Fred Lasher – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Fred Lasher built an eight-year professional baseball career, starting out in the small towns of North Dakota and eventually pitching on the World Series stage with the Detroit Tigers. Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1941, he developed a sidearm delivery that set him apart and made him a valuable relief pitcher for four American League teams.

Lasher spent six seasons in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1971, taking the mound in 151 games for the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, and California Angels. His biggest moment came with the 1968 Detroit Tigers, when he threw two scoreless innings in the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

His teammates called him “Whip” because of his unique arm angle and the way he baffled hitters. That submarine-style delivery really worked for him.

Lasher’s journey from high school standout to World Series contributor shows just how much grit it takes to reach the top in baseball. He moved through the minor leagues, faced key moments in pennant races, and dealt with the challenges faced by relief pitchers back when the closer role was still figuring itself out.

Sure, his career stats—11 wins and 13 losses—only tell part of the story. He played a real part in one of baseball’s most memorable championship runs.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Frederick Walter Lasher was born on August 19, 1941, in Poughkeepsie, New York. He started sharpening his baseball skills at Poughkeepsie High School.

His pitching in high school caught the eye of pro scouts. In 1960, the Washington Senators signed him.

Family Background

Frederick Walter Lasher came into the world in Poughkeepsie, New York—a city with a deep baseball tradition. Poughkeepsie, the Queen City along the Hudson River, produced at least 11 pro baseball players over the years.

Mickey McDermott, another notable player from the area, pitched briefly for the Detroit Tigers in 1958 and found success in the big leagues. Growing up in this environment gave young athletes a real foundation.

Lasher spent his childhood in this sports-loving community through the 1940s and 1950s. His family encouraged his athletic growth early on.

As a kid, he loved skipping rocks across local lakes. Oddly enough, that habit would help shape his pitching style later.

High School Achievements

At Poughkeepsie High School, Lasher played several positions at first and showed he could hit. He batted and threw right-handed, and his natural athleticism was clear.

Eventually, he honed in on pitching. That focus turned out to be a big turning point for him.

Key High School Accomplishments:

• Became a star pitcher for the Poughkeepsie High School team
• Developed into a hard-throwing prospect
• Shot up to 6-foot-4, which really boosted his pitching

Pro scouts noticed his high school performances. Several major league teams started showing interest in him.

Signing with the Washington Senators

Back in 1960, MLB hadn’t started its amateur player draft yet. Lasher could sign with any pro team after high school.

At 6-foot-4 with a strong arm, Lasher attracted attention from multiple organizations. The competition for him showed just how much potential he had.

Lasher ended up signing with the Washington Senators as an amateur free agent in 1960. They sent him to their Class D team, the Wytheville Senators in the Appalachian League.

His pro debut didn’t go smoothly. He finished with a 7.31 ERA and a 2-2 record in 32 innings over seven games.

Even with the rough start, the Senators decided to keep developing him in their minor league system.

Minor League Career Development

Fred Lasher’s minor league career lasted over a decade. He started out with control issues but eventually became a dominant strikeout pitcher.

He transformed from a wild thrower into a reliable submarine pitcher, thanks to key stops in several leagues.

Early Professional Struggles and Improvements

Lasher’s career began with a tough stretch at Wytheville in 1960. He put up a 7.31 ERA and a 2-2 record in 32 innings over seven games.

Control problems were obvious from the beginning.

Moving to the Fort Walton Beach Jets in 1961, he finally started to improve. Playing in the Alabama-Florida League, Lasher showed flashes of brilliance, though he was still inconsistent.

His best game came against Montgomery, where he struck out 18 batters and allowed just five hits.

Despite his strikeouts, the Jets lost 5-4 in 10 innings because of defensive errors. That game summed up both Lasher’s potential and the team’s struggles.

Fort Walton Beach finished 61-55 under manager Vern Morgan.

Lasher’s progress got him a spot on Minnesota’s Florida Instructional League team. He worked alongside future star Tony Oliva and picked up valuable experience.

