Woodie “The Fleming Flame” Fryman
Montreal Expos Pitcher 1975-76, 1978-1983
After his playing days, Fryman retired to his tobacco farm in Kentucky. He considered himself a tobacco farmer first and a ballplayer second. “Farming is all I ever wanted to do,” Fryman said.
“There wasn’t great money in the game when I started. I can tell you what my early salaries were. I started at $6,000, then I went to $14,000, $18,000, $22,000, $27,000, $32,000. But I was able to stay around. There was a lot of publicity about my bad arm and there’s no denying it lasted a lot longer than anyone figured. But I looked after myself. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. The cattle business has slowed down now and the tobacco business is just about finished, so I don’t work as hard, but what’s the use of working that hard now anyway?
Sometimes, I think I’d like to return to the game to maybe help some young players. But lately, I don’t know. It don’t seem the same. I don’t go out of my way to watch games now.”
