A bullet nearly ended Edward “Champ” Fertsch’s career before it really got started.
Fertsch was born in Moorestown, New Jersey (birthplace incorrectly listed as Reading, PA in Baseball Reference) in 1874. The 5’ 10” 175 pound righthander played with the Carlisle Colts of the Cumberland Valley League in 1895, then pitched for Salisbury in the unaffiliated Peach Tree League in Maryland and Taunton in the New England League—records are incomplete or nonexistent for these seasons.
Fertsch joined the Reading Coal Heavers of the Atlantic League in 1898 and played two seasons, winning 14 games in 1899. In 1900 Fertsch split time between New Castle in the Interstate League and Buffalo Bisons in the then minor league American League. Fertsch’s contract was purchased by the Brooklyn Superbas, but he never had the opportunity to report the following spring.
That fall Fertsch was hunting with a friend, as the friend climbed a fence his gun discharged and Fertsch was hit the left arm. Initially the arm was to be amputated, but Fertsch implored doctors to save it.
Assuming his career was over Brooklyn released Fertsch, but he sufficiently recovered to rejoin the Coal Heavers for the 1901 season.
According to the Reading Eagle “Fertsch cannot use the limb very well in delivering or batting, but it does not seem to hinder his twirling.”
“Champ” Fertsch
No records survive for the 1901 season, but Fertsch pitched well enough coming off the shooting to earn another shot in the Eastern League; splitting time with the Providence Grays and the Jersey City Skeeters Fertsch posted a 17-11 record.
Fertsch remained in the Eastern League for the next four seasons (no statistics survive for 1902 or ‘03), after 9-10 and 11-14 seasons in 1904 and ’05, Fertsch played the next four seasons with the Lancaster Red Roses and Reading Pretzels in the Tri-State League.
Again no complete records are available for those years, but Fertsch was frequently referred to in the Eagle as Reading’s and the Tri-State’s “Highest paid professional ballplayer.”
Fertsch was plagued by arm injuries after returning to the Tri-State and retired at the close of the 1909 season. He became an umpire in the Tri-State League in 1910, but only served for one season because of a league rule change which no longer allowed umpires to be residents of one of the Tri-State club’s cities.
Fertsch again attempted to pitch for Reading in 1911, but only appeared in one game.
After baseball Fertsch was considered one the best bowlers in Pennsylvania.
He died in Reading in 1964.
Baseball History Daily 