A distracted cameraman who flinched at a rat accidentally captured Carlton Fisk waving his 1975 World Series home run fair, a shot that changed sports broadcasting forever. This deep dive reconstructs the career of a fierce traditionalist who defied medical science and seemed to age in reverse behind the plate.

From a basketball prodigy to the last American League catcher to lead the league in triples, Fisk built a 24-year career on almost irrational willpower, clashing with rivals, rookies, and front offices along the way.

• Unanimously won the 1972 American League Rookie of the Year award.
• Returned from a knee injury doctors said would end his career, then hit his famous Game 6 home run in 1975.
• Became a free agent by accident when Boston mailed his contract a day past the deadline.
• Embraced heavy weight training at 37 and had his best offensive year in 1985 with 37 home runs.
• Set the record for most games caught before being abruptly released in 1993; he entered the Hall of Fame in 2000.