Crime & Safety

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.

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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.

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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. 


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