Breakout Seasons and Role Change

Lasher found his stride with the Bismarck-Mandan Pards in the Northern League in 1962. Manager Vern Morgan guided him as he dominated hitters with consistency.

By June 10, he had a 3-0 record and a jaw-dropping 0.26 ERA.

His strikeouts really stood out. Lasher struck out 45 batters in 35 innings early that season.

The Northern League Sportswriters Association named him to the all-star team with future Tigers Mickey Stanley and Jim Price.

He wrapped up 1962 with an 8-5 record and a 2.03 ERA, striking out 132 in 115 innings. That performance made him a real prospect.

Teammates started calling him “Whip” because of his sidearm delivery.

The Twins invited him to the Florida Instructional League again. He worked with young coach Jim Kaat, picked up new pitches, and impressed the organization enough to get a major league spring training invite.

Key Minor League Teams

After a short major league stint in 1963, Lasher went to Charlotte in the South Atlantic League. He pitched both ends of a doubleheader in his debut, showing he could handle a heavy workload.

Over 57 innings, he kept a solid 2.84 ERA and kept working on his craft.

The Toledo Mud Hens played a big part in his 1967 comeback. After Detroit took him in the minor league draft for $4,000, Lasher dominated at Triple-A.

He struck out 17 in 17 innings and posted a 0.53 ERA across nine games.

His time with Montgomery in the Southern League was transformative. By July 1967, he had an 8-1 record and a 0.68 ERA, striking out 50 in 53 innings.

He finally found the control and effectiveness that had been missing earlier.

The Salt Lake City Angels became his last minor league stop in 1971. Even with arm problems, Lasher managed six saves in 11 days and earned one final shot in the majors.

His persistence in the Pacific Coast League really showed his dedication.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Fred Lasher pitched for six seasons in the American League from 1963 to 1971. He finished with an 11-13 record across four teams.

He even made a World Series appearance with the 1968 Detroit Tigers. Strangely enough, all five of his wins in 1968 came in 5-4 games.

Debut with Minnesota Twins

Lasher made his MLB debut on April 12, 1963, at Memorial Stadium in Kansas City. He tossed a scoreless inning in a loss for the Twins.

He struggled with control during his short time in Minnesota. He walked 10 batters in just 9.1 innings, so the team sent him down to the Charlotte Hornets.

The Twins brought him back up in September when rosters expanded. He pitched two more innings and gave up one earned run.

For 1963, he had no wins or losses and a 4.76 ERA. Those 10 walks in under 10 innings made it clear he needed more work in the minors.

The Twins invited him to spring training in 1964, but he didn’t make the team. Minnesota lost him to the Detroit Tigers in the minor league draft on November 29, 1966, for $4,000.

Detroit Tigers Tenure

Lasher’s career really took off with the Detroit Tigers. He debuted on August 13, 1967, against the Baltimore Orioles, throwing two scoreless innings and retiring three future Hall of Famers: Luis Aparicio, Brooks Robinson, and Frank Robinson.

He became a key part of Detroit’s bullpen during their championship chase. In 1967, he finished 2-1 with nine saves and a 3.90 ERA in 30 innings.

1968 World Series Season

Lasher’s best season was Detroit’s magical 1968 run. He went 5-1 with five saves and a 3.33 ERA over 48.2 innings.

All five of his wins were in 5-4 games. That’s a pretty odd stat, but it made him a clutch closer in tight spots.

Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell gave him the nickname: “Sound the siren, flash the flasher, here’s our fireman, big Fred Lasher!” That name stuck with him in Detroit.

Lasher pitched in Game 4 of the 1968 World Series against the Cardinals. He threw two scoreless innings in a 10-1 loss—his only postseason appearance.

Cleveland Indians and California Angels Years

The Tigers traded Lasher to the Cleveland Indians on May 22, 1970, for Russ Nagelson and Billy Rohr. The Indians put him to work right away, using him in both games of a doubleheader just days after the trade.

