Art Fletcher
Art Fletcher wore a major league uniform in five different decades, as a player, coach, and manager. He played shortstop and was the on-field leader for John McGraw's Giants, managed the hapless Phillies just as his playing career ended, coached the Murderers' Row Yankees under Miller Huggins, and won several World Series rings with the Bronx Bombers.
Played For
New York Giants (1909-1920)
Philadelphia Phillies (1920-1922)
Managed
Philadelphia Phillies (1923-1926)
New York Yankees (1929)
Minor League Experience
Fletcher played his first professional ball in 1908 with Dallas of the Texas League. He hit .273 with 35 stolen bases for Dallas and earned a spot with McGraw's Giants the following spring.
All-Time Rankings
Art Fletcher ranks #37 among the Top 50 all-time at SS. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1911
In his first opportunity as McGraw's shortstop, Fletcher batted .319 in 112 games with 73 runs scored. He helped spark the Giants to the pennant, but unfortunately he went 3-for-23 in the World Series.
Factoids
From 1913 to 1918, Art Fletcher led the National League in being hit by pitches, five times. The only year he didn't pace the league was 1915.
When Miller Huggins was hospitalized late in the 1929 season, Art Fletcher took his place as Yankee manager for 11 games. The next season, Bob Shawkey took over and Fletcher remained as a coach.
After both his father and brother passed away in 1921, Fletcher took the year off and returned to Illinois to be with his family. He returned as the Phillies' shortstop in 1922, his final season.
Fletcher vs. Klem
With the Phillies in 1922, Fletcher had a run-in with famed umpire Bill Klem in Philadelphia which earned him an ejection. Moments after being dismissed from the game, a sign appeared that read "Catfish Klem," in reference to the nickname the arbiter loathed. Klem ordered the sign removed and Fletcher was blamed for it, for which he received a $50 fine and three-day suspension. In later years, according to biographer Peter Gordon, Fletcher insisted he didn't make the sign, but did encourage someone else to do it.
Description
Fletcher had a large jaw which he was apparently quite self-conscious of. According to Peter Gordon, who wrote the biography of Fletcher for Deadball Stars of the National League, Fletcher had the Giants sew a collar on his uniform so he could turn it up to hide his jaw.
Where He Played
Fletcher had excellent range as a shoprtstop, and most of his errors (he made 63 in one season, in 1914) came on his throws. He did not have an accurate throwing arm, by most accounts. He was a take-charge guy in the infield and some accounts claim he was one of the best at going after popups in the shallow outfield.
Born
Arthur Fletcher was born on January 5, 1885, in Collinsville, IL.
Died
February 6, 1950, Los Angeles, CA
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: SS
Primary Team: NY1
Major League Debut
April 15, 1909
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1909
Zack Wheat
Harry Hooper
Stuffy McInnis
Dots Miller
Jimmy Austin
Chief Meyers
Jack Quinn
Art Fletcher
Burt Shotton
Similar Players
Between the lines, Fletcher was similar to MIller Huggins, John mcGraw, and Leo Durocher. He was a fiery leader who held his ground. Off the field he was reportedly very modest, a Christian, and never swore. Sort of like Orel Hershiser, I guess.
Related Players
Dave Bancroft, Al Bridwell, Bill Klem
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1937 |
BBWAA |
2 |
1.0% |
1938 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.1% |
1939 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1947 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.9% |
1948 |
BBWAA |
3 |
2.5% |
1949 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.7% |
1950 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.6% |
1951 |
BBWAA |
4 |
1.8% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1911 World Series
1912 World Series
1913 World Series
1917 World Series
Post-Season Notes
In 25 World Series games, Fletcher hit a paltry .191 and committed 12 errors. Several of those miscues directly resulted in losses for the Giants.
Transactions
Fletcher was traded on June 8, 1920, by the New York Giants with Bill Hubbell and cash to the Philadelphia Phillies for Dave Bancroft. It was a significant deal, and John mcGraw had been trying to get Bancroft for a few years. It was a chance for the Giants to get younger at shortstop, and Bancroft gave them four outstanding seasons. Had Bancroft never played under McGraw, it's unlikely that he would have been elected to the Hall of Fame.
Replaced
Al Bridwell, a much-traveled National League shortstop who didn't have the bat that Fletcher did, but was at least his equal with the glove.
Replaced By
Fletcher took over as manager of the Phillies in 1923 and retired as a player. He filled his vacant shortstop position with a Pacific Coast League star named Heinie Sand. 25 years old, Sand could hit, though he struggled in his first season in the majors. Sand never really adjusted to the big leagues and was a terrible shortstop, and after six seasons he returned to the west coast.
Best Strength as a Player
Fletcher ranks among the all-time greatest "trash-talkers" in baseball annals. He reportedly could rile opposing players so much that he often precipitated fights. He had this knack when he played, and also used it expertly as a manager and coach.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Patience at the plate, and his erratic throwing arm.
Learn More about Art Fletcher
Search Amazon.com for Books about Art Fletcher ⇒
Search for Art Fletcher at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
