Veteran catcher Eddie Fitzpatrick retires

June 29, 2005 - Central Baseball League (Central League)
Edinburg Roadrunners News Release


The 2004 Central Baseball League Champion Edinburg Roadrunners are announcing today the retirement of catcher Eddie Fitzpatrick. This is the second time Fitzpatrick has retired mid-season. In 2003 Fitzpatrick retired after playing in just 22 games for the Roadrunners. Fitzpatrick came out of retirement for the 2004 season and helped lead the Roadrunners to a Central League Championship. In 43 games played this season Fitzpatrick was hitting a career low .145 with two home runs and nine runs batted in. Fitzpatrick informed Field Manager Vince Moore of his decision before the June 28th game against the Coastal Bend Aviators. No one has been signed yet to replace Fitzpatrick on the roster. Rookie Matt Eichel will start behind the plate for the time being.

Fitzpatrick hit just .226 last season for the Roadrunners with two homers and 31 runs batted in, but came up huge in clutch situations for the team playing in 80 of the 96 regular season games. Fitzpatrick though was an extraordinary defensive catcher, helping the Roadrunner pitchers achieve a league low ERA of 3.13. Fitzpatrick also had a cannon of an arm from behind the plate as he threw out 35% of would be base-stealers in 2004 leading the Central League catchers who caught more than 10 games. During the season his percentage was as high as 45%

Fitzpatrick, 30, was born in San Pedro, CA and is now a resident of Henderson, TN. He played his college ball for Freed Hardeman in Tennessee, where he played with former Roadrunner DH Pat O'Sullivan. Fitzpatrick spent a year in the Phillies organization before moving on to independent baseball. He is no stranger to the Rio Grande Valley as he spent his first two full indy seasons with the now defunct Rio Grande Valley Whitewings. 2005 will be Fitzpatrick's ninth in professional baseball and third with the Roadrunners.

The Edinburg Roadrunners are a member of the Central Baseball League, an independent league located throughout four southern states. The league is in its 12th season and its fourth under its current name. Teams are located in Edinburg (TX), San Angelo (TX), Robstown (TX), Ft. Worth (TX), El Paso (TX), Shreveport, (LA), Jackson (MS), and Pensacola (FL). The CBL plays a 94 game schedule between May and August 2005.



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