Ed Fitz Gerald

Edward Raymond Fitz Gerald (born May 21, 1924 in Santa Ynez, California) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1948-1959 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians. He attended Saint Mary's College of California. Used primarily in a backup role throughout his career, he saw substantial playing time as a rookie with the 1948 Pirates, and again with the Senators from 1953 to 1955. He ended his career with a .260 batting average, 19 home runs and 217 runs batted in in 807 games.

While with the Pirates, Fitz Gerald caught Cliff Chambers' no-hitter on May 6, 1951.^[1] He also broke up, as a Washington Senator, Chicago White Sox pitcher Billy Pierce's bid for a perfect game on June 27, 1958 by doubling with two out in the ninth, the ball landing just inches inside the first-base line.^[2]

Following his retirement as an active player, Fitz Gerald coached in the American League from 1960-1964 for the Indians, Kansas City Athletics and Minnesota Twins, and briefly managed the Fresno Giants of the Class A California League.

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