Books and articles about Chico Fernandez

RELATED LINKS Book Excerpts » The Perfect Yankee by Don Larsen with Mark Shaw

Fernandez was a bright prospect who could not displace Pee Wee Reese at shortstop for the Dodgers, and the Phillies traded five players to get him for 1957. He was their regular shortstop for two seasons. After starting off adequately with the bat (.262 with 51 RBI in 1957), the native Cuban fell off over the next two seasons and saw limited time in 1959, hitting .211. The Tigers gave him the shortstop job in 1960, and although he led the AL in errors that season, he surprised in 1962 with 20 HR (half his career total). After starting 1963 with a .143 BA, he was traded to the Braves and then the Mets in just one day. The Mets traded him to the White Sox in 1964 for Charley Smith, but Fernandez didn't see any more major league action. (WOR)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » December 5, 1959: The Phils ship Chico Fernandez and Ray Semproch to Detroit for Ken Walters, Ted Lepcio, and minor leaguer Alex Cosmidis. The Cuban born Fernandez was the first black for the Phils, and will be the second black to play for Detroit. » June 4, 1960: Detroit's Chico Fernandez strokes a 10th-inning triple against Cleveland, and then swipes home for the final run in a 7–4 win. Rocky Colavito breaks out of his slump with a solo home run in the 4th and a 2-run home run in the 10th, off Stigman. » May 8, 1963: The Braves acquire Chico Fernandez from the Tigers for Lou Johnson and cash, then turn around and swap him to the Mets for Larry Foss. » April 23, 1964: The Mets swap Chico Fernandez and minor leaguer Bobby Catton to the White Sox for Charley Smith.