Fothergill was born in Massillon, Ohio, in 1897. Fothergill\'s father was a fireman in a rolling mill who died from tetanus when Fothergill was four years old. Fothergill had only a grade school education, and played with the Massillon Tigers and Canton Bulldogs in the early years of professional American football. He began playing semi-pro baseball in 1918 and 1919 with Massillon Agathons. At the time of the 1920 U.S. Census, he was employed as a blacksmith.\n', '

Fothergill began playing professional baseball with the Bloomington Bloomers of the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (Three-Eye League) in 1920, compiling a .332 batting average and .482 slugging percentage. In July 1920, with Fothergill leading the Three-Eye League in batting in his first year of professional ball, the Bloomers opened a bidding war among the major league teams for Fothergill\'s services. On July 17, Fothergill was sold to the Detroit Tigers as the high bidder, subject to the caveat that he would not be required to report until the Bloomers\' season was over in September 1920.\n', '

Fothergill reported to the Tigers for spring training in 1921 and performed well, but there was no room for him in an outfield that included Ty Cobb, Harry Heilmann and Bobby Veach. Accordingly, he was released in early April 1921. He spent the 1921 season with the Rochester Colts, leading the team to an International League pennant, and compiling a .338 batting average and .538 slugging percentage. While with Rochester, Fothergill became "a big drawing" card who turned handsprings when he beat out a ground ball at first base. One newspaper account noted, "No one in the minors hit the ball harder [in 1921] than Fothergill."\n', '

Return to Bob Fothergill Autograph Profile