Carlton Fisk

Lore & Background

Fisk was born in Bellows Falls, Vermont, but according to Fisk, that was only because Bellows Falls had the nearest hospital to his hometown, Charlestown, New Hampshire. He was raised by his parents, Leona and Cecil, along with older brother Calvin, younger brothers Conrad and Cedric and younger sisters Janet and June. He grew up in Charlestown, across the Connecticut River from Bellows Falls. Fisk attended Charlestown High School, where he played baseball (under Coach Ralph Silva), soccer, and basketball. Because his family is from New Hampshire, he insisted that the organization remove from his plaque in the Red Sox Hall of Fame its characterization of him as a Vermont native. Fisk earned his longtime nickname, "Pudge", because he was a chubby youngster. He played on the Charlestown High baseball team, appearing at third base, catcher and pitcher for Coach Silva. Two of his teammates were his brothers Calvin and Conrad, who were drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and Montreal Expos, respectively, but never made it to the minors due to Calvin's being drafted and inducted into military service during the Vietnam War and Conrad hurting his arm. Since the high school baseball season was limited to 17 games annually due to the inclement New England weather, he also played in the American Legion baseball league in 1964, appearing with the team from Claremont, New Hampshire. In 1965, he played for the Legion Post 37 team in Bellows Falls that had won the 1964 Vermont State Championship. Fisk excelled at basketball. When he was a sophomore, he was a starter and helped Charlestown to an undefeated season and the 1963 New Hampshire Class M championship. His play in a 1964 high school basketball tournament in the Boston Garden drew the attention of Boston Celtics owner Walter Brown, who told a local reporter, "You have got to tell me—who is that kid?" Fisk had 42 points and 38 rebounds in the 1965 state tournament semifinal loss to Hopkinton High School. He was awarded a basketball scholarship by the University of New Hampshire, where he started for the UNH Wildcats while also playing baseball. He met his wife Linda Foust while at UNH. The freshman team that Fisk played for was undefeated for the 1965–66 season. In 1966, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Orleans Cardinals. In his sophomore year, the Red Sox drafted him in the

In Their Own Story

The air inside Cleveland Stadium hummed with anticipation as Fisk stepped up to the plate. The crowd, a sea of red and navy, fell silent in recognition of the veteran legend. He tapped his bat against the dirt, eyes fixed on the pitcher, embodying the quiet intensity that had defined thirty years of play.

Reader's Guide

Fisk played for the Boston Red Sox (1969, 1971–1980) and the Chicago White Sox (1981–1993). He never played for the Cleveland Indians. He wore number 27 with the Red Sox and number 72 with the White Sox. He caught 2,226 games, a record at the time of his retirement, later surpassed by Iván Rodríguez. Fisk was released by the Chicago White Sox in 1993 and did not play for any other team.

Did You Know?

• Fisk was the first player to be unanimously voted American League Rookie of the Year in 1972.
• His game-winning home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series is one of baseball's most iconic moments; the camera stayed on him because the cameraman was distracted by a rat.
• Fisk held the record for most home runs by a catcher (376) until Mike Piazza surpassed it.
• He caught 2,226 games, an MLB record at the time, later broken by Iván Rodríguez.
• Fisk earned the nickname 'Pudge' because he was a chubby youngster.