Fisher was an extremely talented athlete in multiple sports, namely basketball, baseball, and football. His biggest passion, however, was baseball, though it was not without complications, as Fisher is also known as one of the only players to have a lifetime ban reversed in the realm of professional baseball. Due to issues with negotiations, Fisher left the Cincinnati Reds after signing a contract with them and instead accepted the baseball head coach position at the University of Michigan (“Ray Fisher’s Ban”). Since he was still under contract with the Reds, they deemed Fisher ineligible to play and the commissioner upheld the decision by instating a lifetime ban in 1920. This year would be when Fisher pitched his last professional game (Proctor). In 1944, the MLB recognized him for his service to the sport of baseball with a lifetime pass to any of the stadiums, and Fisher took this to mean that the ban was lifted (“Ray Fisher’s Ban”). 

Although the University of Michigan baseball team has been playing in the same space since 1923 (formerly under the name of Ferry Field), only since 1967 has the field been dedicated to the legendary Ray Fisher (“Wilpon Complex”). While in 1930 the stadium was able to hold 18,000 people, as of today the stadium hosts 4,000 spectators with amazing seats. Originally, the stadium had wooden stands and bleachers. The building itself was completed in 1923, but there have been some major changes made since then, including steel stands and a new scoreboard ("Ray Fisher Stadium"). The complex was reopened in 2008 after extensive renovations which cost upward of nine million dollars. This is also when it became a part of the Wilpon complex. 

The Fisher stadium has hosted many important games for the University of Michigan. The first was on April 21, 1923, against the Ohio State baseball team where the Wolverines won 3-2 (“Wilpon Complex”). The stadium has also hosted many Big-Ten Conference games.

The name Raymond is of German descent and means wise protector (“Raymond”). I believe Ray Fisher has lived up to this meaning in every way. Not only did Fisher stand up for himself when he was being underpaid, but he protected his future as well when he became the baseball coach for the Wolverines. Ray Fisher stadium is named after a legend who has shaped UMich baseball in so many ways with memories for kids that become students like me, and many others.

Work Cited

“A Rose by Any Other Name: Ray Fisher's Ban from Baseball.” Jacob Pomrenke, 28 May 2018, https://jacobpomrenke.com/black-sox/a-rose-by-any-other-name-ray-fishers-ban-from-baseball/.

Proctor, Donald J.“The Blacklisting of Baseball’s Ray Fisher.” Society for American Baseball Research, https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-blacklisting-of-baseballs-ray-fisher/.

“Ray Fisher.” Middlebury, https://sites.middlebury.edu/pttp/ray-fisher/.

“Ray Fisher Stadium.” University of Michigan Athletics, 18 June 2000, http://websites.umich.edu/~mgoblue/campusinfo/fisher-stadium.html. 

"Ray Fisher, 95, was Oldest Former Player for Yankees: Obituary." New York Times, Nov 04, 1982. ProQuest, https://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/ray-fisher-95-was-oldest-former-player-yankees/docview/424491572/se-2. 

“Raymond - Baby Name Meaning, Origin, and Popularity.” Nameberry, https://nameberry.com/babyname/raymond.

“Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex: Ray Fisher Stadium.” University of Michigan Athletics, https://mgoblue.com/sports/2017/6/16/facilities-ray-fisher-stadium-html.aspx.