Former MLB pitcher Al Fitzmorris who pitched the majority of his 10-year big league career with the Kansas City Royals passed away of cancer at the age of 78.
Signed by the Chicago White Sox out of high school prior to the 1965 season, the Royals would select him in the 1968 Expansion Draft. Fitzmorris would make his MLB debut with the Royals late in the 1969 season.
After spending his first four big league seasons in the bullpen, Fitzmorris was moved into the Royals starting rotation in 1973 and he thrived. Between 1973 and 1976, Fitzmorris went 52-32 with a 3.13 ERA along with 31 complete games. Fitzmorris enjoyed a16-win campaign in 1975 and a 15-win season in 1976 when the Royals captured their first AL West title.
Yet Royals manager Whitey Herzog left Fitzmorris off the post-season roster in favor of southpaw Larry Gura. Fitzmorris was furious with Herzog and an argument ensued. While Gura did pitch well in Game 1 of the 1976 ALCS against the Yankees, he would fall short against future Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter while lasting only 2 innings in Game 4 with Doug Bird (who passed away in September) earning the win in relief to force Game 5.
The one thing which worked against Fitzmorris was that he wasn't a strikeout pitcher fanning a career high 80 batters over 220.1 innings pitched in 1976. During his glory years, in 741.1 innings pitched, he struck out 238 batters while walking 218.
Fitzmorris would never pitch for the Royals again after his falling out with Herzog. The Toronto Blue Jays drafted him in yet another Expansion Draft following the 1976 season only to be traded hours later to the Cleveland Indians for catcher Alan Ashby. Fitzmorris would struggle with the Tribe in 1977 posting a 6-11 record with a career worst 5.41 ERA. He would split the 1978 season between Cleveland and the California Angels. He signed with the San Diego Padres in 1979 but spent the season in the minor leagues although at least he got to finish his professional career pitching in Hawaii.
However, Fitzmorris would return to the Kansas City area and was active in the community with various charitable causes, was involved in the local music scene and spent a number of years working pre-game and post-game shows on TV and radio for the Royals. In 10 big league seasons, Fitzmorris pitched in 288 games (159 starts) with a record of 77-59 with a 3.65 ERA. Of those 77 wins, 70 came in a Royals uniform. Nearly 50 years after throwing his last pitch with the Royals, those 70 wins are still tied for 9th in franchise history with Steve Busby.
Al Fitzmorris will go down as the most underappreciated pitcher in Kansas City Royals history. R.I.P.
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