1976 Topps #467 - Woodie Fryman

• Woodie Fryman had a long career, pitching from 1966-1983. Fryman was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1965. Woodie was in the minors for only one year (1965). Fryman made the Pirates ballclub in 1966 as a 26-year-old rookie and was 12-9 with a 3.81 ERA in 28 starts. Woodie had shaved three years off of his age before signing with the Pirates. He told them he was born in 1943 when he was actually born in 1940. The scout who signed Fryman didn't think they would be interested in a 26-year-old prospect.
• Woodie missed some time in 1967 (one three-week period and a couple of two-week periods). He was 3-8 with a 4.05 ERA in 28 games (18 starts). After the 1967 season Fryman was included in a trade to the Philadelphia Phillies that sent Jim Bunning to the Pirates.
• Fryman made the NL All Star team for the first time in 1968 (he didn't get in the game). He was 12-14 with a 2.78 ERA in 32 starts. In 1969 Fryman's ERA jumped to 4.41 and he went 12-15 in 35 starts.
• Woodie missed the entire month of August in 1970 and was 8-6 with a 4.09 ERA in 29 games (20 starts). Fryman was a swingman in 1971, pitching in a total of 37 games and making 17 starts. He went 10-7 with a 3.38 ERA in '71.
• Fryman started the 1972 season with the Phillies, who were wretched that year. Woodie was 4-10 in 17 starts when he was placed on waivers on August 2 and claimed by the Detroit Tigers. The pickup worked out well for the Tigers as Fryman went 10-3 with a 2.06 ERA in 14 starts down the stretch. The Tigers won the AL East (Fryman beat Luis Tiant in the deciding game) but the magic ran out in the postseason. Woodie started twice in the ALCS and lost both games.
• Woodie had one of his toughest seasons in 1973. He went 6-13 with a 5.36 ERA in 29 starts. He did better in 1974 as he was 6-9 with a 4.32 ERA for the last place Tigers. After the 1974 season Fryman was traded to the Montreal Expos for Terry Humphrey and Tom Walker.
• Fryman had two good years for the struggling Expos. In 1975 Woodie was 9-12 with three saves and a 3.32 ERA in 38 games (20 starts). Fryman went to the All Star Game in 1976 but didn't get into the game. He went 13-13 with two saves and a 3.37 ERA in 34 games (32 starts). After the 1976 season Woodie and Dale Murray were traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Tony Perez and Will McEnaney.
• Woodie retired in the middle of the 1977 season and didn't pitch after July 5. He ended up 5-5 with a 5.38 ERA in 17 games (12 starts). After the 1977 season Woodie changed his mind about retirement. Fryman and Bill Caudill were traded to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Bonham.
• Fryman didn't stay with the Cubs for very long. He was 2-4 in nine starts on June 9 when he was traded back to the Expos for Jerry White. Woodie went 5-7 with a 3.61 ERA for the Expos to finish the 1978 season.
• In 1979 Woodie was moved to the bullpen. He pitched exclusively in relief for the rest of his career. Fryman went 3-6 with 10 saves and a 2.79 ERA in 44 games in 1979.
• Woodie had another good year in 1980 (7-4, 17 saves, 2.25 ERA in 61 games). He also pitched well in 1981 (5-3, 7 saves, 1.88 ERA in 35 games). Fryman made one appearance in the NLDS and one appearance in the NLCS but got hammered both times.
• Fryman's last full season was 1982. He was 9-4 with 12 saves but his ERA went up to 3.75. Woodie appeared in six games in 1983 (one game in April and five games in July) and was 0-3 with a 21.00 ERA. Woodie was released at the age of 43 after the 1983 season.
• Fryman ran a tobacco farm during his pitching career and ran the farm full-time after his retirement from baseball.
• Here is a "where are they now" article from 2008.
• Liked to face: Terry Puhl (.000 in 19 AB); Dick Dietz (.091 in 22 AB); Maury Wills (.109 in 46 AB)
• Hated to face: Amos Otis (.625 in 16 AB); Jose Pagan (.545 in 22 AB); Roberto Clemente (.472 in 36 AB)