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

Fred Newman’s baseball career wrapped up in 1967 after six seasons with the Los Angeles and California Angels. His story really captures both the promise and challenges that defined so many pitchers from that era.

Born Frederick William Newman on February 21, 1942, this right-handed pitcher flashed real brilliance at times, especially during those standout seasons in 1964 and 1965.

Newman finished his career with 33 wins and 39 losses in 108 games. He started 93 of those games for the Angels between 1962 and 1967.

His journey through pro baseball showed the talent and grit it took to reach the majors. The physical toll of pitching could end even the most promising careers early.

From his early days as an amateur to his final season, Newman’s career offers a look into the Angels’ early years and what pitchers faced in the changing world of 1960s baseball.

His story includes his best runs on the mound and the arm issues that led to his exit from the game at just 25.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Frederick William Newman came into the world on February 21, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts. He went to Brookline High School, where his pitching caught the eyes of pro scouts.

After graduating in 1960, Newman signed with the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent.

Family Background

Fred Newman grew up around Boston in the ’40s and ’50s. His full name was Frederick William Newman, and his family supported his love for baseball.

The Newmans lived in Massachusetts through Fred’s childhood, right in the heart of New England baseball country. Growing up so close to Fenway Park, he probably got to see pro baseball up close.

We don’t know much about his parents or siblings. Still, it’s clear his family backed his baseball dreams as a teenager.

That support turned out to be crucial as he developed the skills that would eventually put him on pro teams’ radar.

Brookline High School Achievements

Newman played ball at Brookline High School, where he really honed his pitching. The school’s baseball program gave him a solid foundation for the future.

During high school, Newman made a name for himself as a talented right-handed pitcher. College recruiters and pro scouts both noticed his performances.

His pitching at Brookline impressed enough that Major League teams started to take an interest. That fastball and his control? Teams wanted to see more.

By his senior year, Newman was one of the top high school pitchers in the Boston area. Consistency and potential made him a strong candidate for a pro contract.

Signing With the Red Sox

Right after finishing high school in 1960, Newman signed with the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent. That was his first big step into pro baseball.

The Red Sox saw his potential and offered him a contract. As an amateur free agent, Newman could pick which team to join after graduation.

He spent a season in the Red Sox minor league system in 1960. But his time with the Boston organization was short.

The expansion draft before the 1961 season changed everything for him.

The Los Angeles Angels grabbed Newman in the expansion draft, pulling him away from Boston. That move set the course for the rest of his career, as he’d spend all six of his big-league seasons with the Angels.

Path to the Major Leagues

Frederick William Newman started his pro journey with the Red Sox in 1960, but an unexpected twist in the expansion draft changed everything. The Los Angeles Angels picked Newman for their very first roster, and that set up his entire MLB career with just one team.

Minor League Development

Newman kicked off his pro career in 1960 when the Boston Red Sox signed him at 18. They sent the young righty to the Class D New York-Penn League for his first taste of organized ball.

His first minor league season? It was tough. Newman struggled with control and consistency, ending up with a rough 4-14 record.

His 4.08 ERA showed he had the usual growing pains teenage pitchers face when jumping to pro ball.

The Red Sox took a good look at Newman during this period. Even with his raw talent, they made a big call—they didn’t protect him for the expansion draft.

MLB Expansion Draft Selection

The 1960 Major League Baseball expansion draft opened doors for players like Newman who weren’t on protected lists. The Los Angeles Angels, one of two new teams in the American League, needed to build their roster from scratch.

Newman caught the Angels’ eye during the draft. They picked him with the 53rd overall selection, giving the young righty a fresh start.

That pick changed everything for Newman. The Angels offered a much clearer path to the big leagues than he ever would’ve had in Boston’s system.

The new team needed young arms to grow alongside the vets they picked up from other teams.

Transition to the Angels Organization

The Angels gave Newman a fast track in their farm system. As an expansion team, they invested in young pitchers who could develop with them.

Newman spent 1961 refining his skills in the Angels’ minor league system. The team worked with him on command and building up his pitch arsenal.

