Joe Shaute

Joseph Benjamin Shaute (August 1, 1899 in Peckville, Pennsylvania – February 21, 1970 in Scranton, Pennsylvania) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched from 1922 to 1934, and during his 13-year career, he played primarily for the Cleveland Indians.^[1] He attended Juniata College and Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.

He made his major league debut in September 1922, and threw his first pitch to legendary swatter Babe Ruth.^[1] Baseball historian William C. Kashatus noted that when Shaute came to the pitching mound, "the Indians were clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth with two outs and bases loaded with Yankees".^[1] Shaute gained notoriety when he struck out Ruth on four pitches to end the inning.^[1] In the following inning, he faced another powerful hitter, Bob Meusel, who "swung so hard on Shaute's first offering that he whirled completely around and fell to the ground".^[1] The pitcher next struck out Yankee catcher Freddie Hoffman.^[1] Kashatus observed that Shaute "continued to dominate Ruth for the next three years".^[1]

The situation changed in 1927, however, when Ruth hit 60 home runs, setting a major league record that stood for more than seven decades.^[1] Ruth hit three of those home runs—numbers 30, 40, and 52—off of Shaute.^[1] Nevertheless, during his 13-season career, Shaute struck out Ruth on more than 30 occasions.^[1]

Shaute enjoyed his best season in 1924, "when he won 20 games for the lowly Indians who finished sixth that year".^[1]

Notes

References

• Kashatus, William C. (2002). Diamonds in the Coalfields: 21 Remarkable Baseball Players, Managers, and Umpires from Northeast Pennsylvania. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-1176-4.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)