He had some memorable moments with Cleveland. On June 21, 1970, he gave up one of Cesar Gutierrez’s seven hits in a 12-inning game.

Lasher made his only big league start on July 24, 1970, against Boston. Things got heated when he hit Tony Conigliaro in the arm, which sparked a brawl because of Conigliaro’s history with beanballs.

In 1970, Lasher pitched in a career-high 55 games between Detroit and Cleveland. That was his busiest season in the majors.

The California Angels picked him up for 1971, but things unraveled. He appeared in just two games, giving up four earned runs in 1.1 innings for a 27.00 ERA.

That rough outing pretty much ended his major league career. Lasher retired from baseball after the 1971 season at age 30.

Notable Achievements and Highlights

Fred Lasher’s six-year major league run had some standout moments, especially his role in the Detroit Tigers’ 1968 World Series win. His sidearm delivery earned him the nickname “The Whip,” and he gave batters fits throughout his career.

World Series and 1968 Detroit Tigers

Lasher played a key part in the Tigers’ magical 1968 season under manager Mayo Smith. As a relief pitcher, he put up a 5-1 record with five saves and a 3.33 ERA in 48.2 innings.

His biggest contribution came in the World Series against the Cardinals. He tossed two scoreless innings in Game 4, helping the Tigers chase the championship.

Even though Detroit lost that game 10-1, they ended up beating Bob Gibson and the Cardinals in seven games.

During Game 7, Lasher and Earl Wilson warmed up in the bullpen when Mickey Lolich ran into trouble. But Lasher wasn’t needed, as Lolich finished off his third win of the Series.

That 1968 season really marked the high point of Lasher’s career, and he became part of baseball history with the Tigers’ World Series team.

Pitching Style and Nickname ‘The Whip’

Lasher’s teammates started calling him “The Whip” because of his unmistakable sidearm pitching delivery. Batters often struggled to pick up his release point, and that arm angle just looked wild.

At 6-foot-4, Lasher figured out his submarine-style delivery as a kid, skipping rocks across lakes. That quirky motion turned into a nasty pitching style, and hitters in both the minors and majors really didn’t enjoy facing him.

Pitching coach Gordon Maltzberger stepped in and taught Lasher a three-quarter overhand delivery. That gave him another look to mix in with his signature sidearm.

He relied on a fastball and a devastating curve ball. The sidearm delivery made both pitches tough for batters to time and square up.

Key Moments and Performances

Lasher’s career had some memorable moments. In 1967, he picked up his first major league save by retiring three future Hall of Famers: Luis Aparicio, Brooks Robinson, and Frank Robinson during a crucial pennant race game.

In 1968, all five of his victories came in Tigers games that ended with the same 5-4 score. On May 19, he and rookie Les Cain combined for a shutout against the Senators.

Lasher sometimes landed on the wrong side of history, too. He gave up one of Cesar Gutierrez’s seven hits when Gutierrez went 7-for-7 in a 12-inning game on June 21, 1970.

He made his only major league start on July 24, 1970, against the Red Sox. In the first inning, he hit Tony Conigliaro in the arm, which sparked a brawl.

The next inning, Billy Conigliaro and Tom Satriano hit back-to-back home runs off him, and that pretty much ended his starting experiment.

Career Statistics and Legacy

Fred Lasher pitched in the big leagues for six years, making 151 appearances across four American League teams. He mainly served as a reliable relief specialist, and his presence really helped team chemistry, especially on those championship-caliber clubs.

Pitching Records and Stats

Lasher put together an 11-13 record with a 3.88 ERA over 202 innings during his MLB career from 1963 to 1971. He struck out 148 batters and earned 22 saves, carving out a spot as a dependable bullpen arm.

His best years came with the Detroit Tigers from 1967 to 1970. During that stretch, he posted a 3.49 ERA in 131.2 innings. In 1967, he went 2-1 with 9 saves and a 3.90 ERA in 17 games, which was probably his peak.