He made enough progress to get noticed for a major league call-up.

By 1962, Newman had developed enough for the Angels to bring him up to the big leagues. He’d spend his entire six-year MLB career there.

His story, from unprotected Red Sox prospect to Angels pitcher, shows how expansion teams could spot and develop overlooked talent.

MLB Debut and Early Seasons

Newman’s shot at the majors came in 1962 when the Los Angeles Angels called him up. His first two seasons came with the usual ups and downs of a young pitcher learning to face big league hitters.

But in 1963, things started to click.

Debut With the Los Angeles Angels

Fred Newman made his big-league debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 1962. The Angels were still new themselves, having started just two years earlier.

He first came out of the bullpen. Jumping from the minors to the majors was a big leap for the young right-hander.

That rookie season, Newman pitched in 15 games for the Angels and struggled to find his footing against major league hitters.

The Angels mostly used him in relief that year. His ERA was high as he worked to adjust to the tougher competition.

Newman’s rookie stats showed the usual rookie struggles. He walked too many hitters and had trouble commanding his fastball.

Initial Major League Performance

Newman’s early days in the majors had some promise but also showed where he needed to improve. His 1962 season ended with mixed results.

Control issues popped up right away. He walked too many batters and struggled when the pressure was on.

His fastball velocity impressed coaches and teammates, but his secondary pitches needed work.

His strikeout rate in those early years wasn’t great. He had to figure out how to finish off hitters with two strikes.

The Angels coaching staff worked with him on his mechanics and focused on helping him get better control of his breaking ball.

Improvements in 1963

The 1963 season was a real turning point. Newman started to command his pitches better and his overall performance improved.

His ERA dropped a lot compared to his rookie year. He walked fewer batters as he learned to control the strike zone.

The Angels gave him more chances in 1963. Newman appeared in 32 games and logged way more innings than in his first year.

His strikeout numbers climbed as he got more confident with his curveball. He started using those secondary pitches more in big spots.

The young pitcher’s progress got the attention of Angels management. They began to see him as a candidate for a bigger role on the staff.

Newman’s 1963 performance made him a reliable bullpen arm. His development suggested he could become a real asset to the pitching corps.

Peak Career With the Angels

Fred Newman hit his stride with the California Angels in the mid-1960s, especially in 1964 and 1965. Those years, he really showed he could be a reliable starter who pitched deep into games and gave the young franchise stability.

1964 and 1965 Standout Seasons

Newman broke out in 1964 with a 13-10 record and a 2.75 ERA. That was a huge step up from his earlier seasons and made him a key part of the Angels’ rotation.

He threw 190 innings in 32 games that year, starting 28 times. His 83 strikeouts and strong control helped him keep up the consistency.

In 1965, Newman had his best season. He went 14-16, even though the team struggled, and kept a solid 2.93 ERA. That was the peak of his career.

He pitched a career-high 260.2 innings in 1965, starting all 36 games he appeared in. Newman struck out 109 batters, also a personal best, and showed real durability.

Complete Games and Shutouts

Pitching deep into games became one of Newman’s trademarks during his best years. In 1964, he finished seven games out of 28 starts, showing he had the stamina to go the distance.

The 1965 season was even better—Newman completed 10 games, the most in his career. That kind of durability was a big deal for the Angels’ staff.

He threw two shutouts in both 1964 and 1965, for a total of four during his best stretch. Those games showed he could dominate opposing lineups when he was on.

His complete game totals really reflect that different era of baseball, when starters were expected to finish what they started. Newman fit right in with that mindset.

Key Contributions to the Team

During those peak years, Newman gave the Angels steady innings and consistent performances. His low ERAs in 1964 and 1965 helped keep the young franchise on track.

He made 64 starts over those two seasons, showing the Angels could count on him as a rotation anchor.

His strikeout numbers improved, too. The 192 Ks he racked up in 1964 and 1965 made up almost 76% of his career total of 254.

Newman’s work during this time helped the Angels stay competitive in the American League. His contributions came when the franchise was still finding its way, making him a pretty important figure in team history.

