Wilbur Fisher photo findagrave contributed by Gordon Brett Echols

Pittsburgh Post, Sporting Section, 2 June 1916, page 12

Stepping right into the vacancy on the Pirates’ 21-player-limit roster vacated yesterday by one O. Knabe of Beltzhoover, who was decorated with the Iron Cross for his superhuman exertions on the second-base sector, is one Wilbur Fisher, a college youth, who was captured while enjoying a state of comparative freedom in the outfield of the Marshall College nine of Huntington, W.Va.

As usual, Pittsburgh was apprised of adding a Pirate to the roster through a press dispatch of the addition of a Pirate to the roster through a press dispatch from that vast domain generally known as “out-of-town.” The wire was date-lined Huntington and contained the intelligence that Scout Chick Frasher of the Buccos had put the irons on Fisher after a desperate struggle there yesterday afternoon.

Also, it was noted that Fisher has been the mainstay in the outfield and at bad of the Marshall College, nine, West Virginia state champions last season, and this: that he has been hitting. .450 during the present season, and that he is ranked as the premier college outfielder in the state of West Virginia. Furthermore, he will report to Callahan in New York tomorrow morning.

Performing our obvious duty of “following up” on the above news items, we instructed our telephone operator to “page B. Dreyfuss” while we got something up on it for the second edition. When we got the owner of the Pirates on the phone and retailed our bit of information, he exclaimed:

“Is that so?”

Then, demonstrating that it’s werry, werry hard to disturb the mental equilibrium of a baseball magnate, he continued,”

“Well, it doesn’t surprise me at all. In fact, I believe Fraser has been trying to sign him up, but I don’t know whether he put it over or not. For the last while, we’ve been having some of our news sources look him over, and I’ve been told that he’s a pretty fair prospect.”

Fisher a Big Fellow

Then the Colonel dived deeper into his memory, where the physical peculiarity of a mob of players is stored, and related that:

“Fisher is a big fellow. He stands 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 185, is 23 years old, is rated as a fast man, throws, bats, and eats left-handed.”

(As no story about a new Pirate conforms to standard unless the above measurements are given, we give them space simply to keep from setting a precedent.)

The colonel declared that Fisher has had more experience than that gained while covering center field for Marshall College. If Barney’s “info” is correct, Fisher is a strict amateur in that he has never been caught but has dallied with professional ball. This was done, apparently, under an assumed name, and no blame attaches to Marshall College other than that its eligibility committee is easier to fool than the Boss Pirate.

For, as the colonel went on to relate, Fisher was playing ball in a little league when a Pirate scout got a look at him. But his name wasn’t Fisher then. Then, the secret service men lost track of him for a space, only to discover that there was a lad in college ball who resembled Mr. Minor Leaguer in many respects. As the little league is some distance from Huntington, Fisher got away with it. Fisher is an Ohioan, by the way, and not to be blamed for sundry little idiosyncrasies.

He’s An Ohioan

Anyhow, the Bucs got him, but whether they forced him under the yoke by threatening to expose his past or not, we don’t know. Anyhow, between them, they knocked a crater in the Marshall College outfield, but not until it walloped the State University in a few games.

And the Pirates have gained a little weight on the far end of the bench, so everybody, apparently, should be satisfied but Fisher.

Pittsburgh Post, 19 June 1916, page 10
“Wilbur Fisher, the recruit outfielder, was tried out in the central portion of the pasture, and he made a very desirable impression. He had two clean hits and stole a base. The real feature for the fans, of course, was the appearance of Hans Wagner. Notwithstanding the bad weather, a good crowd turned out.”

The Pittsburgh Post, 5 June 1916, page 11
“Move number 2 was the acquisition of Wilbur Fisher, the young outfielder from Marshall College, WV. Fisher is reported as being a real find, and indications are that he will be given a tryout at once in the Buccaneer outer garden.”

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 27 June 1916, page 10
Wilbur Fisher’s Release Makes Room for New Pirate
Wilbur Fisher, the young Marshall (WV) College outfielder, who was signed by the Pirates recently, has been given his unconditional release. Manager Callahan decided the young man was not ripe for major league work, and was unable to place him advantageously in the minors, so he was given his unconditional freedom. He lives at Chesapeake, Ohio, and may catch on in the Ohio State League.

Lawrence County, Ohio, Marriage Book 26, page 348