Charley Schanz
Encyclopedia
Charles Murrell Schanz was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Philadelphia Phillies
(1944–1947) and Boston Red Sox
(1950). The 6'3½", 215 lb. right-hander was a native of Anacortes, Washington
.
Schanz had a successful rookie
season (13-16, 3.32, for the last place Philadelphia Phillies
) but was relatively ineffective after that. (5.03 ERA
in his last four years) He made his major league debut on April 20, 1944, starting and losing 8-2 to the Brooklyn Dodgers
at Shibe Park. His first major league win
came in his second start five days later, a 12-inning
4-3 home victory over the New York Giants
. He pitched his first major-league shutout
on September 3, 1945 vs. the Boston Braves
in the second game of a home doubleheader
. The score was 5-0.
Schanz's key pitch was his fastball
. A 1949 issue of the Pacific Coast Baseball News put it plainly: "Charley is fast - very fast ...."
He had a tendency to be wild, as he finished in the league's top ten for the following categories: bases on balls allowed (1944 and 1945), wild pitch
es (1944 and 1946), and hit batsmen (1944, 1945, and 1946). One highlight as a relief pitcher
, however, was finishing in the TOP TEN for saves
three straight seasons (1944–1946).
Career totals for 155 games include a 28-43 record, 72 games started
, 23 complete games, 2 shutouts, 49 games finished
, and 14 saves. He allowed 302 earned runs in 626.2 innings pitched
for an ERA of 4.34.
Schanz died at the age of 72 in Sacramento, California
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1944–1947) and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1950). The 6'3½", 215 lb. right-hander was a native of Anacortes, Washington
Anacortes, Washington
Anacortes is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The name "Anacortes" is a consolidation of the name Anna Curtis, who was the wife of early Fidalgo Island settler Amos Bowman. Anacortes' population was 15,778 at the time of the 2010 census...
.
Schanz had a successful rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season (13-16, 3.32, for the last place Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
) but was relatively ineffective after that. (5.03 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in his last four years) He made his major league debut on April 20, 1944, starting and losing 8-2 to the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
at Shibe Park. His first major league win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
came in his second start five days later, a 12-inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
4-3 home victory over the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He pitched his first major-league shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
on September 3, 1945 vs. the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the second game of a home doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
. The score was 5-0.
Schanz's key pitch was his fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
. A 1949 issue of the Pacific Coast Baseball News put it plainly: "Charley is fast - very fast ...."
He had a tendency to be wild, as he finished in the league's top ten for the following categories: bases on balls allowed (1944 and 1945), wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
es (1944 and 1946), and hit batsmen (1944, 1945, and 1946). One highlight as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, however, was finishing in the TOP TEN for saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
three straight seasons (1944–1946).
Career totals for 155 games include a 28-43 record, 72 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, 23 complete games, 2 shutouts, 49 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
, and 14 saves. He allowed 302 earned runs in 626.2 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
for an ERA of 4.34.
Schanz died at the age of 72 in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
.
Trivia
- Five other players made their major league debut the same day as Schanz: Tommy de la CruzTommy de la CruzTomás de la Cruz Rivero was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1944. The 32-year-old rookie was a native of Marianao, Cuba; he played from 1934 to 1947 in the winter Cuban League and from 1945 to 1948 in the Mexican League...
, Mike KosmanMike KosmanMichael Thomas Kosman was a Major League Baseball player. Kosman played in one game in the 1944 season with the Cincinnati Reds. He had no at-bats in the game....
, John McGillen, Barney MussillBarney MussillBernard James Mussill is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1944. The rookie left-hander stood 6'1" and weighed 200 lbs. He was born in Bower Hill, Pennsylvania....
, and Al VerdelAl VerdelAlbert Alfred Verdel was a Major League Baseball pitcher. The right-hander appeared in one game for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1944. The 23-year-old rookie was a native of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania....
.