Pitching Style and Statistical Highlights

Fred Newman spent six seasons with the Los Angeles/California Angels from 1962 to 1967. He worked as a dependable right-handed starting pitcher and finished with a 33-39 win-loss record, a 3.41 ERA, and 254 strikeouts in 108 games.

Pitching Techniques and Strengths

Newman, a right-hander standing 6-3 and weighing 180 pounds, used his build to get good leverage on the mound.

He served mainly as a starting pitcher. Out of his 108 games, he started 93, which showed the team trusted him to handle a big workload.

His pitching style leaned on control and consistency more than pure velocity. Newman focused on getting batters out with location and movement.

The Angels really valued his durability. When his command was on, he could pitch deep into games.

He made his final appearance on August 5, 1967, against Washington. Newman lasted 1.2 innings, giving up 3 hits and 4 earned runs with 1 walk.

Win–Loss Record and ERA Analysis

Newman wrapped up his career with 33 wins and 39 losses, giving him a .458 winning percentage. Pitching for an expansion team in its early days made wins hard to come by.

He posted a 3.41 earned run average, which was pretty solid for the 1960s. That ERA put him among the more respectable pitchers of his time.

Newman’s 1967 season was rough. He only pitched in 3 games and got shelled at home, putting up a 21.60 ERA in just 1.2 innings.

Things looked better for him on the road in 1967. He managed a 2.14 ERA over 4.2 innings in 2 away games.

That gap between his home and road stats in his last season really showed how inconsistent he’d become near the end.

Strikeouts and Innings Pitched

Over six seasons, Newman collected 254 strikeouts. That’s about 42 strikeouts per year, which isn’t eye-popping but not bad for the era.

He pitched a decent number of innings as a regular starter. The Angels often leaned on him to chew up innings for their rotation.

Newman didn’t rack up a ton of strikeouts, but that was pretty normal back then. He preferred to get ground balls and let his defense work instead of just trying to blow hitters away.

In 1967, he barely pitched—just 6.1 innings in 3 games. That was a huge drop from the workload he’d handled earlier in his career.

Newman could throw complete games when he was at his best. Back then, starters were expected to finish what they started a lot more often than today.

Final Baseball Seasons and Retirement

Fred Newman’s career started to slip in the mid-1960s. Arm problems really took a toll, and by his last years with the California Angels, he barely got on the field. He tried to make a comeback in the minors, but it just didn’t work out.

Arm Injuries and Decline

Newman’s career took a bad turn in 1966 because of arm troubles. He’d led the Angels in games started and innings pitched in 1965, but then things fell apart.

He put up a disappointing 4-7 record in 1966. The team dropped him down in the rotation, behind Dean Chance and left-handers George Brunet and Marcelino Lopez.

Those arm issues made it impossible for Newman to stay consistent like he had before. It was a huge shift from his strong 1964 and 1965 seasons, when he won in double digits both years.

Final MLB Appearances in 1966–1967

Newman’s last big league season came in 1967, and he barely played. He got into just three games in late July and early August. Those were his final appearances in a six-year MLB career.

The Angels mostly kept Newman in the minors in 1967. He bounced around between their triple-A, double-A, and even class A teams, trying to fight through his arm problems.

After the 1967 season, Newman’s major league career was over. He’d appeared in 108 games—93 of those as a starter—with 254 strikeouts, 154 walks, and 589 hits allowed in 610 innings.

Retirement After Minor League Attempts

After leaving the majors, Newman still tried to get back by pitching in the minors. He spent 1968 with the Angels’ AA and AAA teams.

At triple-A Seattle in 1968, he played with guys like Jim Bouton, Jim Coates, Jack Hamilton, and Jay Johnstone. Even with all that experience around him, Newman couldn’t make it back to the big leagues.

Newman’s professional baseball career ended after the 1968 season. There’s no real evidence he played after that, no matter what some old baseball cards say about him showing up with Louisville’s AAA team in 1969. In the end, those arm issues from 1966 just wouldn’t let him keep going.

