One of the original Royals
Al Fitzmorris, one of the last original Royals, passed away this week after a battle with cancer. He was part of the inaugural Royals team in 1969 and pitched eight seasons with the Royals, eventually becoming part of the community.
Fitzmorris was signed by the White Sox as a free agent in 1966, as an outfielder. He made the switch to pitcher in 1967, thinking it would be a faster path to the majors. The Royals selected him with their 40th selection in the expansion draft.
Fitzmorris moved through the minors quickly. He jumped from A ball with the White Sox in 1968, to Triple-A Omaha to start the 1969 season before making his Major League debut on September 8, 1969. He was a good hitting pitcher, as would be expected, collecting 24 hits in 99 career at-bats, good for a .242 average.
Speaking of hitting, who was the first Royals player to hit safely from both sides of the plate in the same game? That would be Fitzmorris who accomplished the feat on July 19, 1970, in a game against the Detroit Tigers in the second game of a twinbill. Dave Morehead started the game but was pulled after 2 1⁄3 innings. Fitzmorris pitched 4 1⁄3 in relief and batting from the right side, stroked a double off Mike Kilkenny in the third. Hitting from the left side in the fifth, he looped a single to center off Bob Reed.
Fitzmorris was the last original Royal on their 1976 playoff team. From 1973 to 1976, he was outstanding, going 52-32. During his eight seasons with the Royals, Fitzmorris was a valuable swingman. He appeared in 243 games, making 159 starts in which he threw 36 complete games. Fitzmorris’ winning percentage of .593 is second in club history behind Jason Vargas’ .596, though Vargas only threw 421 innings for KC compared to the 1,098 thrown by Fitzmorris. Almost fifty years after he threw his last pitch, Fitzmorris’ name still dots the club’s all-time top ten pitching lists in various categories, such as ERA (5th), wins (9th), complete games (8th), shutouts (6th), walks allowed (9th), home runs-per-nine-innings (4th) and wild pitches (5th).
In what might have been his best game, on August 4, 1971, he held the powerful Minnesota Twins hitless for six innings before Harmon Killebrew broke up the no-no with a seventh-inning single. Fitz ended up with a 2-hit, 3-0 shutout win. He didn’t make the club out of spring training in 1973 but was recalled from Omaha midway through the season and he didn’t waste it, going 8-3 with a 2.83 ERA for the Royals.
His strong finish to the 1973 season paved the way for an excellent 1974 campaign, which saw him pitch in 34 games, and go 13-6 with a 2.79 ERA. In a June 4 game against Baltimore, Fitzmorris pitched a complete game shutout which was unusual in that he didn’t walk or strike out a batter. It was his second consecutive shutout. Between 1973 and 1974, he had a stretch where he won 20 of 29 decisions. 1974 was his best statistical season as he went a sterling 13 and 6 with a career best 2.79 era over 190 innings of work.
During that 1974 campaign, he had a streak of 33 consecutive innings without giving up a walk.
The 1975 season brought more of the same. Fitzmorris pitched a career-high 242 innings and compiled a 16-12 record. He continued his strong run with a 15-11 mark in 1976 while throwing eight complete games and leading the Royals staff with a 3.06 ERA. As the 1976 season ended, Manager Whitey Herzog informed Fitzmorris that he would not be pitching against the Yankees in the upcoming ALCS. The Yankees were loaded with left-handed hitters and Herzog thought Larry Gura gave the Royals a better chance at a series win. The demotions sparked a heated argument between the two and marked the beginning of the end for Al Fitzmorris in Royals uniform.
After the loss to the Yankees, the Royals left Fitzmorris unprotected in the expansion draft and Toronto grabbed him. The Jays traded Fitz to the Indians the very same day, but it was never the same. Fitzmorris was unhappy to be leaving Kansas City and at the age of 31, Father Time made his first appearance. Fitzmorris went 6-10 for the 1977 Indians and finished his career with a nine-game stint with the Angels in 1978. As with so many athletes, he was done at the age of 32.
But shed no tears for Al Fitzmorris. He had a terrific career, finishing with a 77-59 record, 3.65 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP, while accumulating 16.5 WAR. He kept the ball in the ballpark too, only giving up 83 home runs in 1,277 innings. Fitzmorris was also a terrific fielding pitcher, once going 108 consecutive games without making an error.
After his career ended, Fitzmorris could be found doing the pre-and post-game reports for Metro Sports. Those post-game reports had a little bit of a community television feel to them, which only added to the suspense. Fitz could be giving the wrap-up, and a Royals staffer would amble into the room with a vacuum cleaner going full tilt. Fitzmorris also made documentary films and was an accomplished songwriter and musician, as the frontman for his band, “39”. Fitzmorris made his home in Kansas City and remained active in the community up to the end.
Al Fitzmorris was born March 21, 1946, in Buffalo, New York. He was raised in San Diego and attended Madison High School before signing with the White Sox. He was 78. Royals Review extends our condolences to the Fitzmorris family.
