Fred Scherman

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69+2⁄3 innings pitched. [1]

In 1971, Scherman emerged as the closer under the team's new manager Billy Martin. Martin said of Scherman: "He's our No. 1 man in the extremely difficult situations. Fred has everything a good relief pitcher needs. He warms up fast. He throws strikes. He has all the pitches. When he throws hard, he usually makes the batter hit the ball on the ground and he seems to be tireless." [21] By early June, he had appeared in 26 of the Tigers' 50 games and had a 4-0 record and 1.92 ERA. Interviewed at the time, Scherman said: "I'm in the groove right now. . . . I don't think I'm doing anything different. The guys are just making the plays. With the players we've got -- the infield we've got -- I just try to get them to hit ground balls." [22] He ultimately appeared in 37 of the first 56 games. [16] For the full season, Scherman compiled an 11-6 record with a 2.71 ERA that was nearly a point below the American League average ERA of 3.61. He set a Detroit record with 69 pitching appearances (second most in the American League) and also ranked among the league leaders with 20 saves (third), 40 games finished (third), and a .647 win-loss percentage (10th). [1] [23]

Scherman relied on his fastball, which he described as a sinking, moving fastball, and his success came when he gained control of it. He mixed in a slider and very rarely a curveball or ever more rarely a changeup. As a short reliever, he relied heavily on his fastball which was his main pitch. He recalled: "I played three years for Billy Martin and if you got beat on your second best pitch he flipped out, I mean he just went bananas. You don't get beat on your second best pitch, so pretty much it was, 'Here it comes, it's me and you, let's see who's better.'" [24] Scherman's philosophy was that location is the key to pitching: "Location is the most important thing in pitching. Everybody thinks, well, it's how hard you throw but it's not. It's where you put the ball. Location's the most important, movement's the second most important, and velocity's the third most important." [25]

In 1972, Scherman compiled a 7–3 record and 3.64 ERA with 12 saves in 57 games, including three as a starter. [1] Scherman played in Game 2 of the 1972 American League Championship Series, a 5-0 loss. He knocked Reggie Jackson to the ground twice with pitches on the inside of the plate, and the game later exploded into a brawl when Lerrin LaGrow hit Bert Campaneris with a pitch in the same game. [26] Some blamed Scherman's knockdowns of Jackson for causing the fight. Scherman pitched only 2⁄3 of an inning in the ALCS and did not allow an earned run. [27] Scherman won the "King Tiger" award from Detroit fans in both 1971 and 1972. [28]

Scherman also gained note in 1972 for his hobby as a private pilot. [29]

In 1973, Detroit's other left-handed reliever, John Hiller, posted a 1.44 ERA, appeared in 65 games, and set a major league record with 38 saves. [30] Hiller's dominance left little room for Sherman who went from having 32 saves in 1971 and 1972 combined to only one save in 1973. [1] Scherman recalled: "Hiller had a tremendous year. The rest of the bullpen couldn't get enough work. It was virtually mop-up." [31]

With Hiller established as Detroit's left-handed closer, Scherman was traded from the Tigers to the Houston Astros for Gary Sutherland and Jim Ray at the Winter Meetings on December 3, 1973. [32] Sutherland became the Tigers' starting second baseman for the 1974 and 1975 seasons. [33]

Houston Astros

He struggled in Houston. During the 1974 season, he compiled a 2-5 record and 4.11 ERA with four saves in 54 relief appearances. [1] He suffered from back problems that caused him to miss portions of the 1974 season. While he had a history of back problems, the problems had gotten worse: "The back just goes out, but it gets better. This time, it didn't." [34] He underwent testing in late September and learned that he had been playing much of the 1974 season with two ruptured discs. Scherman blamed the hard surface at the Astrodome for aggravating his back problems. [35] He underwent back surgery in the off-season. [36]

Scherman began the 1975 season with the Astros and compiled a 0-1 record and 4.96 ERA in 16 relief appearances. [1] On April 20, he gave up a two-run, two-out, ninth-inning home run to Pete Rose to lose a game for Houston. [37]

Montreal Expos

On June 8, 1975, the Montreal Expos announced that they had acquired Scherman for cash and future considerations. [38] The Expos initially used Scherman as a starter. In his first six starts, he pitched well but did not get run support from the Expos. Manager Gene Mauch said at the time: "Fred has given us a chance to win all six games he started. He has held everyone to one, two, or three runs for six innings though we haven't given him any runs" [36] Scherman ended up returning to the bullpen; he appeared in 34 games for the 1975 Expos, seven of them as a starter, and compiled a 4-3 record with an improved 3.54 ERA. [1]

In 1976, Scherman appeared in 31 games for the Expos, all in relief, and compiled a 2-2 record and 4.95 ERA. [1] He later described himself in 1976 as having been "just a mediocre player on a real bad team." [39] In a 2018 interview, he said: "The last couple years I pitched in the big leagues it didn't have any pop in it anymore. I was still trying to throw hard but I just didn't have that little extra pop that you need." [40] He played his final Major League game on July 6, 1976. [1] On July 7, he was asked to report to the Expos' farm club in Denver; he refused and was unconditionally released. Scherman said at the time: "There's no way I'll go to Denver. I've been around a long time. The last years have been tough. You hate to see it end but this is it. . . . I don't really feel that bad. I've got seven years in the majors. I've been in the game 13 years. I never expected I'd last this long." [41]