Post-Baseball Life and Legacy

After stepping away from baseball in 1967, Frederick William Newman switched gears and became a firefighter. He died in 1987. His impact on the Los Angeles Angels during their early years stuck with the franchise and its fans.

Career as a Firefighter

Once his playing days ended, Newman jumped into public service as a firefighter. It was a big change from pro sports to public safety.

He brought that same commitment to firefighting that he’d shown on the mound. The job’s physical demands and teamwork probably felt familiar after six seasons with the Angels.

Newman’s work as a firefighter showed what kind of person he was, not just as a ballplayer. A lot of athletes struggle to find something meaningful after sports, but he found a way to help others.

The discipline and mental toughness he learned from baseball definitely helped him in his new career. Both jobs called for quick thinking and working well with a team under pressure.

Death and Remembrance

Frederick William Newman passed away on June 24, 1987, in Framingham. He was only 45.

His death came twenty years after his last big league game. Newman had been born on February 21, 1942, so he was still pretty young.

Old teammates and coworkers from both baseball and firefighting felt his loss. He’d stayed connected to the baseball world even after hanging up his glove.

It’s tough when someone goes in what should be their middle years. For folks who knew him, it made his passing feel especially sad.

Legacy Among Angels Fans

Newman’s role with the early Los Angeles Angels is still part of the team’s story. Those 33 wins and 39 losses over six years were solid for a young franchise.

Fans remember him best for his 1964 and 1965 seasons. Back then, he showed real promise as a starter, with a good sinker and sharp control.

Even though arm problems cut his career short, Newman’s early success helped lay the foundation for the Angels. His 254 career strikeouts proved he could get hitters out.

He was there when the team changed from the Los Angeles Angels to the California Angels. Newman experienced that shift firsthand, making him a part of a key chapter in team history.

Historical Records and Reference Sources

You can find Fred Newman’s career stats in a bunch of baseball databases. Baseball-Reference.com has a full rundown of his six years with the Angels, and other sites add more detail about his journey.

Baseball Reference Statistics

Baseball-Reference.com lists all of Fred Newman’s numbers. He went 33-39 in 108 games from 1962 to 1967.

His best years are easy to spot. In 1964, Newman went 13-10 with a 2.75 ERA over 190 innings. The next season, he finished 14-16 with a 2.93 ERA in 260.2 innings.

The site shows his career totals: 254 strikeouts, 154 walks, and a 3.41 ERA. You’ll also find his birth (February 21, 1942, Boston, MA) and death (June 24, 1987, Framingham, MA) details.

Baseball-Reference tracks his fielding stats too. Newman had 159 assists and 52 putouts, with a .963 fielding percentage.

Retrosheet and Archival Data

Retrosheet keeps game-by-game records that add to Baseball-Reference’s season stats. These archives show exactly how Newman did in each MLB game.

They list his debut on September 16, 1962, against Detroit. His last game came on August 5, 1967, against Washington, where he pitched 1.2 innings.

Retrosheet helps researchers see Newman’s patterns from game to game. His busiest seasons were 1964 and 1965, when he pitched in 32 and 36 games.

These archives trace Newman’s career path. He started as a rookie reliever, became a starter, and then struggled once arm issues hit in 1966.

Recognition in Baseball History

Fred Newman gets only a little recognition in baseball history, mostly because his career was short and his achievements were pretty modest.

You’ll find his name in the Angels franchise records, tied to those early years when the team was still finding its feet in Los Angeles and California.

Some baseball historians point out Newman’s potential, especially during his best seasons in 1964 and 1965.

He had a solid sinker and good control, and people mentioned those skills in team histories and old player profiles.

Sites like The Baseball Cube keep Newman’s stats alive, right there with thousands of other players.

His six seasons put him in that group of guys who flashed some promise but, for whatever reason, just couldn’t keep it going.

If you’re curious, you can still find Newman’s stats in a bunch of baseball databases.

He never made it to the Hall of Fame, but his records still add a little something to the story of 1960s baseball.