| Urban Shocker | |
|---|---|
 Shocker in 1925 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1890-09-22)September 22, 1890 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: September 9, 1928(1928-09-09) (aged 37) Denver, Colorado, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 24, 1916, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 30, 1928, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 187–117 |
| Earned run average | 3.17 |
| Strikeouts | 983 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Urbain Jacques Shockcor (September 22, 1890 – September 9, 1928), known asUrban James Shocker, was an American professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theNew York Yankees andSt. Louis Browns between 1916 and 1928.[1][2]
Shocker, known as one of the last legalspitball pitchers, led theAmerican League (AL)—and set the Browns' record—in 1921 with 27 wins, and won 20 games in four consecutive seasons from 1920 to 1923.[2] At the time of his retirement, he was the Browns' all-time leader in wins with 126 and shutouts with 23.[3]
Shocker was born inCleveland, Ohio to Anna and William Shockcor[1] and relocated toMichigan some time later. Shocker began his career in theBorder League, where he played as a catcher.[4] In 1913, when he played for theWindsor team in theBorder League, he broke the middle finger on his right hand; when it healed it became hooked, which allowed him to throw a breaking ball as well as his spitter.[5][4] As a prelude to his major league career, Shocker was demoted by the Yankees for seasoning and improvement, and he spent most of the 1916 season playing for theToronto Maple Leafs in theInternational League, where he posted a 15–3 record and strung together 54 consecutive scoreless innings. His scoreless inning streak and 1.31 ERA for the campaign both still stand as International League records. He was called up by the Yankees and played with them through the 1917 season. That winter,Miller Huggins engineered a trade of Shocker to the Browns, eventually returning to the Yankees in 1925. In March 1918, his draft number came up and he reported for service on May 31 of that year.[6][7] After he served overseas he returned to the Browns in April 1919.[7]
Shocker had four consecutive 20-win seasons with the Browns in the early 1920s, during which he was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. Urban was the last Yankee to legally throw aspitball, as he and a handful of other pitchers were grandfathered to continue the practice after it was banned by baseball in 1920.
Shocker lived with a heart condition so severe some books say he had to sleep either sitting or standing up. By the early fall of 1927, he was too ill to maintain his place in the starting rotation.
Shocker's career totals for 412games include a 187–117 record, a .615winning percentage, 317games started, 200complete games, 28shutouts, 72games finished, 25saves, and anERA of 3.17 in 2,681.2innings pitched. He compiled a career .209batting average (167–798) with 89runs scored, 70RBI and 139bases on balls. He was a good fielding pitcher in his era, committing only 15 errors in 769total chances for a .980fielding percentage.[2]
After his release from the Yankees in 1928, Shocker entered an exhibition tournament inDenver. He pitched in one game on August 6, 1928, against a team fromCheyenne, Wyoming and fared poorly in that outing.
Around this time, Shocker contractedpneumonia and was hospitalized shortly thereafter. On September 9, 1928, Shocker died in Denver as the result of heart failure exacerbated by pneumonia.[8]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |