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New Lenox Police Arrest Retired White Sox Star Carlton Fisk

Police found the Hall of Famer in a cornfield stupor behind the wheel of his pickup truck near Gougar and Spencer Roads. He was charged with DUI and spent the night in jail.

New Lenox police arrested retired Chicago White Sox player, Carlton Fisk, 64, on charges of drunken driving.

According to the report, Fisk, who retired from baseball in 1993, was found at 7:20 p.m. Monday passed out in his Ford pickup truck in a field near Gougar and Spencer Roads.

Deputy Police Chief Bob Pawlisz said the dispatcher had received a call from a passing motorist who saw the pickup truck in the field. Upon arrival, police found Fisk passed out behind the steering wheel. A strong odor of alcohol was present, police said, and a bottle of vodka was in the truck.

Paramedics from New Lenox Fire Protection District were called, and they took Fisk to Silver Cross Hospital, 1900 Silver Cross Boulevard. He was treated and released, according to the report.

Fisk, who played for the Boston Red Sox in 1969 and 1971–80, and then with the Chicago White Sox from 1981–1993, was known as "Pudge" to fans and caught more games—2,226—than any other catcher in the history of Major League Baseball.

The 11-time All-Star belted 376 home runs over his career, including his 12th inning blast in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series to seal a win over the Cincinnati Reds. The hit was arguably one of the most memorable home runs ever, as Fisk trotted down the first base line, waving the ball to stay fair before it hit the left field foul pole.

Fisk was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.

He was taken to New Lenox Police Station and booked on charges of misdemeanor DUI, lane usage violations and illegal transportation of alcohol. 

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Police blotter information is provided by the New Lenox Police Department. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome. If you have information about an unsolved crime, call the Investigations Unit at 815-462-6100.

—Jeff Graveline contributed to this report. 

