Contender: Triumph, Tragedy and Canadian Baseball Player Harry Fisher

by Lesley Krueger

Harry Fisher was a good-looking farm kid from southwestern Ontario, that fertile breeding ground of Canadian baseball stars. After a rapid rise through the minor leagues, Harry made it to the Show, called up to pitch for the big-league Pittsburgh Pirates in the summer of 1952.

Nicknamed “the handsome Hollywood hurler” from his time with the Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League, Harry had a long and romantic baseball career that took him from coast to coast to coast in the U.S. and down to winter ball in Puerto Rico, all of which is detailed in this short biography.

During Harry’s time in Hollywood., Groucho Marx kibitzed with the players on the bench after batting practice. Harry played against the legendary pitcher Stan Musial, and with World Series winning pitcher Vernon (Deacon) Law. In one of his last interviews, the late catcher, broadcaster and raconteur Joe Garagiola said that Harry was “one of the hot-shot prospects” on the Pirates—and a blond who attracted the girls.

Yet tragedy shadowed Harry’s career. Pro sports has a dark side, as you set yourself up for failure. Is the glory worth the price?

Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2021

About the author

Lesley Krueger's latest novel, Far Creek Road, is now out from ECW Press. Sheila Murray, author of Finding Edward, calls it "masterful."

According to a starred review in the Mirimachi Reader, "Far Creek Road is a wonderfully written novel, with full and rich characters, a delightful narrator, and very much the adult version of those Judy Blume stories we loved as kids. I was sucked into this novel right away, and Krueger’s ability to immerse me inside of Tink’s mind was impressive."

Lesley's previous novel, Time Squared, was published in September 2021 -- a time travelling look at the role of women through the ages. Says critic Kerry Clare, "I’ll dive right in and tell you that the novel, Time Squared by Lesley Krueger, which I’ve loved more than I’ve loved than any book I’ve read in ages."

Lesley is the author of four previous novels, a travel memoir and two books of short stories, as well as a novel for children aged ten and up. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their elderly cat, Archie.