Search the StreetKidsSoftball.com
database!
database!
Lanny Fisher Retires
One of the best pure hitters in the Midwest steps down from
competitive softball.
One of the best pure hitters in the Midwest steps down from
competitive softball.
Buchanan, MI 10/22/09
by TJ Jorgensen, SKS
I remember when I met Lanny Fisher. It was 1997 and
his softball team - coached by his father, Al Fisher, the
Hall of Fame coach who introduced me to the game of
softball - was playing in a tournament in Coloma,
Michigan. He was on the mound, where he stood for
over 20 years in the sport his father raised him to love,
and in the middle of this particular game, I noticed he
was in a conversation with the home plate umpire,
the late John Pomeroy, right in the area between the
mound and the plate. I thought it odd, seeing that it
was right during the middle of the inning. The batter was leaning on his bat, waiting for the
circus to end, and Lanny was trying to convince Pomeroy, a 30-year veteran umpire, that
the strike zone is a certain area across the body.
"Who is this clown," I asked the tournament director Ray Steadmon. "Why he is ripping
apart your umpire?"
Ray's answer would be the same answer I found myself saying for the last several years,
and in the same tone... "Oh. (frowns, lowers his voice) That's Lanny."
I sat in the stands and watched this man who thought he was the greatest gift to the world of
Coloma Softball, and as he walked back to the mound smiling at his players, he turned and
said to Pomeroy "after the game, you and I will sit down and I will offer you some tutoring
so you can become even better the next time you have my game."
Everyone laughed hysterically, the other team called him a ton of names, something I believe
he was used to in his career. I told Al Fisher after the game that I had to meet his son and I
will never forget the introduction, because I saw it recently again when I found myself
introducing him to a young player last year.
by TJ Jorgensen, SKS
I remember when I met Lanny Fisher. It was 1997 and
his softball team - coached by his father, Al Fisher, the
Hall of Fame coach who introduced me to the game of
softball - was playing in a tournament in Coloma,
Michigan. He was on the mound, where he stood for
over 20 years in the sport his father raised him to love,
and in the middle of this particular game, I noticed he
was in a conversation with the home plate umpire,
the late John Pomeroy, right in the area between the
mound and the plate. I thought it odd, seeing that it
was right during the middle of the inning. The batter was leaning on his bat, waiting for the
circus to end, and Lanny was trying to convince Pomeroy, a 30-year veteran umpire, that
the strike zone is a certain area across the body.
"Who is this clown," I asked the tournament director Ray Steadmon. "Why he is ripping
apart your umpire?"
Ray's answer would be the same answer I found myself saying for the last several years,
and in the same tone... "Oh. (frowns, lowers his voice) That's Lanny."
I sat in the stands and watched this man who thought he was the greatest gift to the world of
Coloma Softball, and as he walked back to the mound smiling at his players, he turned and
said to Pomeroy "after the game, you and I will sit down and I will offer you some tutoring
so you can become even better the next time you have my game."
Everyone laughed hysterically, the other team called him a ton of names, something I believe
he was used to in his career. I told Al Fisher after the game that I had to meet his son and I
will never forget the introduction, because I saw it recently again when I found myself
introducing him to a young player last year.
"Son, this is TJ, the young man I was telling you about," said the
senior Fisher to Lanny who was kneeling down tying his shoe.
Without waiting for him to get up, I said it was nice to meet him.
His answer was a classic answer that I will never forget.
"I'm Lanny. I'm the player you want to be when you grow up."
____________________________________________
Lanny Fisher grew up in the softball household of Allen and
Donna Fisher. Al spent most of his life building the Buchanan
Softball program to the way you see it today, complete with the
field named after him. His father always expected the best out
of his four kids - Lanny, Mike, Missy and Lindy - but Lanny
had the extra desire to be more, to follow in the footsteps of his
father in the game he slaved over until his death in 2006.
senior Fisher to Lanny who was kneeling down tying his shoe.
Without waiting for him to get up, I said it was nice to meet him.
His answer was a classic answer that I will never forget.
