Ray Schalk
Encyclopedia
Raymond William Schalk was a professional
baseball
player, coach
, manager
and scout. He played as a catcher
in Major League Baseball
for the Chicago White Sox
for the majority of his career. Known for his fine handling of pitcher
s and outstanding defensive ability, Schalk was considered the greatest defensive catcher of his era. He revolutionized the way the catching position was played by using his speed and agility to expand the previously accepted defensive capabilities for his position. Schalk was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955
.
, Illinois
to German
immigrant parents, Schalk dropped out of high school to enter the printer's trade, learning to operate a linotype machine
. When career advancement proved difficult in that trade, he began to play professional baseball. By the age of 18 in , he split time between the D-league Taylorville Christians in the Illinois-Missouri League
, where he hit .387, and the Single-A Milwaukee Brewers
of the American Association
. In , Schalk posted a .271 batting average
in 80 games for Milwaukee and attracted the attention of the Chicago White Sox because of his aggressive approach to the catching position. The White Sox purchased him from the Brewers for $10,000 and two other players.
Schalk made his major league debut one day before his twentieth birthday on August 11, 1912
. He appeared in 23 games that season, producing a .286 batting average but, it was his defensive prowess as a catcher that impressed the most. White Sox coach Kid Gleason
helped him hone his skills and, by the following year, Schalk had assumed the role of starting catcher from Billy Sullivan, and led the American League
catchers in putouts.
Schalk soon developed a reputation as one of the best defensive catchers in major league baseball. Before Schalk's career, most catchers were large, slow-footed players. Schalk was a small, agile man who played the catcher's position with the energy and mobility of a fifth infielder
.
In 1914
, Schalk had a .270 batting average in 136 games and once again led the league's catchers in putouts. Despite the sixth place finish by the White Sox, he ranked sixth in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award. He continued to improve in 1915
with a .266 batting average along with a .366 on base percentage
and led the American League catchers in fielding percentage
, caught stealing
percentage and putouts as, the White Sox rose to third place in the standings.
In 1916
, Schalk had a career-high of 30 stolen bases and, led the league in fielding percentage, putouts, assists
and in range factor
as, the White Sox finished in second place, only two games behind the Boston Red Sox
. His pitch-calling skills were evident as, he guided the White Sox pitching staff to the lowest earned run average
in the league.
Schalk only had a .226 batting average in 1917
but, had a .331 on base percentage and led the American League catchers in putouts for a fifth consecutive year. He once again guided the White Sox pitching staff to the lowest earned run average
in the league as, they won 100 games to clinch the American League pennant
by 9 games over the Boston Red Sox
. The White Sox went on to defeat John McGraw
's New York Giants
in the 1917 World Series
.
In 1918
, Schalk recorded his first putout at second base against the St. Louis Browns. On a hit and run play
, the Brown's Ray Demmitt
ran past second base as Shoeless Joe Jackson
made a catch in deep left field off the bat of Joe Gedeon
. Schalk, in the middle of the diamond, ran to second base to take the relay from White Sox shortstop Swede Risberg
and tagged
Demmitt out
. The White Sox fell to sixth place in the season as Schalk recorded a .219 batting average.
The White Sox rebounded in 1919
to recapture the American League pennant with Schalk hitting for a career-high .282 average and, leading the league in putouts for a seventh consecutive season. The 1919 World Series
against the Cincinnati Reds
was shrouded in a controversy which became known as the Black Sox Scandal
. Several White Sox players were accused of intentionally trying to lose games. Schalk played to win during the series, hitting for a .304 batting average and was later absolved from any wrongdoing. He stated that he knew something was wrong when pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Lefty Williams
failed to throw the pitches Schalk had called for. The White Sox eventually lost the series, and eight of the White Sox players were banned for life from major league baseball for taking part in the scandal.
