Carmen Fanzone

Who is Carmen Fanzone?

Carmen Ronald Fanzone is a former utility man who played between 1970 and 1974 in Major League Baseball. Listed at 6 ft 0 in, 200 lb., he batted and threw right-handed. Fanzone was a versatile and effective utility man who was able to play all four infield positions, left field and right field, playing mainly as a third baseman.

Fanzone was signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Red Sox in 1964, spending seven years at different minor league levels before joining the big team in 1970. As a rookie, he hit .200 in 10 games. Then, he was dealt by Boston to the Chicago Cubs before the 1971 season in the same transaction that brought Phil Gagliano to the Red Sox. His most productive season came with the 1972 Cubs, when he posted career-numbers in games, home runs, RBI and runs. Carmen is known for catching the last out in Milt Pappas no-hitter on September 2, 1972 when Gary Jestadt of the Padres popped out to him. He appeared in 227 games with Chicago, mostly in pinch-hit duties, and did not return to the majors after the 1974 season. He also is one of three players in Cubs history to hit a home run in consecutive pinch-hit at bats. The others are Dale Long and Darrin Jackson.