"I'm Lanny. I'm the player you want to be when you grow up."
____________________________________________
Lanny Fisher grew up in the softball household of Allen and
Donna Fisher. Al spent most of his life building the Buchanan
Softball program to the way you see it today, complete with the
field named after him. His father always expected the best out
of his four kids - Lanny, Mike, Missy and Lindy - but Lanny
had the extra desire to be more, to follow in the footsteps of his
father in the game he slaved over until his death in 2006.
"My father always wanted us to be the best at whatever we did," Lanny said of his father.
"Michael and I were always so competitive with each other, and my sisters became the
same way. We just grew up with a competitive dad and I guess it carried with me
throughout my life."
As Lanny grew older and went to college then law school, he continued to play the game he
loved, and was coached by his idol and best friend, Al Fisher. With Lanny leading the way,
Al's Mid-South softball team won the Class A world title in 2000. His father would go on to
be enshrined in the Michigan ASA Hall of Fame and Lanny would continue to play the game
he loved. But a lot changed in the spring of 2006.
"My father died of an aneurysm in 2006 and it was found that he also had cancer," Lanny
explained. "It was the hardest thing I ever had to deal with. To see the look on my mother;'s
face and to know he was gone was too much to bare. I wasn't sure I wanted to continue to
play softball anymore, because it just didn't seem to matter."
"Michael and I were always so competitive with each other, and my sisters became the
same way. We just grew up with a competitive dad and I guess it carried with me
throughout my life."
As Lanny grew older and went to college then law school, he continued to play the game he
loved, and was coached by his idol and best friend, Al Fisher. With Lanny leading the way,
Al's Mid-South softball team won the Class A world title in 2000. His father would go on to
be enshrined in the Michigan ASA Hall of Fame and Lanny would continue to play the game
he loved. But a lot changed in the spring of 2006.
"My father died of an aneurysm in 2006 and it was found that he also had cancer," Lanny
explained. "It was the hardest thing I ever had to deal with. To see the look on my mother;'s
face and to know he was gone was too much to bare. I wasn't sure I wanted to continue to
play softball anymore, because it just didn't seem to matter."
Lanny did continue to play softball, although not really feeling like he was part of anything special until late summer of 2006 when Joe
Horvath, who joined Street Kids Softball earlier that year, told me that his friend Lanny Fisher was interested in our team, and wanted to
know if we had a spot available for the fall. As it turned out, we had some injuries to our current pitchers so it worked out well. Plus I was
eager to finally play with this asshole I met back in 1997. :)
After a fall season in which he batted .851 in 22 games, I decided that I wanted to
pursue Lanny full time in 2007. In the winter, we sat down and discussed the
possibilities and I told him outright that I feel I could learn so much more about
this game from him, and I told him about Street Kids Care and what my goals
and dreams were for this organization. He was so excited and said he was in for
sure, and he introduced me to his friend Brian Lange, who would join our team as
well, forging one of the best pitcher-middle man combo's we had ever seen on
our team.
The 2007 season was a great one for the team, as we won the ASA Class C
state title in Michigan, and finished second in the NSA Class D state tournament
in Indiana. Lanny finished the season with a .724 average and was voted as the
SKS overall Most Valuable Player. In 2008, the team enjoyed another great
season, despite not winning any state or national titles, the team did finish at
138-29, but 74-23 in tournaments. Lanny batted a robust .763 in 2008, just two points behind the batting champion Joe Horvath. But his
tournament average of .756 was enough to earn him the SKS Tournament Player of the Year award. He finished second in the overall MVP
voting as well, losing 290-285, or the difference of one third place vote, to Jake Underwood.
When Lanny and I were at the final post season tournament of 2008, he told me that he doubted he wanted to return to play in 2009 and
that I should keep my eyes open for another pitcher. I told him to not say that right now, but to just get through the end and we would talk in
the winter. Little did I know that the love he once had for the game was starting to leave him a little, and with his law practice just starting up
and taking off, he wanted to spend time away from the game. But I was persistent, offered a team behind him that would have a legit shot at
winning a state title, and I was able to convince him to return for the 2009 season.