Schalk had another good year in 1920
, hitting .270 with a .362 on base percentage, a career-high 61 runs batted in and led the American League for an eighth consecutive year in putouts as, the White Sox finished in second place. The 1922
season was one of Schalk's finest. On April 30, 1922
, he caught Charlie Robertson's
perfect game
against the Detroit Tigers
. Two months later, on June 27, Schalk hit for the cycle
. He ended the season with a .281 batting average, hit 4 home run
s, and had 60 runs batted in. Schalk led the league in putouts and tied the American League record for fielding percentage at .989. He finished third in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
By 1924
, the wear and tear of catching duties began to catch up with him. He had recorded 11 consecutive seasons in which he had played in 100 games but, he injured three fingers on his throwing hand which limited him to 57 games and a career-low .197 batting average. He rebounded to play in 125 games in 1925
with a .274 batting average, a career-high .382 on base percentage and led the league in baserunners caught stealing. In November 1926
, he succeed Eddie Collins
as the White Sox player-manager at the age of 33. His playing time diminished in 1927
, appearing in only 16 games as he concentrated on managing the team. Over the two seasons, he won 102 games and lost 125, for a .449 winning percentage. Schalk had a disagreement with team owner Charles Comiskey
over his salary, and left the White Sox to become a player-coach with the New York Giants
in 1929
but appeared in only five games before retiring as a player at the age of 36.
, accumulating 1,345 hits
in 5,306 at bats for a .253 career batting average along with 11 home runs, 594 runs batted in, 579 runs, 177 stolen bases and an on base percentage
of .340. He retired with a .981 fielding percentage. Schalk established himself as one of the league's outstanding defensive catchers by leading the league's catchers in fielding percentage eight times, putouts nine times, double play
s four times and assists twice. He set Major League catching records for putouts, and still holds the Major League career record for double plays (217) and the American League career mark for assists. No catcher has approached Schalk's record for career double plays, and none has led the league in fielding percentage eight times. He held the record for most no-hitter
s caught, with four, until a rules change in the early 1990s disallowed one of the games. Schalk caught 144 shutouts in his career, ranking him third all-time among catchers behind Yogi Berra
and Carlton Fisk
.
Schalk set standards for longevity for catchers, catching 100 or more games for 11 straight seasons. When Schalk retired, he held the mark for most games played behind the plate
with 1,726. He also established himself as one of the finest baserunning catchers, setting a single-season stolen base record for the position in 1916
with 30 stolen bases, which stood until John Wathan
stole 36 bases in 1982
. His record for 177 career stolen bases as a catcher still stands.
Schalk helped revolutionize the way the catcher's position was played. He is credited with being the first catcher to back up infield throws to first base and outfield
throws to third base
. Schalk claimed to be the only major league catcher to make a putout at every base and, he once made three assists in one inning. He also became known for his handling of the White Sox pitching staff and his pitch-calling skills. Schalk's reputation as a defensive stand out is enhanced because of the era in which he played. In the Deadball Era, catchers played a huge defensive role, given the large number of bunts and stolen base attempts, as well as the difficulty of handling the spitball
pitchers who dominated pitching staffs. He had to catch every type of pitch
imaginable, such as shine balls, spitballs, knuckleball
s, and emory balls from pitchers such as, Ed Walsh
, Eddie Cicotte
, Dickie Kerr
, Urban Faber, and Ted Lyons.
Schalk's career batting average of .253 is the lowest of any position player in the Hall of Fame. That he was selected by the Veterans Committee
for enshrinement in is largely a tribute to his outstanding defensive skills and, to the fact that he played to win the infamous 1919 World Series.
in 1930
and 1931
and later managed the Buffalo Bisons in the Double-A International League
from to . He also managed the Indianapolis Indians
, the Oklahoma City Indians
and the Milwaukee Brewers minor league teams. In he became a scout for the Chicago Cubs. He was an Assistant Baseball Coach at Purdue University
for 18 years, before retiring from baseball at the age of 72. In 1955
, Schalk was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee
.
Schalk was invited to catch the first ball of the 1959 World Series
, thrown out by fellow Hall of Fame member and former White Sox pitcher, Red Faber
.
A museum in Nokomis, Illinois
is dedicated to Schalk and two other Hall of Famers, Jim Bottomley
and Red Ruffing
. The Little League
ball fields in Litchfield, Illinois
, near his birthplace of Harvel, are named for him. Schalk died of cancer on May 19, at the age of 78. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Evergreen Park, Illinois.
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....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player, 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...
, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and scout. He played as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
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...
for 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...
for the majority of his career. Known for his fine handling of 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...
s and outstanding defensive ability, Schalk was considered the greatest defensive catcher of his era. He revolutionized the way the catching position was played by using his speed and agility to expand the previously accepted defensive capabilities for his position. Schalk was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1955
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1955 followed a system established for odd-number years in 1953. The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from recent major league players and elected four: Joe DiMaggio, Gabby Hartnett, Ted Lyons, and Dazzy Vance.The Veterans...
.
Baseball career
Born in HarvelHarvel, Illinois
Harvel is a village in Christian and Montgomery Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 223 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Harvel is located at ....