In 1970, Lasher made 55 relief appearances, his busiest season. He split that year between Detroit and Cleveland and picked up 8 saves. He finished his MLB career in 1971 with the California Angels, pitching just 1.1 innings in two games.

He appeared in the World Series for Detroit in 1968, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings. That helped the Tigers win the championship over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Analytical Metrics and Player Comparison

Lasher’s WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) sat at 1.431, which shows he let some runners on, but he usually managed to limit the damage. His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) of 3.95 matched up pretty well with his ERA, so he was consistent.

His strikeout rate was 6.6 per nine innings, which was a bit below average for his era. Guys like Mike Marshall racked up more strikeouts, but Lasher’s ground ball approach worked in the right spots.

Lasher’s 1.35 strikeout-to-walk ratio suggests he could’ve had better command. Still, he only allowed 0.8 home runs per nine innings, so he kept the ball in the park. His best analytical season was 1967, when he posted a 2.31 FIP and a 2.55 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Baseball Almanac lists his career WAR (Wins Above Replacement) at -0.8, so his production was below average. Even so, he brought value as a setup man and occasional closer, especially during Detroit’s successful late-1960s run.

Influence on Teammates and the Game

Lasher’s impact went beyond his stats. He brought a veteran presence to the clubhouse, and his experience with four different organizations helped younger pitchers learn about bullpen management and situational pitching.

In Detroit, Lasher worked with pitchers like Billy Rohr and helped build a staff culture that valued preparation and adaptability. He didn’t mind pitching in different roles, from long relief to closing, and that flexibility is something modern bullpens really need.

He showed teammates how to handle relief pitching strategy. Keeping his cool in high-pressure spots, even in the World Series, set a good example for dealing with championship-level competition.

Lasher played during baseball’s shift toward specialized relief roles. His ability to adapt across different bullpen jobs helped shape the patterns that later became standard.

Post-Retirement Life and Legacy

After his professional baseball career ended in 1971, Fred Lasher settled into civilian life and focused on his family—his wife Judy and their four kids. His role in the Tigers’ 1968 World Series run earned him lasting respect from teammates and fans alike.

Life After Baseball

Lasher left pro baseball after the 1971 season, dealing with arm troubles during his last year with the California Angels. He wrapped up his career with a rough 27.00 ERA in just two games that season.

Not much is recorded about his post-retirement career. Like a lot of players from that era, he probably worked outside of baseball to support his family.

Throughout retirement, Lasher stayed connected to the game that shaped his early years. His pro playing career ran from 1960 to 1971, during which he posted a 61-56 record with a 3.24 ERA at all professional levels.

He had some big moments in the minors, too—especially with the Charlotte Hornets in the South Atlantic League back in 1963.

Honors and Remembrances

Lasher’s biggest baseball highlight was being part of the Detroit Tigers’ 1968 World Series championship team. He threw two scoreless innings in Game 4 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Fans in Detroit still remember his role in that magical 1968 season. Radio broadcaster Ernie Harwell once said, “Sound the siren, flash the flasher; here’s our fireman, big Fred Lasher!”

That year, Lasher pulled off a quirky stat—every one of his five wins came in games that ended 5-4 for the Tigers.

His “Whip” nickname stuck because of that sidearm style, and it made him tough for batters at every level throughout his career.

Personal Life and Family

Fred Lasher married Judy Gibbons on August 20, 1962. They held a small ceremony in her parents’ living room in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Together, they raised four children.

He was born as Frederick Walter Lasher Jr. in Poughkeepsie, New York, on August 19, 1941. Even as his baseball career took off, his family stayed close and supported him through his playing days and later years.

Lasher died on February 27, 2022, at age 80. His family gathered around him in his final moments.

People still remember him for his part in the Tigers’ championship team. Honestly, though, those who knew him best probably think of him first as a devoted husband and dad to his four kids.