We were told that based on our roster, we would have to play Class B in NSA this season, and
although Lanny was against it, he knew we didn't have a choice, so we built the team to try to compete
at the B level.
"Listen, TJ, if you want any chance of winning in 2009, we need more than Joe Horvath," he said to
me in January. "We need four Horvath's."
We built the team we thought had the best chance and began the season with Lanny on the mound
and a great team behind him, including veteran pitcher Mark Hershberger, who just came off a Class
C world title with Team Worth, and Kalei Enterline, the new stud infielder I picked up from
Cousins/Hitzfield. He also had returning infielders Chris Firebaugh (gold glove winner in 2008), Nick
Bishop, Dan Garey, Tony Hardiman, newly acquired and extremely versatile Jason Jeffery, and
completing the outfield was Jake Underwood, Joe Horvath and Scott Martin. We had a few other
pieces here and there, but we had a great team.
Before midseason, the team was losing its luster. We had won a few tourney's but with injuries and the departure of an unhappy
Underwood, the team looked lost. Lanny was still hitting, but you could see some of the love was leaving every week. We ended up
patching the team, picking up a few players and began a great post season run that eventually led to the team finishing second in the NSA
"B" World Series.
During the first game of the world series, Lanny fielded a ground ball and went
to turn an unassisted double play by tagging the runner heading to second base
and when he ran to the bag at first, he ran into the batter, who was twice his
size. Lanny returned to his feet, but it would effect him throughout the weekend,
and his stats showed, as he finished a career post season low .444. But with
four starters missing from the team already, Lanny knew he had to stick it out.
He helped lead the SKS team to a second place finish, but it would be the last
game of the season for Lanny.
Tests later revealed a fractured foot and although he was able to put some
weight on it, and was optimistic of returning to play in the 35+ world series
and more importantly, the Super World Series in Nashville, he would not be
able to make it. Too much pain ensued when he attempted to swing with any
kind of serious strength.
"I feel like I could probably get one good swing a game, but it would hurt too bad to run or even stay on for a full day," he told me prior to
the trip to Nashville. "I want to be there, TJ, but I just don't think I can handle it."
I could tell in his voice that he felt horrible and I could also tell that this might be the last time him and I spoke about him playing softball
competitively ever again. We went to Nashville, dealt with a bunch of drama and after being moved 117 miles east to Crossville, Tennessee,
the Street Kids team finished fifth in the Super World Series and with that finish, coupled with the second place finish at the World Series,
we had enough points to jump to the top of the NSA "B" rankings and thats were we finished the 2009 season... the number one NSA B
team in America.
I think back on this season and I can promise you that this would not have happened with Lanny Fisher by my side. I think back to 2007
when we won the ASA state title and remember all the tournaments from early 2007 to this year and I remind myself that we are where we
are because of the support, the brilliance, the leadership and the ability of Lanny Fisher. Yes, it took a lot of great players in that time,
including Nick Bishop's and Terry Patesel's great state championship weekends and guys like Jake in 2008 and Hersh, Joe Horvath, Scott
Martin and a bunch of others in 2009, but Lanny was at my side, serving as the captain of the team I spent building and cultivating for the
past three plus years.
He has been right beside me at all the Street Kids Care events, has spent time on TV talking about Street Kids Care and how it has
impacted his life. He has played games with kids, hugged children with cancer, and handed out toys to those less fortunate at the Boys and
Girls club. Lanny has stood by and watched me grow over the past several years also.
Recently, Lanny wrote a letter to the NSA, commending me for the work I have done in the sport. When I read the letter, it makes me
happy to know that I have done something to effect the lives of not only other people in the community, but that I did something that effected
Lanny as well. Here is an excerpt from that letter in September:
"After nearly 20 years in the game as a player, umpire and director, I made the decision to join the Street Kids team because all saw the
wonderful things this organization was going in my community off the field, and I wanted to be a part of it. What TJ Jorgensen has
accomplished is remarkable, almost single handedly changing the publics perception of what a slow pitch softball player is, and can be not
only on the field, but off it as well."