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
to German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
immigrant parents, Schalk dropped out of high school to enter the printer's trade, learning to operate a linotype machine
Linotype machine
The Linotype typesetting machine is a "line casting" machine used in printing. The name of the machine comes from the fact that it produces an entire line of metal type at once, hence a line-o'-type, a significant improvement over manual typesetting....
. When career advancement proved difficult in that trade, he began to play professional baseball. By the age of 18 in , he split time between the D-league Taylorville Christians in the Illinois-Missouri League
Illinois-Missouri League
The Illinois-Missouri League was an American minor league baseball league. It began operations in 1908, and continued through 1914.-1908:The league was formed. Newly formed teams in Canton, Illinois, Galesburg, Illinois, Hannibal, Missouri, Havana, Illinois, Macomb, Illinois, and Monmouth,...
, where he hit .387, and the Single-A Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
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...
. In , Schalk posted a .271 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in 80 games for Milwaukee and attracted the attention of the Chicago White Sox because of his aggressive approach to the catching position. The White Sox purchased him from the Brewers for $10,000 and two other players.
Schalk made his major league debut one day before his twentieth birthday on August 11, 1912
1912 Chicago White Sox season
In , the Chicago White Sox debuted one of the most enduring and famous logos in baseball -- a large "S" in a Roman-style font, with a small "O" inside the top loop of the "S" and a small "X" inside the bottom loop. This is the logo associated with the 1917 World Series championship team and the...
. He appeared in 23 games that season, producing a .286 batting average but, it was his defensive prowess as a catcher that impressed the most. White Sox coach Kid Gleason
Kid Gleason
William J. "Kid" Gleason was an American professional athlete and Major League Baseball player and manager. Gleason is best known as the manager of the 1919 Chicago White Sox, the team made infamous by the Black Sox scandal, in which Gleason's players conspired to intentionally lose the World...
helped him hone his skills and, by the following year, Schalk had assumed the role of starting catcher from Billy Sullivan, and led the 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...
catchers in putouts.
Schalk soon developed a reputation as one of the best defensive catchers in major league baseball. Before Schalk's career, most catchers were large, slow-footed players. Schalk was a small, agile man who played the catcher's position with the energy and mobility of a fifth infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
.
In 1914
1914 Chicago White Sox season
- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...
, Schalk had a .270 batting average in 136 games and once again led the league's catchers in putouts. Despite the sixth place finish by the White Sox, he ranked sixth in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award. He continued to improve in 1915
1915 Chicago White Sox season
The Chicago White Sox season involved the White Sox finishing third in the American League.With the acquisitions of Eddie Collins and Joe Jackson , Chicago now had the two hitters they needed to win the 1917 and 1919 AL pennants.- Offseason :* December 8, 1914: Eddie Collins was purchased by the...
with a .266 batting average along with a .366 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
and led the American League catchers in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
, caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
percentage and putouts as, the White Sox rose to third place in the standings.
In 1916
1916 Chicago White Sox season
The 1916 Chicago White Sox finished second in the American League, just two games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox. By this time, the nucleus of the 1917-19 dynasty was in place. Chicago would win the World Series the following season.- Regular season :...
, Schalk had a career-high of 30 stolen bases and, led the league in fielding percentage, putouts, assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and in range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
as, the White Sox finished in second place, only two games behind the Boston Red Sox
1916 Boston Red Sox season
The 1916 Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing 1st in the American League with a record of 91 wins and 63 losses. They defeated the Brooklyn Robins in 5 games in the World Series.-Regular season:-Opening Day lineup:-Notable transactions:...
. His pitch-calling skills were evident as, he guided the White Sox pitching staff to the lowest 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...
in the league.
Schalk only had a .226 batting average in 1917
1917 Chicago White Sox season
The 1917 Chicago White Sox dominated the American League with a record of 100-54. The 100 wins is a club record that still stands. Their offense was first in runs scored while their pitching staff led the league with a 2.16 ERA....
but, had a .331 on base percentage and led the American League catchers in putouts for a fifth consecutive year. He once again guided the White Sox pitching staff to the lowest 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...
in the league as, they won 100 games to clinch the American League pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
by 9 games over the Boston Red Sox
1917 Boston Red Sox season
The 1917 Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing 2nd in the American League with a record of 90 wins and 62 losses.- Opening Day lineup :- Roster :- Starters by position :...
