Bobby Shantz

Robert Clayton Shantz (born September 26, 1925) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1949 through 1964, and won the 1952 American League Most Valuable Player Award as a member of the Philadelphia Athletics. A three-time All-Star, Shantz won eight consecutive Gold Glove Awards and won a World Series championship with the 1958 New York Yankees. He is the last living Philadelphia Athletics player and the oldest living MLB MVP. Additionally, he and Tommy Brown, are the only two former players still alive who debuted in the 1940s.

He also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Colt .45s, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and the Philadelphia Phillies. Shantz began his career as a starting pitcher, but about halfway through he converted to a competent relief pitcher. In 1951, he added the knuckleball to his repertoire. Standing only 5 ft, Shantz had a career record of 119 games won, 99 games lost, and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.38.

Career
Shantz graduated from Pottstown High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, in 1943. He signed with the Philadelphia Athletics as a free agent and made his MLB debut in 1949. In 1952, Shantz led the American League (AL) in wins (24) and won the AL Most Valuable Player Award. 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 by Walt Masterson of the Senators. The following season, Shantz injured his shoulder in a game against the Boston Red Sox. Shantz saw only limited action for the rest of 1953 and pitched only eight innings in 1954. 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, and players to be named later (PTBNL) to the New York Yankees for Rip Coleman, Milt Graff, Billy Hunter, Mickey McDermott, Irv Noren, Tom Morgan, and a PTBNL. The Yankees sent Jack Urban to the Athletics and the Athletics sent Curt Roberts and Clete 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 consecutive Gold 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 the All-Star Game in 1951, 1952 and 1957. In the fifth and final inning of the 1952 All 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 and Stan Musial.

Shantz appeared in relief three games each in the 1957 and 1960 World Series with the Casey Stengel managed New York Yankees. Shantz was selected in the 1960 MLB expansion draft by the Washington Senators from the New York Yankees; the Senators then traded Shantz to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Bennie Daniels, Harry Bright, and R. C. Stevens. The Houston Colt .45s selected Shantz from the Pirates in the 1961 MLB expansion draft. On May 7, 1962, the Colt .45s traded Shantz to the St. Louis Cardinals for John Anderson and Carl Warwick.

On June 15, 1964, the Cardinals traded Shantz, Ernie Broglio, and Doug Clemens to the Chicago Cubs for Lou Brock, Jack Spring, and Paul Toth. The Cubs sold Shantz to the Philadelphia Phillies in August 1964. He retired after the 1964 season.

In his 16-year major league career, Shantz recorded a .195 batting average (107-for-548) with 60 runs, 20 doubles, one home run, 46 runs batted in and 47 walks. Defensively, he posted a .976 fielding percentage which was 19 points higher than the league average at his position.

Personal life
He is the brother of former Major League catcher Billy 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.

As of April 2024, Shantz is the third-oldest living Major League player. Following the death of Bill Harrington in January 2022, Shantz became the last surviving player who played under Connie Mack.