don Shaw came on & got the last out of the inning. The Mets rallied for two in the bottom of the 12th as John Sullivan won the game with a walk off single. Fat Jack got no decision. 

In his next start he pitched 11 innings earning a win when Tommy Davis hit a walk off HR to beat the Reds Mel Queen.

Fisher won his next start by beating the St. Louis Cardinals on a six hit, one run complete game performance, besting his record to 3-2. 

From May 19th to June 7th, he lost five straight decisions giving up 27 earned runs in 29 innings. On June 3rd he gave up a whopping 11 runs (nine earned) in San Francisco as Willie Mays & Ollie Brown homered off him as well.

Two Hitter: On June 21st, he tossed a two-hit shutout over the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium, striking out five to earn his next win. 

On July 4th, although he gave up seven runs once again to the Giants, the Mets bailed him out with an 8-7 win. On July 14th Fisher lost a 1-0 pitcher's duel to the Reds Gary Nolan, as Tony Perez ended the game with a 10th inning walk off HR. His hard luck continued, from July 27th to September 27th, he lost eight of his last ten decisions.

Fisher again went on to lead the league in losses (18) & earned runs (115). He allowed 25 HRs (5th in the league) & 221 hits (3rd most). He was 9-18 pitching in 220 innings with a 4.80 ERA, he struck out 116 batters walking 68 in 220 innings pitched. 

Trivia: In the 1967 The Odd Couple movie, filmed at Shea Stadium, Jack Fisher is the Mets pitcher who gets the Pirates, Bill Mazeroski to grounds into a triple play. The movie was filmed at Shea Stadium that summer.

Mets Career Stats: In his Mets career Fisher, led the league in losses twice & earned runs three times. Every year allowing the most HRs, hits & earned runs on the New York staff each as well. In his four seasons with the Mets, he was 38-73 posting a 4.12 ERA. He struck out 475 batters & walked 242, allowing 92 HRs, 427 earned runs in 160 appearances., making 133 starts & finishing 14 games with one save.

Post Mets Career: On December 15, 1967, Fisher was traded along with Tommy Davis, Buddy Booker, and Billy Wynne to the Chicago White Sox for Tommie Agee and Al Weis. 

Fisher went 8-13 in Chicago with a 2.99 ERA for the 8th place White Sox. In 1969 he was traded to Cincinatti for Don Pavletich & Don Secrist. He went 4-4 with the Reds, getting traded to the Angels in 1970 but was released.

Career Stats: In his eleven-year career he went 86-139 with 1017 strikeouts & 605 walks in 1975 innings pitched posting a 4.06 ERA in 400 appearances (265 starts). 

Retirement: After his pitching career, he was a long tome pitching coach in the New York Mets organization.

Fisher then went on to open his own business, Fat Jack's Sports Bar in Easton, Pennsylvania. He ran the establishment himself until selling off in 1998.

His former high school named one of the streets on its campus Jack Fisher Way in the Academy of Richmond County at Augusta Georgia.

Trivia: While living in Easton, PA he lived just a few blocks away from former Heavyweight boxing champ, Larry Holmes. 

In 2008, after attending a banquet event that week for retired ball players, he visited the skeleton of Shea Stadium as it was being demolished. He got some press upon his arrival & was received well among long time Mets fans.

Quotes-Jack Fisher upon viewing a demolished Shea Stadium: "I guess it's trying hard to stand up, like we were as a young ballclub, It's a pretty sad scene." 

He can still be found at autograph shows signing "first pitch at Shea- Fat Jack".

In July of 2019 he came to Citi Field & joined Howie Rose in an on line One on One episode. 

He later joined Howie's daughter, Alyssa Rose as she taught him how to use social media.

2024 Amazing Day: Fisher & his wife attended the 2024 Mets Fan Fest at Citi Field. He was on a panel along with original Met Craig Anderson, as well as Cleon Jones, Art Shamsky & Ron Swoboda representing the 1960s Mets.