Larry Fritz

Larry Fritz
Born: (1949-02-14)February 14, 1949
East Chicago, Indiana
Died: July 22, 2010(2010-07-22) (aged 61)
Munster, Indiana
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
May 30, 1975, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
May 30, 1975, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Games 1
At bats 1
Hits 0
Teams

Lawrence Joseph Fritz [Zeb] (February 14, 1949 – July 22, 2010) was a first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Phillies in one game during the 1975 season. Listed at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 225 lb., Fritz batted and threw left-handed. A native of East Chicago, Indiana, he attended Arizona State University.[1]

Fritz was drafted in 1969 by the New York Mets, playing in their minor league system for the Marion Mets (1969, 1971-'72), Visalia Mets (1970, 1972), Memphis Blues (1972) and Tidewater Tides (1972-'73), before joining the Phillies organization in 1974.[2]

Fritz began 1974 with Double-A Reading Phillies, for whom he hit eight home runs with 19 runs batted in in 15 games. During the midseason, he gained a promotion to Triple-A Toledo Mudhens, where he batted three homers and drove in seven runs in 16 games.[2]

In 1975, Fritz was purchased by Philadelphia from Toledo after Phillies shortstop Larry Bowa broke his hand in a game against the San Francisco Giants on May 27.[3]

Fritz made his lone Major League appearance on May 30, 1975 at Veterans Stadium against the Houston Astros. With the Phillies trailing 5 to 0, and with two-outs and Mike Anderson on first in the bottom of the ninth-inning, Fritz pinch-hit for Larry Christenson. Facing Astros pitcher Doug Konieczny, Fritz flew out to left-field to end the game.[4]

On June 6, 1975, Mud Hens first baseman Andy Kosco broke his wrist. The Phillies returned Fritz to Toledo and in his place recalled outfielder Mike Rogodzinski from Reading.[5]

In a seven-year minors career, Fritz was a .273 hitter with 117 home runs and 235 RBI in 635 games, including a .356 on-base percentage and a .498 of slugging.[2]

Following his baseball career, Fritz went on to play softball for numerous Indiana teams. He also served in the Indiana National Guard, Company C 113th Engineer Battalion, and worked as a truck driver until his retirement in 2004 from Metro Intermodal due to a disability.[6]

Fritz died in Munster, Indiana, at the age of 61.[6]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Baseball Reference – Larry Fritz major league statistics
  2. 1 2 3 "Baseball Reference - Larry Fritz minor league statistics".
  3. ↑ "Phillies buy Fritz from Toledo club". Wilmington Star-News. 1975-05-28. p. 17.
  4. ↑ "May 30, 1975 Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies Box Score and Play by Play".
  5. ↑ "Hens Get Fritz; Kosco Sidelined". Toledo Blade. 1975-06-08. p. Sec. D Page 6.
  6. 1 2 "The Northwest Indiana Times - Larry Fritz obituary".
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