Robert Fick

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Robert Fick
position=First base
team=Free Agent
number=--
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1974|3|15
debutdate=September 19
debutyear=1998
debutteam=Detroit Tigers
statyear=2007
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.258
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=69
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=324
teams=
* Detroit Tigers (by|1998-by|2002)
* Atlanta Braves (by|2003)
* Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|2004)
* San Diego Padres (by|2004-by|2005)
* Washington Nationals (by|2006-by|2007)

Robert Charles Fick (born March 15, 1974 in Torrance, California) is a Major League Baseball first baseman who is currently a free agent. In by|2002, he was named to the American League All-Star Team.

The left-handed batter, who throws right-handed, attended California State University at Northridge. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 5th round of the by|1996 amateur draft.

Fick made his major league debut with the Tigers in by|1998. His breakout season came in by|2001 when he hit a career-best 19 home runs. Fick had another fine offensive year in by|2002. He was named to the American League All-Star Team. In 2002, he also led all major league right fielders in assists, with 21.

Fick signed with the Atlanta Braves for the by|2003 season. He was released at year's end despite setting a career-high with 80 RBI. He has since played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, San Diego Padres, and Washington Nationals, though he has not enjoyed the same success.

Defensively, Fick serves as a utility player. He started his major league career as a catcher, but has since played more games as a first baseman and a corner outfielder. He has a career batting average of .258, with 69 home runs and 324 RBI in 846 games over 10 seasons.

Fick's brush with controversy occurred playing for the Atlanta Braves during the 2003 NLDS, when he ran past first base, slapping the catching arm of Cubs' first baseman Eric Karros just as Karros was catching a throw. He later admitted that it was done intentionally. The Atlanta Braves Manager Bobby Cox fined and benched him. Braves upper management fined him $25,000 and Cox fined him an undisclosed additional amount [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2003/news/story?id=1631185 ESPN - Fick insists 'it's baseball' - MLB ] ] . He was released by the Braves shortly thereafter opening the discussion that the "dirty play" on Karros was partly the reason.

Trivia

* On September 27, by|1999, Fick pounded the final hit of the final game at Detroit's Tiger Stadium, a rooftop grand slam, which was the stadium's 11,111th home run. [ [http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Tiger_Stadium Reference.com] ]
* Fick is a former child actor. During the 1980s, he was an extra in "Cheers", "Who's the Boss?", and "Webster". He also did a Gatorade commercial when he was 13 years old. [ [http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060831&content_id=1638993&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was Notes: Fick hopes to stay with Nats] ]
* Robert Fick was one of the 8 position players still in the line-up at the end of the 2002 All-Star Game (Representing the Detroit Tigers) when it ended in a tie in extra innings.
* A San Diego blogger refers to him as "Moby Fick" and constantly suggests that the Padres miserable '08 season is a result of the "Curse of Moby Fick".

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1824321/ Robert Fick imdb.com]

References