All-Time MLB Players From Lafayette: Fred Andrews

There have been a number of individuals from Lafayette, and the Acadiana area, that have played in Major League Baseball over the years.

Obviously, the entire state of Louisiana has produced even more.

As a matter of fact, 246 people born in the state of Louisiana have appeared in a Major League Baseball game, beginning in 1874, with John Peters of New Orleans, who played 11 years, with the likes of the Chicago White Stockings, Milwaukee Grays, Providence Grays, Buffalo Bisons, and Pittsburgh Alleghenys.

All summer, we’ll preview a player from the state of Louisiana that appeared in Major League baseball, starting with players from Lafayette, before spotlighting players from the Acadiana area, and then a few from the state itself.

Yesterday, we spotlighted Ron Guidry.

Today, we feature Fred Andrews

Born in Lafayette in 1952, Andrews, an infielder, played in parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1976-1977, becoming the third person born in Lafayette to appear in the big leagues.

After his family moved away from the area when he was at a young age, Andrews was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Lincoln Heights High School in Lincoln Heights, Ohio in the 8th round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

The 5-foot-8, 165-pound Andrews played minor league baseball for the Pulaski Phillies in Pulaski, Virginia in 1970, hitting a .309 with one home run and 24 runs batted in, before hitting a .265 with 4 homers and 33 RBI's with the class A Spartanburg Phillies in 1971.

After successful minor league stops at AA Reading (Pennsylvania) and AAA Toldeo (Ohio), Andrews was called up to the big leagues by the Phillies late in the 1976 campaign. He appeared in 4 games, going 4-for-9.

Andrews got another opportunity with the Phillies in 1977, hitting a .174 with 2 RBI's in 23 at-bats.

Unfortunately, Andrews would never play in Major League Baseball again.

After spending all of 1978 back in the minor leagues as part of the New York Mets' organization, Andrews ended his professional career by playing with both the Santa Domingo (Dominican Republic) Azucareros and the Poza Rica (Veracruz) Petroleros in 1979.

In 2 Major League Baseball seasons, covering 16 games, Andrews hit a .276, to go along with 2 RBI’s, and 2 stolen bases.

In 10 minor league baseball seasons, Andrews hit a .270, to go along with 49 homers, 420 RBI's, and 73 stolen bases.

Andrews made his debut on September 26 of 1976, while making his final appearance on October 2 of 1977.