December 31, 2000

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) -- Harry ''Fritz'' Dorish, who led baseball's American League in saves in 1952 and was the last American League pitcher to steal home base, died Sunday. He was 79.

     Dorish, who lived in Kingston, spent 45 years in baseball as a player, coach and scout.

     On June 2, 1950, he stole home in the 5th inning of a game against the Washington Senators, a feat that hasn't been repeated by an American League pitcher since.

     Dorish, one of the first true relief pitchers of the postwar era, led the league in 1952 with 11 saves. The next season, he finished second in the league with 18 saves.

     The right-hander finished his career with a 45-43 record in 834 innings pitched and a 3.83 ERA. He hit .157 in 204 career at-bats with the Red Sox, Browns, White Sox and Orioles

     Born in Swoyersville, he was a son of the late Hritz and Anna Dorish.

     He was a 1941 graduate of Swoyersville High School, where he played on the school baseball team.

     He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater.

     He played for the Red Sox C and AAA teams, the minor league Louisville Colonels and in the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox, the St. Louis Browns and the Baltimore Orioles. He later worked as a coach for the Red Sox, the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds farm system, and as a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Indians.
 
     He was a member of St. Mary's Annunciation Church, Kingston, the American Legion Post 644, Swoyersville, and the VFW Post 396, Kingston.

     He was preceded in death by his brother, William; and sister, Anna Fey.

     Surviving are his wife of 52 years, the former Eleanor Uter; son, Gregory, Luzerne; daughter, Barbara Jo German, Newark, Del.; brother, John, Swoyersville; sister, Mary Urban, Swoyersville; and six grandchildren;

    Funeral services will be at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday from the Hugh B. Hughes & Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. in St. Mary's Annunciation Church, with the Rev. Joseph Lasky officiating.

    Interment will be in the parish cemetery, Pringle.

    Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

    In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Kingston Baseball & Softball Inc. or to the Swoyersville Little League, 68 Eley St., Kingston, Pa. 18704.