Contender: Triumph, Tragedy and Canadian Baseball Player Harry Fisher

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.

During Harry's time there, Groucho Marx kibitzed with the players on the Hollywood bench after batting practice. He played against the legendary pitcher Stan Musial, and with World Series winning pitcher Vernon (Deacon) Law, who spoke to me about him. In one of his last interviews, the late catcher, broadcaster and raconteur Joe Garagiola told me 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. In sports, trying your best has a dark side, as you set yourself up for failure. Is the glory worth the price?