If you put an Indians uniform on that statue it could be Tom Berenger from Major League.

Why is there a statue of Carlton Fisk at...Jacobs Field?

Why is there a statue of Carlton Fisk at...Jacobs Field?

I'm not sure if you're serious, and I'm not terribly surprised.

If you put an Indians uniform on that statue it could be Tom Berenger from Major League.

Heh, I thought this right away too.

Well, it's not Fenway. And the last I knew, Chicago had sky blue seats.

I mean, the Red Sox haven't played in Chicago yet this year, so if they switched, I didn't see it. They don't tend to show the park much in the highlights.

If this had been marked as "Image of the Day : Major League statue", I would have believed it was Berenger at Jacob's Field in a heartbeat.

Well, it's not Fenway. And the last I knew, Chicago had sky blue seats.

The green seats are relatively new, I think.

The green seats are relatively new, I think.

They're four or five years old.

last I knew, Chicago had sky blue seats

Those blue seats seem to look a little bit greenish in bright sunlight.

Fisk had played in 1,078 games for the Red Sox through his age 32 season, 990 of those games at catcher. He then played in 1,421 games for the White Sox, 1,236 at catcher.

Presuming Fisk never used PEDs, his longevity at catcher is unbelievably amazing. He was 33 years old before he started playing for the White Sox. In the history of professional baseball, that is the latest age to start playing for a club and wind up with a statue made in honor of that player.

Fisk was 45 when he retired. At age 41, 42 and 43, he put up OPS+'s of 155, 136 and 134. His career OPS+ was 117.

Among catchers who played 1,800 or more games at catcher, Fisk has the most games played (including games at other positions):

1 Carlton Fisk 2499
2 Ivan Rodriguez 2481
3 Gary Carter 2295
4 Bob Boone 2264
5 Jason Kendall 2084
6 Tony Pena 1988
7 Lance Parrish 1988

Note that of the 7 catchers with the most longevity at that position, five (Fisk, Carter, Boone, Parrish and Pena*) played in essentially the same era. The other two, I-Rod and Kendall, came a generation later. It's probably not a coincidence that all of them played either in the 1970-1990 stretch or the 1990-2010 time frame and none were earlier. I suspect better conditioning and better medical care are the cause.

*Pena's first season was 1980, so his "era" was a little behind the other 4 I have grouped him with.

As someone who was born in 1979, growing up I only knew Fisk as a member of the White Sox. It was strange when I learned that he was much more famous for things he had done in a Red Sox uniform.

Regardless of whether Fisk used PEDs, his longevity at catcher is unbelievably amazing. Whether he used PEDs or not (and I'd guess not but we don't know) is a non sequitor to his longevity.

I didn't realize the new White Sox stadium had a grandstand facade similar to Yankee Stadium's.

I didn't realize the new White Sox stadium had a grandstand facade similar to Yankee Stadium's.

It never used to. Another reason I didn't recognize it.

In the history of professional baseball, that is the latest age to start playing for a club and wind up with a statue made in honor of that player.

Except for Melvin Mora's statue in Colorado.

I just hope Luke Skywalker can get Carlton out of the carbonite.

Regardless of whether Fisk used PEDs, his longevity at catcher is unbelievably amazing. Whether he used PEDs or not (and I'd guess not but we don't know) is a non sequitor to his longevity.

Actually, given the time he played, I'd say he almost certainly used PED's, just probably not steroids.

There's no way Fisk could have stayed awake to 12:30am to hit that home run without pills.

Did anyone ever substantiate that Fisk might have poured concrete for J.D. Salinger's driveway or whatever the story claimed?

During the Sox game yesterday Hawk talked about the large statue of Frank Thomas which would be placed "IN THE OUTFIELD." I immediately thought that that would be an interesting obstacle for the outfielders, but then I realized that it would be wrong--Frank never played in the oufield! Put the statue near first base instead.

Actually, given the time he played, I'd say he almost certainly used PED's, just probably not steroids

Why do you assume he didn't use steroids based on his era? He was active five years after Jose Canseco's MVP season. Earlier, they were certainly prominent in the Olympics and among weightlifters. Pudge was one of the early adopters of weight lifting in baseball. I don't know if he used -- and really don't care -- but he seems like someone whose career certainly overlapped with the use of steroids and he personally would have been at least exposed to their use.

Put the statue near first base instead.

What, again?

Why do you assume he didn't use steroids based on his era?

I said "probably not".

OK ... why did you link "probably not" to "the time he played?"

I mentioned "the time he played" because the implication was that he almost certainly used amphetamines. For some reason people around here still like to pretend that they aren't PED's.

Am fairly sure that it is Berenger.

I didn't realize the new White Sox stadium had a grandstand facade similar to Yankee Stadium's.

It never used to. Another reason I didn't recognize it.

The facade was put in as part of the major renovations which removed a large portion of the upper deck.

One of the reasons why the Cell gets a bad rap is due to its initial state. It was an awful stadium when opened, but the renovations have made it a very nice ball park. I still complain that the Chicago skyline can't be seen in the field of play though (there is an amazing view looking out from the concourse; would be incredible to see that over left field.

I didn't realize the new White Sox stadium had a grandstand facade similar to Yankee Stadium's.

And wasn't new Yankee Stadium's concourse modeled after U.S. Celluar's?

#16 - what?!

I mentioned "the time he played" because the implication was that he almost certainly used amphetamines. For some reason people around here still like to pretend that they aren't PED's.

I think a more accurate statements is "People around here still like to pretend that everyone in baseball used amphetamines but not everyone in baseball used steroids".

#16 - what?!

Here.

Bubble -- I must be too dense for your wit. Is the punch line that Mora's quadruplets are "a statue made in honor of" Melvin Mora?

I don't see anything about a statue in that article.

Also, there are only four children in the statue, the man doesn't look much like Mora, and I have no idea if the statue is in Colorado. The truth of this story is falling apart before our eyes. I knew I should have gone with the Venus de Milo/Dravecky gag.

Why are almost all baseball statutes and images on plaques so awful?

Bill James once theorized that Fisk lasted so long because early in his career he wasn't durable.

At least according to people like Bill James, Fisk may be underrated, even though he is ranked in the highest tier for catchers. James basis for his opinion is that Fisk was a quality handler of pitchers and a master at calling a game from his rookie year. If there were some way to quanify that, James held, he thought Fisk might move up in his rankings.

In the history of professional baseball, that is the latest age to start playing for a club and wind up with a statue made in honor of that player.

Only until Jamie Moyer's post-Phillies team puts up a statue.

In the history of professional baseball, that is the latest age to start playing for a club and wind up with a statue made in honor of that player.

Rich, did you mishear this somewhere or were you just making it up and hoping it was true? Nolan's Arlington statue has Fisk beat by nine years. That's probably the (not really a) record, but I can't be certain.

I knew I should have gone with the Venus de Milo/Dravecky gag.

Wow. I mean. Just great. Fantastic.

Did anyone ever substantiate that Fisk might have poured concrete for J.D. Salinger's driveway or whatever the story claimed?

This is what I showed up for.

Fisk, BTW, started the '75 season on the DL and the Red Sox had to start the season with a troika including Bob Montgomery, Tim Blackwell, and 34 year old, mutton-chopped Tim McCarver. When Fisk came back, McCarver was released while Blackwell was kept even though Tim he had a good average. Small sample size and all, but Bill Nowlin suspects that McCarver may be biased against Boston because of this.