Ferris Fain - Career

Career

Coming to the majors in 1947, the left-handed hitter was a top prospect and had 461 at bats in his rookie season, playing full-time. That year, he batted a solid .291 with seven home runs and 71 runs batted in in 136 games. In the 1948 season, Fain played in 145 games, having an .288 batting average, seven home runs, and what would be a career high 88 runs batted in. Fain was a member of the 1949 Philadelphia Athletics team that set a major league team record of 217 double plays, a record which still stood as of 2010. In 1950 Fain played in a career high 150 games, batting .282 with 10 home runs and 83 RBI as he was named for his first All-Star team.

Fain broke through during the 1951, leading the American League with a .344 batting average. He also hit six homers and 57 RBIs, although a broken foot limited him to 425 at-bats. That year he finished sixth in the Most Valuable Player Award voting as Yogi Berra won the award. During the 1952 season, Fain again led the American League with a .324 batting average. He also led the league in doubles (43), and on base percentage and third in hits as he finished sixth in the Most Valuable Player award behind winner and A's teammate Bobby Shantz. After the 1952 season, the Athletics traded Fain to the Chicago White Sox for fellow first baseman Eddie Robinson and infielders Ed McGhee and Joe DeMaestri. After the trade, White Sox general manager Frank Lane proclaimed with his acquisition of Fain, the White Sox had the "finest defensive infield in baseball". The New York Yankees was also interested on Fain, but a deal couldn't get completed.

Known for a hot temper on the field, Fain had an off-year in '53 after getting into a brawl in a Maryland café with White Sox fans. Fain was fined $600 by the White Sox, then sued for $50,000. In the 1953 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Fain scored the only run for the American League in the ninth inning of a 5-1 loss. After suffering a knee injury the following year, he never really got back on track. But on June 16, 1954, he hit an inside-the-park grand slam. He was named to the 1954 Major League Baseball All-Star Game as a starter alongside his White Sox infield teammates Nellie Fox, George Kell and Chico Carrasquel. It made the 1954 White Sox the first team ever to have four infield starters from the same team starting the All-Star Game.

Fain finished with an on-base percentage of over .400 every full year that he played, and was in the top 10 in that category seven times in his career; he ranked in the top 10 in walks eight times.

In a nine-season career, he hit .290 with 48 home runs 570 RBIs, 1139 career hits in 3930 at bats He also had 213 career doubles and a career .424 on-base percentage. Not least of all, Fain was regarded by some as the best fielding first baseman in the majors until Vic Power showed up to play Fain's old position for the A's.