Purchased by the White Sox from the Red Sox in 1912, Fournier presented Clarence Rowland and a half-dozen other managers with the dilemma of what to do with this inept-fielding pure hitter. Rowland solved that problem in 1916, a year after Fournier had led the AL in slugging, by replacing him at first base with the marginal Jack Ness. Fournier hit .350 for the Yankees in limited duty in 1918 before they passed him off to the Cardinals. Fournier led NL first basemen with 25 errors in 1920. After three productive years in St. Louis, Fournier was dealt to Brooklyn on February 15, 1923. Fournier said he would quit the game rather than leave St. Louis, but he ended his holdout and reported to the Dodgers. Fournier had found his spot, among an offensive unit that included Zack Wheat, Milt Stock, and Zack Taylor. He turned in a six-for-six performance on June 29 of that year, hit .351, and made a league-high 21 errors. In 1924 Fournier led the NL with 27 HR, and in 1925 was second to Rogers Hornsby with 130 RBI.
