Ferris Fain

Infobox MLB retired
name=Ferris Fain
position=First Baseman


bgcolor1=#003831
bgcolor2=#003831
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
birthdate=March 29, 1921
city-state|San Antonio|Texas
deathdate=October 18, 2001 (aged 80)
city-state|Georgetown|California
bats=Left
throws=Left
debutdate=April 15
debutyear=1947
debutteam=Philadelphia Athletics
finaldate=September 24
finalyear=1955
finalteam=Cleveland Indians
stat1label=Batting average
stat2label=Hits
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat1value=.290
stat2value=1139
stat3value=570
teams=
*Philadelphia Athletics (1947-1952)
*Chicago White Sox (1953-1954)
*Detroit Tigers (1955)
*Cleveland Indians (1955)
highlights=
*2-time American League Batting Champion: 1951-1952
*5-time American League All-Star: 1950-1954
*American League Doubles Champion: 1952

Ferris Roy Fain (May 29 1921 - October 18 2001) was a Major League first basemen for the Philadelphia Athletics (1947-1952), Chicago White Sox (1953-1954), and in 1955, his last season, the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians.

Fain was born in San Antonio, Texas. The lefty was a top prospect and had 461 at bats in his rookie season, playing full-time. That year, he batted a solid .291 with 7 home runs and 71 RBIs.

Fain broke through in by|1951 batting .344 with 6 homers and 57 RBIs, although he only had 425 at-bats due to a broken foot. That year and the following, he finished sixth in Most Valuable Player Award voting. Yogi Berra won in '51 and teammate Bobby Shantz took the prize in by|1952. Fain took home batting titles in both seasons.

He had an off-year in by|1953 after getting into a brawl in a Maryland café with White Sox fans. Fain was fined $600 by the White Sox, and was then sued for $50,000. After suffering a knee injury the following year, he never really got back on track. He ended having had an on-base percentage over .400 every full year that he played. He was in the top 10 in that category seven times in his career, while being in the top 10 in walks eight times in his career. His ability to get on base helped him to five straight All-Star Games (1950-1954).

In a 9-season career, he batted .290 with 48 home runs and 570 RBIs. He had 213 career doubles and a career .424 on-base percentage. He had 1139 career hits in 3930 at bats. Fain was regarded by some as the best fielding 1B in the majors until Vic Power showed up.

In 1985, Fain was charged with growing marijuana and sentenced to four months' house arrest. In 1988, he was again charged with growing marijuana and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. Fain said, "I knew how to grow the stuff. I was as adept at it as I was in playing baseball.".cite news | last= Goldstein | first= Richard | title= Ferris Fain, A.L. Batting Champion in 1950's, Dies at 80 | date= October 27 2001 | publisher= New York Times | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803EED81131F934A15753C1A9679C8B63]

Fain died in Georgetown, California, of leukemia along with other complications. He was 80 years old.

Fact

Ferris became a custom home builder in Georgetown, CA in the 1970s and early 1980s.

*On June 16, 1954, Fain hit an inside the park grand slam.

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball batting champions
* List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
* Chicago White Sox all-time roster

References

External links

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