Kim McGann October 24, 2012 at 04:12 pm
NOW that was classless! was that necessary that you let people know where he lives?? some of us knew he had a home in New Lenox, Leave him alone to deal with his obvious serious situation. he does not need fans searching out his home too! i don't know any perfect humans! DO YOU??!
lala October 24, 2012 at 04:12 pm
I have never driven a car after having A drink. This happened very close to the high school. He is lucky this did not happen around the time school gets out. He could have killed someone. It's not like he was at a bar and had one too many. He was actually drinking in the car. I hope he is given the stiffest sentence allowed by law. I have NO tolerance for drunk drivers.
Jason Hitchens October 24, 2012 at 04:14 pm
How do you know he has a drinking problem? Some of you act like you know him. He is just a man who made a terrible decision. You don't discount a persons life and good deeds and yes he does many good deeds. He donates so much time and money to Cancer Charities. Some of you will say "So what", well the people that he has helped appreciate it and have benefitted from him. So quit basking in someone's misery and get over yourselves. AND no one is condoning drunk driving so don't drone again about people defending drunk driving.
Tired of the B.S. October 24, 2012 at 04:27 pm
Jay Hitchens,
I know that he has a drinking problem because he was passed out in a field with a bottle of vodka. This sounds like a drinking problem to me. If he did not have a drinking problem before this incident, he sure has a problem caused by drinking now.
Jason Hitchens October 24, 2012 at 04:53 pm
Again you don't know him "never been a good person" Bitter much!
Jason Hitchens October 24, 2012 at 04:58 pm
Well said Donna!
NL4LIFE October 24, 2012 at 06:21 pm
Donna P you sound mad. And i found his address on the interwebs so its not exactly private info. Also if u and i got a DUI the newspaper would post address. Sports players should not be personal heros.
NL4LIFE October 24, 2012 at 06:23 pm
Jay Hitchens
If you are awoken by the Police in your car in the middle of a Cornfield with an open bottle of vodka.....you might have a drinking problem. You must be a republican.
NL4LIFE October 24, 2012 at 06:25 pm
Jay and Donna are mad.
Rich October 25, 2012 at 12:03 am
He just drinks like a fish !
Donna Pinto October 25, 2012 at 12:30 am
I'm not mad at all, I feel bad for his family. Yes we know its all public but putting it on here proved what? Did you have a point to make? And re: the Comment about sox fans, I actually feel stupid if a cub fan can make dun of the white sox considering how well they have done. Hahaha. I'll sleep good tonight , no worries. I just couldn't believe how immature some people are.
DR- Mokena October 25, 2012 at 01:12 am
Love Pudge and glad he still lives in our area....see him quite a bit around town.
By the way current score is: Mark Grace 3, Carlton Fisk 1
J. McDonald October 25, 2012 at 01:34 am
Why don't you take a break from posting you seem obsessed with Pudge.
Phantom Pain October 25, 2012 at 05:25 am
A DUI is always bad-but some of you people go way overboard, "He was by the school he could have killed a student"- I promise you drunk people drive by the school daily!
In 1990 I can tell you that it was estimated a drunk driver had driven drunk 100 times before receiving his/her first DUI, that number has gone down but not by much. Be afraid-they are everywhere,
NL4LIFE October 25, 2012 at 05:22 pm
There is a big difference from a Drunk Driver and a Drunk Driver who ends up passed out in a Cornfield.
Donna Pinto October 25, 2012 at 05:58 pm
Whats the difference, the amount of alcohol? A person driving drunk is just that drunk & someone couldve gotten hurt either way. Again, thankfully no one did. He didnt get special treatment, he was arrested like anyone else would be. The family is who I feel sorry for, they have to deal with this embarassment. Also I said baseball hero not someone my Son looked up to be like other than a sport. But I'm curious as to why a sports players shouldnt be personal hero anyway? I didnt know there was specific topics on who should or shouldnt be. Any person can make a difference in someones life even if they are not famous. That can make anyone a hero. Just like everyone makes mistakes.
Tired of the B.S. October 25, 2012 at 06:11 pm
NL4LIFE,
No there is not a big difference. The only difference here is the driver was a ML baseball player.
J. McDonald October 25, 2012 at 07:44 pm
Give it a rest NL4LIFE, we get it your disgusted. Yes he messed up and we are so glad you would like to tell us and our kids who their heroes should be. Thank you so much! Sorry but I like the man and I hope he gets the help he needs.
NL4LIFE October 25, 2012 at 08:23 pm
Donna P......did you just really say the amount of alcohol doesnt matter? Wow you guys are livin in a fantasy world. If you drink and drive and can still safely get home than their is a big difference. He obviously couldn't even stay awake. It takes Lot of booze to end up in a corn field. Wake Up and Grow Up!
J McDonald....you're mad!
Jim Court October 27, 2012 at 06:08 pm
Was he drinking " Corn Liquor" ?
Alcoholism is a baffling and cunning disease as they say. It is legal. It causes more societal problems than all the legal drugs combined. They cause problems primarily because they are illegal. Only through education, treatment, and social pressure will these problems be addressed. I am saddened by the impact that alcoholism has on individuals and our society. Why are the two biggest killers, alcohol and cigarettes legal but if somebody gets caught with pot they are a criminal ? What is the solution?
Jim Court October 27, 2012 at 06:09 pm
meant to say illegal drugs combined
Donna Pinto October 28, 2012 at 12:47 pm
NL4LIFE - Im not sure why you feel the need to debate with any of us maybe your mad at something???? You comment wake up & grow up when I believe it was you who is posting where he lived. I know its easy to find out but what was that proving to us? Real mature.. Anyway I don't live in fantasy world I know enough to not drive, if you have 1 drink or drink enough to end up in a corn field yes there's a big difference. Drunk driving if ur at .8 or over its still drunk , We all know he was way over the limit to be driving. Thank god he ended up in a corn field and not where there was people around.
Mr. Jack October 28, 2012 at 02:57 pm
Misdemeaner DUI?? What's that? DUI is DUI...oh, unless you are famous, then it's just a minor thing? Hmmm... If it were you or me, do ya think we'd receive the same 'watered down' charge?
charlies angel October 28, 2012 at 09:28 pm
Donna, get some xanax, prozac or some hormone therapy. Calm down already, this is a site for opinions. My opinion is mine, so go off on your rant hope you have blood pressure meds as well. Chill.............
charlies angel October 28, 2012 at 09:31 pm
nah, maybe he was making E85.
NL4LIFE October 28, 2012 at 09:44 pm
DONNA P....sorry if my opinions upset you. I can tell you're still mad.
Donna Pinto October 29, 2012 at 12:10 pm
No need to be sorry NL4LIFE, seeing nothing you said or say will upset me...... Automatically if you have no prior record of anything you wouldn't be getting the same sentence as someone who has. I do not know if Fisk has any but it will cost thousands, be on his record no matter what & if it is his 1st offense he will most likely not be going to jail. We automatically assume he will get a slap on the hand. There's always a consequence. Stop worrying about what he will or will not get and be thankful no one was hurt or that it won't happen again. Good day to you all, there's nothing more to say about this other than wait and see till he goes to court.
Tim Baker November 16, 2012 at 10:15 pm
My favorite player of all time and always will be. But I also know he is human and we make mistakes and some we deeply regret but can't take back. Don't anyone sit there and say you never have because we all do I don't know the circumstances here but he has to pay the consequences and he will. But don't sit here and knock the man due to him drinking. Maybe he's going through some issues here was a man who grew up in small town New Hampshire the pride of Boston and went to Chicago. Pride is an understatement and nobody worked harder on or off the field but to crucify him over this is wrong. As a boy he was my hero but as an adult I understand we all make mistakes to some degree and drinking and driving does hurt people perhaps he will do a public service announcement down the road. But if not remember small town New Hampshire he didn't seek to be a celebrity and he'd rather not get the attention. But if you saw him play and what he put himself through you'd be inspired too. Pudge needs our support and that's where this should be
Joseph M. Spretnjak November 17, 2012 at 12:06 am
You ar very correct, Tim.
I'll say this one more time, Fisk has lived an exemplary life. He was an inspirational ball player, and a "class act." May God Bless him, and his dear family.
Joseph M. Spretnjak November 17, 2012 at 12:10 am
Way to respond, Kelly---good post. jms

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Cheri June 15, 2013 at 07:02 pm
canceling cardinal-- it will be a workout driving on RT 30 mess
MartCHawk June 17, 2013 at 07:18 am
People coming from the east will now have to fight through school traffic at Rt. 30/Schoolhouse.Read More People from southwest New Lenox will have to either venture up Cedar, which is painfully slow... or take Spencer from Laraway, in which they will have to cross Rt. 30 to go straight. Won't be an easy picnic.