Lanny always said when he left the game, he hopes he would leave his mark for others to follow. Today, I can tell you that I am the person I
am today because of Lanny Fisher. Like his father before him, he has left an imprint in my life that will not only remain strong in me, but
something I will use to strengthen this organization and the future of the sport of softball.
At times, Lanny still reminds me of that arrogant guy I met in Coloma all those years ago. And I am sure there are hundreds if not thousands
of people who cannot stand him for those actions he has done on the field. But I know that along with all the quirky comments, the quick
pitches, the arguments with umpires that I learned more about the game of softball than I ever thought I would. And I have my friend Lanny
to thank for that.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lanny Fisher will be honored at the 2009 Street Kids/Suburban Awards Banquet on November 21st in Michigan City. Although
retiring from playing on the field, Lanny will be very active behind the scenes with the organizations growth, especially with Street
Kids Care, where he intends to play a major role in for years to come. He leaves behind a legacy of numbers in only three plus
years, including nine SKS records. His 107 doubles and 396 hits may never be broken.
Horvath, who joined Street Kids Softball earlier that year, told me that his friend Lanny Fisher was interested in our team, and wanted to
know if we had a spot available for the fall. As it turned out, we had some injuries to our current pitchers so it worked out well. Plus I was
eager to finally play with this asshole I met back in 1997. :)
After a fall season in which he batted .851 in 22 games, I decided that I wanted to
pursue Lanny full time in 2007. In the winter, we sat down and discussed the
possibilities and I told him outright that I feel I could learn so much more about
this game from him, and I told him about Street Kids Care and what my goals
and dreams were for this organization. He was so excited and said he was in for
sure, and he introduced me to his friend Brian Lange, who would join our team as
well, forging one of the best pitcher-middle man combo's we had ever seen on
our team.
The 2007 season was a great one for the team, as we won the ASA Class C
state title in Michigan, and finished second in the NSA Class D state tournament
in Indiana. Lanny finished the season with a .724 average and was voted as the
SKS overall Most Valuable Player. In 2008, the team enjoyed another great
season, despite not winning any state or national titles, the team did finish at
138-29, but 74-23 in tournaments. Lanny batted a robust .763 in 2008, just two points behind the batting champion Joe Horvath. But his
tournament average of .756 was enough to earn him the SKS Tournament Player of the Year award. He finished second in the overall MVP
voting as well, losing 290-285, or the difference of one third place vote, to Jake Underwood.
When Lanny and I were at the final post season tournament of 2008, he told me that he doubted he wanted to return to play in 2009 and
that I should keep my eyes open for another pitcher. I told him to not say that right now, but to just get through the end and we would talk in
the winter. Little did I know that the love he once had for the game was starting to leave him a little, and with his law practice just starting up
and taking off, he wanted to spend time away from the game. But I was persistent, offered a team behind him that would have a legit shot at
winning a state title, and I was able to convince him to return for the 2009 season.
We were told that based on our roster, we would have to play Class B in NSA this season, and
although Lanny was against it, he knew we didn't have a choice, so we built the team to try to compete
at the B level.
"Listen, TJ, if you want any chance of winning in 2009, we need more than Joe Horvath," he said to
me in January. "We need four Horvath's."
We built the team we thought had the best chance and began the season with Lanny on the mound
and a great team behind him, including veteran pitcher Mark Hershberger, who just came off a Class
C world title with Team Worth, and Kalei Enterline, the new stud infielder I picked up from
Cousins/Hitzfield. He also had returning infielders Chris Firebaugh (gold glove winner in 2008), Nick
Bishop, Dan Garey, Tony Hardiman, newly acquired and extremely versatile Jason Jeffery, and
completing the outfield was Jake Underwood, Joe Horvath and Scott Martin. We had a few other
pieces here and there, but we had a great team.