Pittsburgh Pirates

Scherman attempted a comeback in 1977 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. [42] However, the Pirates signed Goose Gossage and Terry Forster after signing Sherman. [39] Scherman pitched 10 scoreless innings during the preseason, but the Pirates opted to release him in late March. [43] When no other team claimed him, the Pirates sent him to their Columbus Clippers farm club in the International League. Scherman noted: "The Pirates want to use me as an insurance policy in case somebody gets hurt. For Triple A, they're paying me good. But it's not good when you think you should be in the big leagues." [44] In 49 relief appearances for Columbus, he compiled a 6-8 record and 3.90 ERA and nine saves. [6]

Hiroshima Carp

In 1978, Scherman moved to Japan with his wife and two pre-school children pursuant to a contract with the Hiroshima Carp. He expected to pitch for the Carp, but after arriving, he learned that the team had too many American players. Scherman was sent to a minor league club as a player-coach. [45]

Family and later years

Scherman and his wife, Frankie, adopted two children: son, Fred III, and daughter, Andrea. [46] [47] As of 1993, he was living in Brookville, Ohio, and was employed as a production manager for Iams in Dayton. [46]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Fred Scherman". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at 1:19-2:40". allendale101. January 18, 2018. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Eagles, Bulldogs Bid For District Crown". The Journal Herald. May 14, 1962. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Scherman Signs Pact With Twins". The Journal Herald. December 13, 1963. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at __.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Fred Scherman Minor League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  7. ↑ Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at 12:00-13:00.
  8. ↑ "Scherman Is Drafted By Tigers From Twins". The Journal-Herald. December 1, 1964. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at 10:44-11:51.
  10. ↑ Tom Carroll (July 7, 1968). "Scherman's Figures Groovy". Dayton Daily News. p. 6D – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "1968 Toledo Mud Hens". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  12. ↑ "High-Low, No Go for Buckeye Joe". Lansing State Journal. April 27, 1969. p. G1 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Tigers recall Fred Scherman". The Pocono Record. August 11, 1969. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ George Cantor (August 29, 1969). "Northrup a Hero in 13th". Detroit Free Press. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Watcher To Doer; Scherman's Saga". The Tampa Tribune. July 8, 1971. p. 2C – via Newspapers.com.
  16. 1 2 3 Joe Falls (June 27, 1971). "Scherman a Natural For All-Star Game". Detroit Free Press. p. 7D – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at 16:10-16:30.
  18. ↑ Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at 5:00-6:00.
  19. ↑ "1970 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Scherman 'saves' Tigers". The Windsor Star. May 23, 1970. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ Si Burick (June 10, 1971). "Tireless Scherman Is Suddenly Tigers' Top Emergency Pitcher". Dayton Daily News. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ Richard L. Shook (June 3, 1971). "Scherman's Pitching Keeps Martin 'Wiggling'". Lansing State Journal– via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ Jim Hawkins (February 24, 1972). "Can Relief Ace Sherman Bail Out Tigers Again?". Detroit Free Press. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.("Scherman ... shattered Tom Timmerman's year-old club record with his 69 appearances last season.")
  24. ↑ Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at 9:26-10:20.
  25. ↑ Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at 49:46-50:28.
  26. ↑ Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at 32:45-34:17.
  27. ↑ "Odom Puts Tigers in Hole, 5-0". Detroit Free Press. October 9, 1972. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at 44:45-45:31.
  29. ↑ "Fred Scherman -- The New McLain". Los Angeles Times. August 31, 1972. p. III-4 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "1970 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Relief Just a Swallow". The Shreveport Times. March 31, 1974. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ Jim Hawkins (December 4, 1973). "Scherman Traded For Pair of Astros: Tigers 'Solve Their 2d-Base Problem'". Detroit Free Press. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ "Gary Sutherland". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  34. ↑ "Scherman due hospital tests". The Journal-Herald. September 26, 1974. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ↑ Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at 46:30-48:04.
  36. 1 2 "Fred Scherman Likes The Starting Role". Dayton Daily News. July 18, 1975. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ↑ "Reds Fall One Miracle Short In Astros' Split". The Cincinnati Enquirer. April 21, 1975. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ "Expos Acquire Fred Scherman". The Clarion-Ledger. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. 1 2 "Sherman's hopes tarnished". The Journal-Herald. January 13, 1977. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ↑ Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at 40:12-40:25.
  41. ↑ "Expos juggle roster after setback". The Gazette (Montreal). July 8, 1976. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ↑ "Pirates' Sherman Hopes For Worst". The Pittsburgh Press. March 5, 1977. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ↑ "Pirates Release Fred Scherman". Beckley Post-Herald. March 29, 1977. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ↑ "Minors frustrating for Scherman". The Journal-Herald. May 26, 1977. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ↑ "Scherman managing Japanese club". Dayton Daily News. July 9, 1978. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
  46. 1 2 "Baseball vet makes pitch for locals". Dayton Daily News. March 10, 1993. p. Z9-7 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ↑ Fred Scherman video interview on his baseball career, at 46:00-46:15.
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Fred Scherman
Pitcher
Born: (1944-07-25) July 25, 1944 (age 80)
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 26, 1969, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
July 6, 1976, for the Montreal Expos