Frank Shellenback
Encyclopedia
Frank Victor Shellenback (December 16, 1898 — August 17, 1969) was an American
pitcher
, pitching coach
, and scout in Major League Baseball
. As a pitcher, he was famous as an expert spitball
er when the pitch was still legal in organized baseball
; however, because Shellenback, then 21, was on a minor league
roster when the spitball was outlawed after the 1919
season, he was banned from throwing the pitch in the major leagues. As a result, Shellenback spent 19 years (1920-38) — the remainder of his active career — throwing the spitball legally in the Pacific Coast League
. He won a record 295 PCL games.
Frank Shellenback was a native of Joplin, Missouri
, and grew up in Los Angeles, California
. He threw and batted right-handed and stood 6'2" (188 cm) tall and weighed 200 pounds (91 kg). He became a professional baseball player during World War I
and was acquired by the Chicago White Sox
at age 19 during the 1918
season. In 36 American League
games during 1918-19, Shellenback won 11 games and lost 15, with an earned run average
of 3.06 in 218 innings pitched. He appeared in his last MLB game on July 5, 1919, before his contract was transferred to the Minneapolis Millers
of the American Association
. Although Shellenback posted a 7-3 record there, because of the spitball ban (and his minor league status), he would never again pitch in the majors.
Minneapolis sent Shellenback to the Vernon Tigers
of the Pacific Coast League at the close of the 1919 campaign, and Shellenback began his long career in the circuit. He would hurl for Vernon, the Sacramento Solons
, Hollywood Stars
, and San Diego Padres
, and win more than 20 games five times, with two 18-game and three 19-game winning seasons as well. All told, as a minor league pitcher, Shellenback won 315 games and lost 192 (for a winning percentage of .621), with an ERA of 3.55 over 4,514 innings. Shellenback's long tenure with Los Angeles-based teams even led to a brief movie career; he had roles in the films Fireman Save My Child
(1932) and Alibi Ike
(1935).
Shellenback had a long career as a manager, coach, and scout as well. In 1935, still an active pitcher, he took over the managerial reins of the Stars and moved with them to San Diego the following season. There, in 1936, he helped discover and groom one of the greatest hitters of all time, Ted Williams
, who signed with the Padres as a 17-year-old pitcher-outfielder out of a San Diego high school. Williams was soon acquired by the Boston Red Sox
, while Shellenback remained manager of the Padres through 1938, winning the 1937 PCL championship.
He then became a pitching coach for the St. Louis Browns
(1939), Red Sox (1940-44), Detroit Tigers
(1946-47), and New York Giants
(1950-55), working on two pennant winners and one World Series
champion with the Giants of Leo Durocher
. During this time, Shellenback was elected to the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame in 1943.
Shellenback became a Giants' scout in 1956 and continued in that role until his death at age 70 in Newton, Massachusetts
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
, pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
, and scout in Major League Baseball
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...
. As a pitcher, he was famous as an expert spitball
Spitball
A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance....
er when the pitch was still legal in organized baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
; however, because Shellenback, then 21, was on a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
roster when the spitball was outlawed after the 1919
1919 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:Chicago White Sox players accused of throwing World Series, resulting in the Black Sox scandal.-Champions:*World Series: Cincinnati Reds over Chicago White Sox -MLB statistical leaders:-Headline Event of the Year:...
season, he was banned from throwing the pitch in the major leagues. As a result, Shellenback spent 19 years (1920-38) — the remainder of his active career — throwing the spitball legally in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. He won a record 295 PCL games.
Frank Shellenback was a native of Joplin, Missouri
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
, and grew up in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He threw and batted right-handed and stood 6'2" (188 cm) tall and weighed 200 pounds (91 kg). He became a professional baseball player during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and was acquired by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
at age 19 during the 1918
1918 in baseball
-MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Events:*April 15 - The American League season opened with Boston Red Sox ace Babe Ruth pitching a four-hit, 7–1 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics...
season. In 36 American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
games during 1918-19, Shellenback won 11 games and lost 15, with an earned run average
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...
of 3.06 in 218 innings pitched. He appeared in his last MLB game on July 5, 1919, before his contract was transferred to the Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
. Although Shellenback posted a 7-3 record there, because of the spitball ban (and his minor league status), he would never again pitch in the majors.
Minneapolis sent Shellenback to the Vernon Tigers
Vernon Tigers
The Vernon Tigers were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1909 through 1925. Vernon, California, was and is a small town in Los Angeles County. The Tigers, together with the Sacramento Solons, joined the PCL as new teams in 1909 as the league expanded from...
of the Pacific Coast League at the close of the 1919 campaign, and Shellenback began his long career in the circuit. He would hurl for Vernon, the Sacramento Solons
Sacramento Solons
The Sacramento Solons were a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Pacific Coast League during several periods . The current Sacramento River Cats began play in 2000...
, Hollywood Stars
Hollywood Stars
The Hollywood Stars were a minor league baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League during the early and mid 20th century. They were the arch-rivals of the other Los Angeles based PCL team, the Los Angeles Angels.-Hollywood Stars :...
, and San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres (PCL)
The San Diego Padres were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1936 through 1968. The team that would eventually become the Padres was well traveled prior to moving to San Diego. It began its existence in 1903 as the Sacramento Solons, a charter member of the PCL...
, and win more than 20 games five times, with two 18-game and three 19-game winning seasons as well. All told, as a minor league pitcher, Shellenback won 315 games and lost 192 (for a winning percentage of .621), with an ERA of 3.55 over 4,514 innings. Shellenback's long tenure with Los Angeles-based teams even led to a brief movie career; he had roles in the films Fireman Save My Child
Fireman Save My Child
Fireman Save My Child is a 1918 short comedy film starring Harold Lloyd.-Cast:* Harold Lloyd* Snub Pollard* Bebe Daniels* William Blaisdell* Sammy Brooks* Harry Burns* Lige Conley - * Billy Fay - * Gus Leonard...
(1932) and Alibi Ike
Alibi Ike
Alibi Ike is a short story written by Ring Lardner and first published in the Saturday Evening Post on July 31, 1915. The story is about Frank X. Farrell, a baseball player who continually makes excuses for everything that goes wrong or right...
(1935).
Shellenback had a long career as a manager, coach, and scout as well. In 1935, still an active pitcher, he took over the managerial reins of the Stars and moved with them to San Diego the following season. There, in 1936, he helped discover and groom one of the greatest hitters of all time, Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
, who signed with the Padres as a 17-year-old pitcher-outfielder out of a San Diego high school. Williams was soon acquired by the 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"...
, while Shellenback remained manager of the Padres through 1938, winning the 1937 PCL championship.
He then became a pitching coach for the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1939), Red Sox (1940-44), Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1946-47), and 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....
(1950-55), working on two pennant winners and one World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
champion with the Giants of Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
. During this time, Shellenback was elected to the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame in 1943.
Shellenback became a Giants' scout in 1956 and continued in that role until his death at age 70 in Newton, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
.