Jack Fournier

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=darkblue
bgcolor2=maroon
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Jack Fournier


position=First base
birthdate=September 28, 1889
city-state|Au Sable|Michigan
deathdate=death date and age|1973|9|5|1889|9|28
city-state|Tacoma|Washington
bats=Left
throws=Right
debutdate=April 13
debutyear=1912
debutteam=Chicago White Sox
finaldate=October 2
finalyear=1927
finalteam=Boston Braves
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.313
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=136
stat3label=RBI
stat3value=859
teams=
*Chicago White Sox (1912–1917)
*New York Yankees (1918)
*St. Louis Cardinals (1920-1922)
*Brooklyn Robins (1923-1926)
*Boston Braves (1927)
highlights=
*League leader in home runs: 1924 (27)
*League leader in walks: 1925 (86)

John Frank "Jack" Fournier (September 28 1889 – September 5 1973) was a first baseman in Major League Baseball.

Purchased by the White Sox from the Red Sox in 1912, Fournier presented Clarence "Pants" Rowland, and a half-dozen other managers, with the dilemma of what to do with this inept-fielding pure hitter. Rowland solved that problem in 1916, a year after Fournier had led the AL in slugging, by replacing him at first base with the marginal Jack Ness. Keep in mind that before 1920, a first baseman was one of the key fielding positions because of the constant threat of the bunt. Fournier proved time and time again, that he could simply not field the bunt with any degree of competence. Thus the quick exit from teams despite the fat batting numbers he could put up.

Fournier hit .350 for the Yankees in limited duty in by|1918 before they passed him off to the Cardinals. Fournier led NL first basemen with 25 errors in by|1920. After three productive years in St. Louis, Fournier was dealt to Brooklyn on February 15, 1923. Fournier said he would quit the game rather than leave St. Louis, but he ended his holdout and reported to the Dodgers. Fournier had found his spot, among an offensive unit that included Zack Wheat, Milt Stock, and Zack Taylor. He turned in a six-for-six performance on June 29 of that year, hit .351, and made a league-high 21 errors. In 1924 Fournier led the NL with 27 HR, and in 1925 was second to Rogers Hornsby with 130 RBI.

He hit 136 career home runs in 14 seasons while rapping .313 with a .393 on-base percentage. He also racked up three straight seasons with 20+ home runs, 20+ doubles, a .400 or higher on-base percentage, a .330 plus batting average, and 90+ runs.

Born in AuSable, Michigan, he played for the Chicago White Sox (1912-1917), New York Yankees, (1918), St. Louis Cardinals, (1920-1922), Brooklyn Robins, (1923-1926), and Boston Braves (1927).

He ranks number 449 on the all-time list of home run leaders.

ee also

* Top 500 home run hitters of all time
* List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
* List of Major League Baseball home run champions
* Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game
* Chicago White Sox all-time roster

External links

*baseball-reference|id=f/fournja01