. The White Sox went on to defeat John McGraw
John McGraw
John McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
's New York Giants
1917 New York Giants season
The New York Giants season was a season in Major League Baseball. It involved the Giants winning the National League pennant for the first time in four years...
in the 1917 World Series
1917 World Series
In the 1917 World Series, the Chicago White Sox beat the New York Giants four games to two. The Series was played against the backdrop of World War I, which dominated the American newspapers that year and next....
.
In 1918
1918 Chicago White Sox season
Depleted of most of their stars due to World War I, the Chicago White Sox had a relatively bad year in , going 57-67 and finishing in the second division. They had won the American League pennant in 1917 and would win another in 1919.- Roster :...
, Schalk recorded his first putout at second base against the St. Louis Browns. On a hit and run play
Hit and run (baseball)
A hit and run is a high risk/high reward offensive strategy used in baseball.When the offense has a baserunner on first base , the runner on first breaks for second as the pitch is thrown...
, the Brown's Ray Demmitt
Ray Demmitt
Charles Raymond Demmitt , was a professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from - for the New York Highlanders, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, and Detroit Tigers....
ran past second base as Shoeless Joe Jackson
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Joseph Jefferson Jackson , nicknamed "Shoeless Joe", was an American baseball player who played Major League Baseball in the early part of the 20th century...
made a catch in deep left field off the bat of Joe Gedeon
Joe Gedeon
Elmer Joseph Gedeon was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the Washington Senators, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Browns....
. Schalk, in the middle of the diamond, ran to second base to take the relay from White Sox shortstop Swede Risberg
Swede Risberg
Charles August "Swede" Risberg was an Major League Baseball shortstop. He played for the Chicago White Sox from 1917 to 1920. He is best known for his involvement in the 1919 Black Sox scandal.-Background:...
and tagged
Tag out
In baseball, a tag out, sometimes just called a tag, is a play in which a baserunner is out because he is touched by the fielder's hand or glove holding a live ball while the runner is in jeopardy...
Demmitt out
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
. The White Sox fell to sixth place in the season as Schalk recorded a .219 batting average.
The White Sox rebounded in 1919
1919 Chicago White Sox season
The Chicago White Sox season was their 19th season in the American League. They won 88 games to advance to the World Series but lost to the Cincinnati Reds. More significantly, some of the players were found to have taken money from gamblers in return for throwing the series...
to recapture the American League pennant with Schalk hitting for a career-high .282 average and, leading the league in putouts for a seventh consecutive season. The 1919 World Series
1919 World Series
The 1919 World Series matched the American League champion Chicago White Sox against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds. Although most World Series have been of the best-of-seven format, the 1919 World Series was a best-of-nine series...
against the Cincinnati Reds
1919 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The Reds won the National League pennant, then went on to win the 1919 World Series...
was shrouded in a controversy which became known as the Black Sox Scandal
Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
. Several White Sox players were accused of intentionally trying to lose games. Schalk played to win during the series, hitting for a .304 batting average and was later absolved from any wrongdoing. He stated that he knew something was wrong when pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Lefty Williams
Lefty Williams
Claude Preston "Lefty" Williams was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is probably best known for his involvement in the 1919 World Series fix, known as the Black Sox scandal.-Career:...
failed to throw the pitches Schalk had called for. The White Sox eventually lost the series, and eight of the White Sox players were banned for life from major league baseball for taking part in the scandal.
Schalk had another good year in 1920
1920 Chicago White Sox season
The 1920 Chicago White Sox season was a season in American baseball. The team was in contention to defend their American League pennant going into the final week of the season. However, news of the Black Sox Scandal became public, and with seven of their players suspended, the team finished two...
, hitting .270 with a .362 on base percentage, a career-high 61 runs batted in and led the American League for an eighth consecutive year in putouts as, the White Sox finished in second place. The 1922
1922 Chicago White Sox season
- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...
season was one of Schalk's finest. On April 30, 1922
1922 Chicago White Sox season
- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...
