:Van Fletcher
{{Short description|American baseball player (1924–2010)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Van Fletcher
|position=Pitcher
|image=Van Fletcher.jpg
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date|1924|8|6}}
|birth_place=East Bend, North Carolina
|death_date={{death date and age|2010|3|17|1924|8|6}}
|death_place=Yadkinville, North Carolina
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 12
|debutyear=1955
|debutteam=Detroit Tigers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 30
|finalyear=1955
|finalteam=Detroit Tigers
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=Win–loss record
|stat1value=0–0
|stat2label=Earned run average
|stat2value=3.00
|stat3label=Strikeouts
|stat3value=4
|stat4label=Innings pitched
|stat4value=12
|teams=
- Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|1955}})
|birth_name=Alfred Vanoide Fletcher}}
Alfred Vanoide Fletcher (August 6, 1924 – March 17, 2010) was an American professional baseball player. The right-handed pitcher appeared in nine games for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball in 1955. He stood {{convert|6|ft|2|in}} tall and weighed {{convert|185|lb}}.
Early life
Fletcher was born in East Bend, North Carolina, in 1924.{{Cite web |title=Van Fletcher, 85; Was Pitcher for 1955 Detroit Tigers |url=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.obituaries/c/JbLmvahTCIA?pli=1 |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=groups.google.com |publisher=The Winston-Salem Journal}} His parents were Wesley E. and Rhett Fletcher. He volunteered for the United States Army and fought in World War II in the European Theater of Operations.[http://baseballinwartime.com/those_who_served/those_who_served_atoz.htm "Those Who Served, A–Z," Baseball in Wartime.com]
Career
After the war, Fletcher was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals' organization. Beginning in 1949, he played for several minor league baseball teams, including the Elkin Blanketeers, Vancouver Capilanos, and Seattle Rainiers. In August 1954, the Detroit Tigers acquired him from the Rainiers.
In nine games (all in relief during the opening six weeks of the 1955 season) and 12 full innings pitched, he allowed 13 hits, two bases on balls, and ten runs—but only four were earned. He struck out four. He did not record a decision.
After spending the 1957 season with the Birmingham Barons, Fletcher retired from baseball. He returned to Yadkin County where he worked as a building contractor in the Winston-Salem and Yadkinville areas. He also farmed tobacco for many years.
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Baseballstats|br=f/fletcva01|brm=fletch001alf}}
- [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/F/Pfletv101.htm Retrosheet – major league statistics]
- [http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/winstonsalem/obituary.aspx?n=vanoide-fletcher&pid=140898742 Obituary]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fletcher, Van}}
Category:Amarillo Gold Sox players
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
Category:Baseball players from North Carolina
Category:Birmingham Barons players
Category:Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
Category:Charleston Senators players
Category:Detroit Tigers players
Category:Elkin Blanketeers players
Category:Little Rock Travelers players
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Montgomery Rebels players
Category:People from East Bend, North Carolina
Category:Seattle Rainiers players
Category:Tyler Trojans players