Larry Fritz, who appeared in one game for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1975, passed away on July 22. He was 61.
Fritz’s sole big league game came on May 30, 1975 against the Houston Astros. With the Phillies trailing by five runs in the bottom of the ninth with two out and Mike Anderson on first, manager Danny Ozark sent rookie Larry Fritz to the plate to pinch-hit for pitcher Larry Christenson. He flew out against Astros pitcher Doug Konieczny.
Though that was the extent of Fritz’s major league career, his minor league career was longer and more storied. Drafted by the New York Mets in 1969, Fritz played in their farm system until 1973. Before the 1974 season, he was sent to the Phillies in an unknown transaction. A power hitter throughout his entire career, Fritz hit as many as 24 home runs in a season, swatting 117 dingers in his seven years on the farm.
