Introduction:
Ron Fairly, a baseball legend, is a name that every baseball fan should know. He played for five teams in his 21-year career, won two World Series championships, and was a member of the All-Star team. But there are some surprising facts about Ron Fairly that you may not have heard of before. In this blog post, we will take a deeper look into Ron Fairly’s life and explore five unexpected facts that make him an unforgettable baseball player.
5 Surprising Facts About Ron Fairly:
1. Ron Fairly was an announcer and played in the same game:
Ron Fairly had a unique experience during a game against the Montreal Expos in 1977. He was announcing the game for the Expos while playing for the Blue Jays. He was announced as the starting first baseman for the Blue Jays, and shortly after, he got up from the broadcast booth and walked out to the field. He played the first inning before returning to the booth for the second inning.
2. Ron Fairly was traded for a bus:
Ron Fairly was traded from the Montreal Expos to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1976. The trade involved a minor league player and a bus that the Expos owned, which was used for team transportation purposes. Fairly joked that he was one of the few players who were traded for a bus.
3. Ron Fairly faced Gaylord Perry’s spitball:
Gaylord Perry was known for throwing a spitball, a pitch that involved putting saliva on the ball to make it harder to hit. Ron Fairly faced Perry’s spitball during his playing days. When asked about it, Fairly said that he could not tell if the pitch had spit on it or not since he couldn’t see it in time to react.
4. Ron Fairly hit a home run in the World Series:
Ron Fairly was a two-time World Series champion, and he hit a home run for the Dodgers in game three of the 1965 World Series. It was a critical moment in the game and helped the Dodgers win the match.
5. Ron Fairly had a perfect attendance in high school:
Ron Fairly was known for his dedication and consistency throughout his career. He had a perfect attendance in high school and never missed a day. This trait translated to his professional career, where he played in over 2,400 games and had an impressive career in the MLB.
FAQs:
1. What teams did Ron Fairly play for during his career?
Ron Fairly played for five teams during his 21-year career: Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, and Toronto Blue Jays.
2. How many World Series championships did Ron Fairly win?
Ron Fairly won two World Series championships during his career. The first with the Dodgers in 1959 and the second in 1965.
3. What position did Ron Fairly play?
Ron Fairly played as a first baseman and outfielder in his career.
4. What was Ron Fairly’s career batting average?
Ron Fairly had a career batting average of .266 in his 21-year career.
5. Why was Ron Fairly traded for a bus?
Ron Fairly was traded from the Montreal Expos to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1976, and the trade involved a minor league player and a bus that the Expos owned, which was used for team transportation purposes.
6. What was Ron Fairly’s most memorable moment in baseball?
Ron Fairly hit a home run for the Dodgers in game three of the 1965 World Series, which was a critical moment in the game and helped the Dodgers win the match.
7. What made Ron Fairly unique as a baseball player?
Ron Fairly was known for his dedication and consistency throughout his career. He had a perfect attendance in high school and never missed a day. This trait translated to his professional career, where he played in over 2,400 games and had an impressive career in the MLB.
Conclusion:
Ron Fairly is among the most underrated baseball players of all time, and his contributions to the game are often overlooked. He had a remarkable career, and these five surprising facts paint an even more intriguing picture of the baseball legend. As baseball fans, we should remember Ron Fairly’s legacy and honor his incredible career.