, he caught Charlie Robertson's
Charlie Robertson
Charles Culbertson Robertson was an American Major League Baseball pitcher.Born in Dexter, Texas, and grew up in Nocona, Texas graduating from Nocona High School in 1915. Charles attended Austin College from 1917 until 1919. He began his career with the Chicago White Sox in 1919 at the age of 23...
perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
against the Detroit Tigers
1922 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished third in the American League with a record of 79-75, 15 games behind the New York Yankees.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
. Two months later, on June 27, Schalk hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
. He ended the season with a .281 batting average, hit 4 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, and had 60 runs batted in. Schalk led the league in putouts and tied the American League record for fielding percentage at .989. He finished third in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
By 1924
1924 Chicago White Sox season
The Chicago White Sox season was a season in major league baseball. Despite the best efforts of player-manager Eddie Collins, the White Sox finished last in the American League for the first time.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
, the wear and tear of catching duties began to catch up with him. He had recorded 11 consecutive seasons in which he had played in 100 games but, he injured three fingers on his throwing hand which limited him to 57 games and a career-low .197 batting average. He rebounded to play in 125 games in 1925
1925 Chicago White Sox season
The Chicago White Sox season was a season in Major League Baseball. The team finished fifth in the American League, 18.5 games behind the pennant-winning Washington Senators.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
with a .274 batting average, a career-high .382 on base percentage and led the league in baserunners caught stealing. In November 1926
1926 Chicago White Sox season
The Chicago White Sox season was a season in Major League Baseball. The team finished fifth in the American League, 9.5 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
, he succeed Eddie Collins
Eddie Collins
Edward Trowbridge Collins, Sr. , nicknamed "Cocky", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman, manager and executive...
as the White Sox player-manager at the age of 33. His playing time diminished in 1927
1927 Chicago White Sox season
- Offseason :* November, 1926: Eddie Collins was released by the White Sox.* January 15, 1927: Sloppy Thurston and Leo Mangum were traded by the White Sox to the Washington Senators for Roger Peckinpaugh.- Notable transactions :...
, appearing in only 16 games as he concentrated on managing the team. Over the two seasons, he won 102 games and lost 125, for a .449 winning percentage. Schalk had a disagreement with team owner Charles Comiskey
Charles Comiskey
Charles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey was a Major League Baseball player, manager and team owner. He was a key person in the formation of the American League and later owned the Chicago White Sox...
over his salary, and left the White Sox to become a player-coach with 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....
in 1929
1929 New York Giants (MLB) season
- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...
but appeared in only five games before retiring as a player at the age of 36.
Career statistics and legacy
In an 18 year major league career, Schalk played in 1,762 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 1,345 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 5,306 at bats for a .253 career batting average along with 11 home runs, 594 runs batted in, 579 runs, 177 stolen bases and an on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .340. He retired with a .981 fielding percentage. Schalk established himself as one of the league's outstanding defensive catchers by leading the league's catchers in fielding percentage eight times, putouts nine times, double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s four times and assists twice. He set Major League catching records for putouts, and still holds the Major League career record for double plays (217) and the American League career mark for assists. No catcher has approached Schalk's record for career double plays, and none has led the league in fielding percentage eight times. He held the record for most no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s caught, with four, until a rules change in the early 1990s disallowed one of the games. Schalk caught 144 shutouts in his career, ranking him third all-time among catchers behind Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
and Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
.
Schalk set standards for longevity for catchers, catching 100 or more games for 11 straight seasons. When Schalk retired, he held the mark for most games played behind the plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
with 1,726. He also established himself as one of the finest baserunning catchers, setting a single-season stolen base record for the position in 1916
1916 Chicago White Sox season
The 1916 Chicago White Sox finished second in the American League, just two games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox. By this time, the nucleus of the 1917-19 dynasty was in place. Chicago would win the World Series the following season.- Regular season :...
with 30 stolen bases, which stood until John Wathan
John Wathan
John David Wathan is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager for the Kansas City Royals. He was considered one of the rare catchers with speed, having 105 stolen bases during his career...
stole 36 bases in 1982
1982 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series Champion: St. Louis Cardinals*World Series MVP: Darrell Porter**American League Championship Series MVP: Fred Lynn**National League Championship Series MVP: Darrell Porter...
. His record for 177 career stolen bases as a catcher still stands.
Schalk helped revolutionize the way the catcher's position was played. He is credited with being the first catcher to back up infield throws to first base and outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
throws to third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
. Schalk claimed to be the only major league catcher to make a putout at every base and, he once made three assists in one inning. He also became known for his handling of the White Sox pitching staff and his pitch-calling skills. Schalk's reputation as a defensive stand out is enhanced because of the era in which he played. In the Deadball Era, catchers played a huge defensive role, given the large number of bunts and stolen base attempts, as well as the difficulty of handling the 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....
pitchers who dominated pitching staffs. He had to catch every type of pitch
Pitch (baseball)
In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. The term comes from the Knickerbocker Rules. Originally, the ball had to be literally "pitched" underhand, as with pitching horseshoes. Overhand throwing was not allowed until 1884.The biomechanics of...
imaginable, such as shine balls, spitballs, knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
s, and emory balls from pitchers such as, Ed Walsh
Ed Walsh
Edward Augustine Walsh was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He holds the record for lowest career ERA, 1.82.-Baseball career:Born in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, Walsh had a brief though remarkable major league career...
