The Big Leagues
He began the 1979 season with Springfield, going 6–3 with a 3.16 ERA in 77 innings with them. He made his big league debut on June 19 of that year, and he was arguably the Cardinals best pitcher from that point forward. In his debut, he pitched a complete game shutout, allowing eight hits, one walk, striking out six and getting the win. Overall, he went 10–6 with a 2.53 ERA, with all 10 of his wins being complete games (he ranked seventh in the league in complete games, and 10th in the league in sacrifice hits). He allowed only 123 hits and 26 walks in 146 innings of work, and his ten wins tied him with David Palmer for second most number of wins by a rookie that season, trailing Rick Sutcliffe's 17. Despite pitching well, he did not receive a single vote for Rookie of the Year.
Because of an injured rotator cuff, Fulgham appeared in only 15 games in 1980, going 4–6 with a 3.38 ERA. All four of his wins were complete games. He would never appear in the majors after 1980, playing his final game on August 27. He made one appearance for Arkansas that season, giving up one hit and one walk in five innings. He earned a no-decision.
Read more about this topic: John Fulgham
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—Chinese proverb.
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I summon’d am to a tourney
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Methinks it is no journey.”
—Unknown. Tom o’ Bedlam’s Song (l. 57–60)