Ferris Roy Fain (March 29, 1921 – October 18, 2001) was an American professional baseball player. He played as a first baseman in Major League Baseball from 1947 to 1955. A five-time All-Star, Fain won two American League batting championships and his career on-base percentage of .424 ranks 13th highest in Major League Baseball history.
Fain played nine seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians in the American League. Known as one of the Athletics' last stars before moving to Kansas City, he had an explosive temper on and off the field. Eventually it affected his playing ability, and the Athletics traded him after the 1952 season. In his later life, Fain made headlines for his troubles with the law, mainly growing marijuana.
Early life
Fain was born in San Antonio, Texas, the son of Oscar Fain, a jockey best known for leading his horse Duval to a second-place finish in the 1912 Kentucky Derby, and a domestic maid. He had a "very abusive" childhood, mainly at the hands of the father, who died when he was still a child. His mother did domestic work in order for the family to survive. He joined the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League during his senior year of high school, when Seals manager Lefty O'Doul offered to pay $200 a month "under the table", as Fain's amateur status made him ineligible to join the team. In the 1948 season, Fain played in 145 games, with an .288 batting average, seven home runs, and what would be a career high 88 runs batted in. In 1950 Fain played in a career high 150 games, batting .282 with 10 home runs and 83 RBI as he was named to his first All-Star team. He also led the league in doubles (43), and on-base percentage and third in hits as he finished sixth in the Most Valuable Player award behind winner and A's teammate Bobby Shantz. After the trade, White Sox general manager Frank Lane proclaimed with his acquisition of Fain, the White Sox had the "finest defensive infield in baseball". After suffering a knee injury the following year, Fain never really got back on track. But on June 16, 1954, he hit an inside-the-park grand slam. He participated in his last All-Star Game as a starter alongside his White Sox infield teammates Nellie Fox, George Kell and Chico Carrasquel. It made the 1954 White Sox the first team ever to have four infield starters from the same team starting the All-Star Game. In 1955, he played for the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians. He batted .260 with two home runs and 31 RBIs; however he was hobbled by knee issues and retired after the season. In 1988, the police conducted another raid at his home, where he was found growing another 400 plants of marijuana in a barn used as a grow house.