Shantz, "Bobby" (Robert C.)
Baseball
b. Sept. 26, 1925, Pottstown, PA
Shantz, a clever left-handed pitcher, won the American League's most valuable player award with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1952, when he had a 24-7 record pitching for a fourth-place team that was only 79-75. He led the league in victories and winning percentage and had a 2.48 ERA.
He joined the Athletics in 1949 and had an 18-10 record for them in 1951. After his MVP season, a sore arm limited him to 16 games in 1953 and only 2 in 1954. Shantz had a 5-10 record in 1955, then became primarily a relief pitcher. He recorded 9 saves the following year.
The Athletics sent him to the New York Yankees in a 10-player trade in 1957, when he had a fine season as a spot starter and occasional reliever. Shantz led the league with a 2.45 ERA and had an 11-5 record with 5 saves.
He went to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1961 and split the 1962 season between the Houston Astros and the St. Louis Cardinals. Shantz retired after a 2-5 record in 1964 with St. Louis, the Chicago Cubs, and the Philadelphia Phillies.
The 5-foot-6, 142-pound Shantz was an excellent fielder. He won Gold Gloves eight years in a row, four in the American League, from 1957 through 1960, and four in the National League, from 1961 through 1964.
In 16 seasons, Shantz had a 119-99 record with 48 saves, 15 shutouts, and a 3.38 ERA. He struck out 1,072 hitters and walked 643 in 1,935 1/3 innings.