| Bobby Shantz | |
|---|---|
 Shantz in 1953 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1925-09-26)September 26, 1925 (age 99) Pottstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 1, 1949, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 29, 1964, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 119–99 |
| Earned run average | 3.38 |
| Strikeouts | 1,072 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Robert Clayton Shantz (born September 26, 1925) is an American former professionalbaseball left-handedpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) from1949 through1964, and won the 1952 American LeagueMost Valuable Player Award as a member of thePhiladelphia Athletics. A three-timeAll-Star, Shantz won eight consecutiveGold Glove Awards and won a World Series championship with the 1958New York Yankees. He is the last living Philadelphia Athletics player, the oldest living MLB MVP, and the only living player who debuted in MLB in the1940s.[1]
He also played for thePittsburgh Pirates,Houston Colt .45s,St. Louis Cardinals,Chicago Cubs, and thePhiladelphia Phillies.[2] Shantz began his career as astarting pitcher, but about halfway through he converted to a competentrelief pitcher. In 1951, he added theknuckleball to his repertoire. Standing only 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m), Shantz had a career record of 119 games won, 99 games lost, and anearned run average (ERA) of 3.38.
Shantz graduated fromPottstown High School inPottstown, Pennsylvania, in 1943.[3] He signed with thePhiladelphia Athletics as afree agent and made his MLB debut in 1949. In 1952, Shantz led theAmerican League (AL) in wins (24) and won theAL Most Valuable Player Award.[2] In the process, he led the A's to a 79–75 record and fourth-place finish in the American League, their last winning season in Philadelphia. In a September 1952 game, Shantz's left wrist was broken after he was hit by a pitch thrown byWalt Masterson of the Senators.[4] The following season, Shantz injured his shoulder in a game against theBoston Red Sox.[5] Shantz saw only limited action for the rest of 1953 and pitched only eight innings in 1954.[6] After the 1954 season was complete, the Athletics were sold and moved to Kansas City for the 1955 season.
On February 19, 1957, the Athletics traded Shantz,Art Ditmar,Wayne Belardi,Jack McMahan, andplayers to be named later (PTBNL) to theNew York Yankees forRip Coleman,Milt Graff,Billy Hunter,Mickey McDermott,Irv Noren,Tom Morgan, and a PTBNL.[7] The Yankees sentJack Urban to the Athletics and the Athletics sentCurt Roberts andClete Boyer to the Yankees to complete the trade. He led the league in ERA in his first year with the Yankees, but was never a regular starting pitcher afterwards.
A highly skilled fielder, Shantz won eight consecutiveGold Glove Awards from 1957 to 1964 (American League, 1957–60;National League, 1961–64; in 1957 the award was rendered for both leagues). Shantz also was selected for theAll-Star Game in 1951, 1952 and 1957.[2] In the fifth and final inning of the 1952All Star Game, the left–handed Shantz exhibited his distinctive sidearm delivery and sharp curve and control and struck out three consecutive National League hitters:Whitey Lockman,Jackie Robinson andStan Musial.
Shantz appeared in relief three games each in the 1957 and 1960World Series with theCasey Stengel managedNew York Yankees.[2] Shantz was selected in the1960 MLB expansion draft by theWashington Senators from the New York Yankees; the Senators then traded Shantz to thePittsburgh Pirates forBennie Daniels,Harry Bright, andR. C. Stevens.[8] TheHouston Colt .45s selected Shantz from the Pirates in the1961 MLB expansion draft. On May 7, 1962, the Colt .45s traded Shantz to theSt. Louis Cardinals forJohn Anderson andCarl Warwick.[9]
On June 15, 1964, the Cardinals traded Shantz,Ernie Broglio, andDoug Clemens to theChicago Cubs forLou Brock,Jack Spring, andPaul Toth.[10] The Cubs sold Shantz to thePhiladelphia Phillies in August 1964. He retired after the 1964 season.[11]
In his 16-year major league career, Shantz recorded a .195batting average (107-for-548) with 60runs, 20doubles, onehome run, 46runs batted in and 47walks. Defensively, he posted a .976fielding percentage which was 19 points higher than the league average at his position.[2]
He is the brother of former Major LeaguecatcherBilly Shantz. He is married to Shirley Vogel, and they have four children, Bobby, born in 1954, followed by Kathy, Teddy, and Danny, born in 1965.[12]
Shantz became the last surviving player who played underConnie Mack after the death ofBill Harrington in 2022, and the last living player to debut in MLB in the 1940s after the death ofTommy Brown in 2025. Following the death ofArt Schallock in March 6, 2025, Shantz became the second-oldest living MLB player and the oldest living World Series champion.[13][14]