Before midseason, the team was losing its luster. We had won a few tourney's but with injuries and the departure of an unhappy
Underwood, the team looked lost. Lanny was still hitting, but you could see some of the love was leaving every week. We ended up
patching the team, picking up a few players and began a great post season run that eventually led to the team finishing second in the NSA
"B" World Series.
During the first game of the world series, Lanny fielded a ground ball and went
to turn an unassisted double play by tagging the runner heading to second base
and when he ran to the bag at first, he ran into the batter, who was twice his
size. Lanny returned to his feet, but it would effect him throughout the weekend,
and his stats showed, as he finished a career post season low .444. But with
four starters missing from the team already, Lanny knew he had to stick it out.
He helped lead the SKS team to a second place finish, but it would be the last
game of the season for Lanny.
Tests later revealed a fractured foot and although he was able to put some
weight on it, and was optimistic of returning to play in the 35+ world series
and more importantly, the Super World Series in Nashville, he would not be
able to make it. Too much pain ensued when he attempted to swing with any
kind of serious strength.
"I feel like I could probably get one good swing a game, but it would hurt too bad to run or even stay on for a full day," he told me prior to
the trip to Nashville. "I want to be there, TJ, but I just don't think I can handle it."
I could tell in his voice that he felt horrible and I could also tell that this might be the last time him and I spoke about him playing softball
competitively ever again. We went to Nashville, dealt with a bunch of drama and after being moved 117 miles east to Crossville, Tennessee,
the Street Kids team finished fifth in the Super World Series and with that finish, coupled with the second place finish at the World Series,
we had enough points to jump to the top of the NSA "B" rankings and thats were we finished the 2009 season... the number one NSA B
team in America.
I think back on this season and I can promise you that this would not have happened with Lanny Fisher by my side. I think back to 2007
when we won the ASA state title and remember all the tournaments from early 2007 to this year and I remind myself that we are where we
are because of the support, the brilliance, the leadership and the ability of Lanny Fisher. Yes, it took a lot of great players in that time,
including Nick Bishop's and Terry Patesel's great state championship weekends and guys like Jake in 2008 and Hersh, Joe Horvath, Scott
Martin and a bunch of others in 2009, but Lanny was at my side, serving as the captain of the team I spent building and cultivating for the
past three plus years.
He has been right beside me at all the Street Kids Care events, has spent time on TV talking about Street Kids Care and how it has
impacted his life. He has played games with kids, hugged children with cancer, and handed out toys to those less fortunate at the Boys and
Girls club. Lanny has stood by and watched me grow over the past several years also.
Recently, Lanny wrote a letter to the NSA, commending me for the work I have done in the sport. When I read the letter, it makes me
happy to know that I have done something to effect the lives of not only other people in the community, but that I did something that effected
Lanny as well. Here is an excerpt from that letter in September:
"After nearly 20 years in the game as a player, umpire and director, I made the decision to join the Street Kids team because all saw the
wonderful things this organization was going in my community off the field, and I wanted to be a part of it. What TJ Jorgensen has
accomplished is remarkable, almost single handedly changing the publics perception of what a slow pitch softball player is, and can be not
only on the field, but off it as well."
Lanny always said when he left the game, he hopes he would leave his mark for others to follow. Today, I can tell you that I am the person I
am today because of Lanny Fisher. Like his father before him, he has left an imprint in my life that will not only remain strong in me, but
something I will use to strengthen this organization and the future of the sport of softball.
At times, Lanny still reminds me of that arrogant guy I met in Coloma all those years ago. And I am sure there are hundreds if not thousands
of people who cannot stand him for those actions he has done on the field. But I know that along with all the quirky comments, the quick
pitches, the arguments with umpires that I learned more about the game of softball than I ever thought I would. And I have my friend Lanny
to thank for that.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lanny Fisher will be honored at the 2009 Street Kids/Suburban Awards Banquet on November 21st in Michigan City. Although
retiring from playing on the field, Lanny will be very active behind the scenes with the organizations growth, especially with Street
Kids Care, where he intends to play a major role in for years to come. He leaves behind a legacy of numbers in only three plus
years, including nine SKS records. His 107 doubles and 396 hits may never be broken.
