Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 29, 1993 TAG: 9306290049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CLEVELAND LENGTH: Medium
The move was long expected because of the 45-year-old's feud with management over his diminished playing time as he chased the ironman catching record.
"I know a bunch of fans out there and some people will be upset with me - but my job here is to win," White Sox general manager Ron Schueler said. "Maybe we were a little bit unfair. He didn't get an opportunity to play on a daily basis, where probably the throwing would have been improved and the catching would have been improved. But right now I just felt this is the move I had to make."
Schueler told Fisk of the move Monday at the team's hotel in Cleveland. Fisk packed and checked out by Monday evening. Fisk was not available for comment.
"I wouldn't say he was shocked," Schueler said. "It was more disappointment and disbelief. Obviously, this hurts. Obviously it was a very tough decision. But with the direction I want to go with this ballclub, Carlton wasn't a part of it."
Added White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf: "It is not fair to [manager] Gene Lamont and to our fans to carry somebody who can't possibly help the ballclub. Removing him from the team gives the other guys a better chance to win."
Fisk set his record last week, surpassing Bob Boone by catching for the 2,226th time. Including appearances at other positions, Fisk played in 2,499 games during 22 seasons with the White Sox and Boston Red Sox.
He joined the White Sox in 1981, but is most remembered for his 12th-inning home run that gave the Boston Red Sox a 7-6 victory over Cincinnati in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. Fisk, waving both arms to coax the ball fair, homered over the left-field wall at Fenway Park, becoming an instant hero in his native New England.
"I can't say I've been liked by everybody, but I'm always prepared to play the game and I think I'm respected as a professional," Fisk once said. "There were a lot of good games, a lot of ups and downs, and I played with intensity and enthusiasm. But most important, I played to win."
Fisk broke in with Boston in 1969, before some of his teammates were born. He was the AL Rookie of the Year with Boston in 1972, and he ranks 36th on the career home run list with 376.
He hit more home runs as a catcher (351) than anyone and was the only catcher to hit more than 100 home runs and steal 100 bases. He was also only the third catcher to hit at least 300 home runs, score 1,000 runs and drive in 1,000 runs. The others were Yogi Berra and Johnny Bench, both Hall of Famers.
"He's been great for the White Sox, great for Chicago," Lamont said. "This was a baseball move. We just couldn't afford to stay with three catchers."
In 25 games this year, Fisk was hitting just .189 with one home run and four RBI. He also had thrown out only one of 23 would-be base stealers. Fisk, after a public battle last winter, agreed to a $650,000, one-year contract, and was due to receive bonuses for roster time starting July 15 and games played starting with No. 30.
by CNB