John Shelby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Shelby |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: February 23, 1958 Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 15, 1981, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 11, 1991, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .239 | ||
| Home runs | 70 | ||
| Runs batted in | 313 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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John T. Shelby (born February 23, 1958) is a former American baseball player. He was a center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1981 to 1991. John played for the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Detroit Tigers.
He was part of two teams that won the World Series. These were the 1983 Orioles and the 1988 Dodgers. People sometimes called him "T-Bone" because he was quite slim. Today, he works as a coach in the Atlanta Braves minor league system.
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Early Life and School Baseball
John Shelby was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on February 23, 1958. He went to Henry Clay High School in Lexington. He was a talented athlete there.
He played both baseball as a shortstop and basketball. He was recognized as one of the best players in his area. After high school, he played baseball for one year at Columbia State Community College in Columbia, Tennessee.
John Shelby's Baseball Journey
Playing in the Major Leagues
The Baltimore Orioles picked John Shelby in the first round of the amateur draft in January 1977. He was the 20th player chosen overall. That same year, he started his professional career with the Bluefield Orioles. He played 60 games and had a batting average of .256.
In 1983, John Shelby joined the Baltimore Orioles for his first full year in the major leagues. That year, the Orioles won the 1983 World Series. John played well in the World Series, hitting .444 (4 hits in 9 tries) and getting one RBI.
In 1987, John was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team needed a center fielder so badly that he played his first game right away. He didn't even have time to get his name put on his uniform!
During Game 4 of the 1988 National League Championship Series, John made a very important play. He got a walk in the ninth inning, which allowed Mike Scioscia to hit a home run that tied the game. Later, Kirk Gibson hit a game-winning home run. John also had a two-run single earlier in that game. The Dodgers went on to win the 1988 World Series, giving John his second championship title.
On June 3, 1989, John played in a very long game against the Houston Astros. It lasted 22 innings, and he had 10 chances to hit but didn't get any hits.
The Dodgers let John go on June 2, 1990. Eleven days later, the Detroit Tigers signed him. He became a free agent after that season, but the Tigers signed him again in November. They released him on August 13, 1991.
In 1992, John Shelby played his last season as a professional baseball player. He played 127 games for the Pawtucket Red Sox. This team was the top minor league team for the Boston Red Sox. He hit 17 home runs and had 64 RBIs, but his batting average was .205.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, John Shelby became a baseball coach. He was the hitting coach for the Albuquerque Isotopes, a minor league team for the Colorado Rockies.
He has managed several minor league teams. He has also been a coach for major league teams like the Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, and Milwaukee Brewers. In 2017, he was hired as a traveling minor league instructor for the Atlanta Braves.
John Shelby's Family
John Shelby has several sons who also play baseball. His oldest son, John Shelby III, used to play in Major League Baseball. Now, he is a coach in the Boston Red Sox's minor league system.
His second son, Jeremy Shelby, played one season in the Baltimore Orioles' minor league system. His fourth son, JaVon Shelby, played baseball for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2016. John's nephew, Josh Harrison, is also a major league player.
