Bob Shaw (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bob Shaw |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: June 29, 1933 The Bronx, New York |
|||
| Died: September 23, 2010 (aged 77) Tequesta, Florida |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| August 11, 1957, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 11, 1967, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 108–98 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.52 | ||
| Strikeouts | 880 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
Robert John Shaw, known as Bob Shaw, was a talented American baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher. Bob played in Major League Baseball for 11 seasons. He was part of seven different teams from 1957 to 1967. In 1962, he was chosen as an All-Star player. This means he was one of the best players in the National League. In 1966, he had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. This shows he was great at catching and throwing the ball.
Contents
Bob Shaw's Baseball Career
Bob Shaw made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on August 11, 1957. He started his career with the Detroit Tigers. In 1958, the Tigers traded Bob to the Chicago White Sox.
Playing for the Chicago White Sox
Bob Shaw had a great year in 1959 with the White Sox. He won 18 games for his team. The White Sox won the American League pennant that year. This meant they were the best team in the American League. They then played against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1959 World Series.
In Game 5 of the World Series, Bob Shaw pitched an amazing game. He defeated Sandy Koufax with a 1–0 shutout. A shutout means the other team scored zero runs. Even with Bob's great pitching, the Dodgers won the series in six games.
Moving to Other Teams
After playing for the White Sox, Bob Shaw was traded to several other teams. He played for the Kansas City Athletics in 1961. Then, he joined the Milwaukee Braves from 1962 to 1963.
In 1963, while pitching for the Braves, Bob Shaw set a unique record. He made five balks in one game against the Chicago Cubs. A balk is when a pitcher makes a move that tricks a runner on base.
Bob later played for the San Francisco Giants from 1964 to 1966. He then played for the New York Mets in 1966 and 1967. His final team was the Chicago Cubs in 1967.
Teaching a Famous Pitcher
While playing for the Giants in 1964, Bob Shaw taught another famous pitcher, Gaylord Perry, how to throw a spitball. A spitball is a type of pitch where the ball is altered with saliva or another substance. This makes the ball move in an unusual way. Bob also taught Perry how to hide this from the umpires and the other team. Gaylord Perry later wrote about this in his 1974 book, Me and the Spitter.
Coaching Career After Playing
After his playing career, Bob Shaw became a pitching coach. He worked in Minor League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1972, the Milwaukee Brewers hired him as their pitching coach. He worked under his former teammate, Del Crandall. Bob left the Brewers in 1973.
Bob also coached in the American Legion baseball program for many years. In 1986, he coached the Jensen Beach Post 126 team. They won the American Legion World Series title.
Bob Shaw's Personal Life
After retiring from baseball, Bob Shaw worked as a realtor. He helped people buy and sell property in Florida. He even became a co-owner of a real estate company in Tequesta, Florida. He continued to work until he became sick in May 2010.
Bob Shaw passed away on September 23, 2010. He died from liver cancer in Tequesta, Florida, where he lived.
Images for kids
-
Bob Shaw in 1964.