, Eddie Cicotte
Eddie Cicotte
Edward Victor Cicotte , nicknamed "Knuckles", was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball best known for his time with the Chicago White Sox...
, Dickie Kerr
Dickie Kerr
Richard Henry "Dickey" Kerr was a starting pitcher for the Chicago White Sox from -. As a rookie, he won 13 games and both his starts in the 1919 World Series, which would lead to the permanent suspensions of eight of his teammates in the Black Sox Scandal...
, Urban Faber, and Ted Lyons.
Schalk's career batting average of .253 is the lowest of any position player in the Hall of Fame. That he was selected by the Veterans Committee
Veterans Committee
The Veterans Committee is the popular name of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Committee to Consider Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players, a committee of the U.S...
for enshrinement in is largely a tribute to his outstanding defensive skills and, to the fact that he played to win the infamous 1919 World Series.
Post-playing career
Schalk became a coach for the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in 1930
1930 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs went 90-64 and finished in second place in the National League.In the peak year of the lively ball era, the Cubs scored 998 runs, third most in the majors. Future Hall of Famers Kiki Cuyler, Gabby Hartnett, and Hack Wilson led the offense....
and 1931
1931 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was a season in American baseball. The team finished third in the National League with a record of 84-70, 17 games behind the St...
and later managed the Buffalo Bisons in the Double-A International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
from to . He also managed the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, the Oklahoma City Indians
Oklahoma City Indians
The Oklahoma City Indians were an American minor league baseball franchise representing Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that played in the Texas League in 1909, 1933-42 and from 1946-57, and in the Western League from 1918-32...
and the Milwaukee Brewers minor league teams. In he became a scout for the Chicago Cubs. He was an Assistant Baseball Coach at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
for 18 years, before retiring from baseball at the age of 72. In 1955
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1955
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1955 followed a system established for odd-number years in 1953. The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from recent major league players and elected four: Joe DiMaggio, Gabby Hartnett, Ted Lyons, and Dazzy Vance.The Veterans...
, Schalk was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee
Veterans Committee
The Veterans Committee is the popular name of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Committee to Consider Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players, a committee of the U.S...
.
Schalk was invited to catch the first ball of the 1959 World Series
1959 World Series
The 1959 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers beating the American League champion Chicago White Sox, four games to two. It was the first pennant for the White Sox in 40 years . They would have to wait until 2005 to win another championship...
, thrown out by fellow Hall of Fame member and former White Sox pitcher, Red Faber
Red Faber
Urban Clarence "Red" Faber was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from through , playing his entire career for the Chicago White Sox. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964....
.
A museum in Nokomis, Illinois
Nokomis, Illinois
Nokomis is a city in Montgomery County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,389 at the 2000 census, and 2,230 at a 2009 estimate.-Geography:Nokomis is located at ....
is dedicated to Schalk and two other Hall of Famers, Jim Bottomley
Jim Bottomley
James Leroy Bottomley was born in Oglesby, Illinois and grew up in Nokomis, Illinois. Nicknamed "Sunny Jim" because of his cheerful disposition, he was a left-handed Major League Baseball player. He also served as player-manager for the St. Louis Browns in 1937.-Career:As a first baseman for the...
and Red Ruffing
Red Ruffing
Charles Herbert "Red" Ruffing was a Major League Baseball pitcher most remembered for his time with the highly successful New York Yankees teams of the 1930s and 1940s...
. The Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
ball fields in Litchfield, Illinois
Litchfield, Illinois
Litchfield is a city in Montgomery County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,815 at the 2000 census, and 6,588 in 2009. It is located in south central Illinois, south of Springfield and on the northern edge of the Greater St. Louis Metro-East area.-Attractions:The Ariston Cafe is one of...
, near his birthplace of Harvel, are named for him. Schalk died of cancer on May 19, at the age of 78. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Evergreen Park, Illinois.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of players who have hit for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
External links
- Ray Schalk at The Baseball Biography Project
- The Deadball Era
- Harvel Illinois, Historical Society of Montgomery County Illinois
- Ray Schalk in Baseball Digest, September 1970