Contender

Harry Fisher was a baseball-mad farm kid from Ontario. He made it to the Show, where Joe Garagiola caught him. Vernon Law mourns him. Both players and family tell Harry’s tragic story in this moving tribute.

Harry Fisher was a good-looking farm kid from southwestern Ontario, that fertile breeding ground of Canadian baseball stars. After a rapid rise through the minor leagues, Harry made it to the Show, called up to pitch for the big-league Pittsburgh Pirates in the summer of 1952.

Nicknamed “the handsome Hollywood hurler” from his time with the Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League, Harry had a long and romantic baseball career that took him from coast to coast to coast in the U.S. and down to winter ball in Puerto Rico.

During Harry’s time in Hollywood., Groucho Marx kibitzed with the players on the bench after batting practice. Harry played against the legendary pitcher Stan Musial, and with World Series winning pitcher Vernon (Deacon) Law, who spoke to me about his memories of the times. In one of his last interviews, the late catcher, broadcaster and raconteur Joe Garagiola told me that Harry was “one of the hot-shot prospects” on the Pirates—and a blond who attracted the girls.

Yet tragedy shadowed Harry’s career. Pro sports has a dark side, as you set yourself up for failure. Is the glory worth the price?