Urban Shocker pitched in the major leagues from 1916-1928.
St. Louis Browns pitcher Urban Shocker surrendered fourteen hits gave up four runs, issued five walks with just one strike out.
Sometimes statements next context. One could think that this isn’t really the greatest pitching line for a day’s work, but it turned out to be pretty decent on Sept. 6, 1924.
It really was literally a day’s work for Shocker as he tossed complete game victories in both games of a doubleheader for the Browns as they beat the Chicago White Sox by identical scores of 6-2.
In the opener, Shocker gave up nine hits with three of them by White Sox left-fielder Bibb Falk. He also recorded his only strikeout on the afternoon as he fanned Chicago first baseman Earl Sheely.
The Browns had 12 hits with first baseman and player/manager George Sisler leading the way with three hits. Second baseman Marty McManus knocked in a pair runs as the Browns never trailed.
Red Faber was the losing pitcher for the White Sox as he fell to 9-7 on the season.
Shocker was better in game two as he held the White Sox to five hits. Falk had two of the hits and knocked in both runs.
McManus led the Browns 13-hit attack with three singles as he drove in three runs. The Browns scored three times in the first frame to knock out Chicago hurler Sloppy Thurston before he could record an out.
With the wins, Shocker would be 15-13. He would add one more victory and finish what would be his last season with the Browns at 16-13 with a 4.20 ERA.
Starting in Canada
Born in Cleveland, Shocker began his professional career in the minors in Canada. After a losing season in Windsor, the right hander was 20-8 for Ottawa in 1914 and was 19-10 the following year.
In 1916, he was 15-3 with Toronto before joining the New York Yankees at the age of 25. He finished the year at 4-3. After an 8-5 season in 1917, the Yankees traded him to the Browns.
It took two years, but Shocker became one of the more dominate hurlers in the American League as he won over 20 games in four straight seasons with the Browns earning 91 victories from 1920-1923.
Shocker’s best season was in 1921 when he compiled a 27-12 mark. He was 24-17 in 1922 when the Browns finished second in the Yankees in the AL.
Prior to the 1925 season, Shocker was traded back to the Yankees. He was 12-12 that year before going 19-11 as the Yankees won the AL pennant. He went on the pitch in the World Series against the St Louis Cardinals, he lost game two and pitched in the sixth contest, which they Yankees also lost.
Despite an 18-11 record for the 1927 Yankees, Shocker didn’t pitch as New York won the World Series that fall.
The following year would be his last in the big leagues and of his life. Having a life-long heart condition, Shocker appeared in only one game for two innings in a 5-0 loss to the Washington Senators in Yankee Stadium on May 30. He would later die at the age of 37 on Sept. 9.
In 13 seasons, Shocker would finish with a career record of 187-117 with a 3.17 ERA. Because of the grandfather rule permitting pitchers to still use the spitball, Shocker was reported to be the last one to use the pitch legally.