George Shuba

George "Shotgun" Shuba (December 13, 1924 – September 29, 2014) was an American baseball player. He was an outfielder. He was a left-handed pinch hitter in Major League Baseball. Shuba played seven seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

George Shuba
George Shuba 1953.jpg
Outfielder
Born: (1924-12-13)December 13, 1924
Youngstown, Ohio
Died: September 29, 2014(2014-09-29) (aged 89)
Youngstown, Ohio
Batted: Left Threw: Right
debut
July 2, 1948, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Last appearance
September 25, 1955, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Career statistics
Batting average.259
Home runs24
Runs batted in125
Teams
Career highlights and awards

His seven seasons included three World Series as well as a World Series championship in 1955. He was the first National League player to hit a pinch-hit home run in a World Series game.[1]

Shuba is often remembered for his symbolic role in breaking down Major League Baseball's tenacious "color barrier".[2] He was born in Youngstown, Ohio.

While playing for a farm team in the 1940s, Shuba offered a congratulatory handshake to teammate Jackie Robinson, who went on to become the first African American to play in a major league game since the late 19th century.[2] The moment was captured in a well-known photograph dubbed A Handshake for the Century for featuring the first interracial handshake in a professional baseball game.[2]

Shuba died on September 29, 2014, at age 89 in Youngstown, Ohio. He was the last living Brooklyn Dodger who appeared in the final game of the 1955 World Series, the only one won by the Dodgers in their Brooklyn history.

References

  1. Kovach, John (August 12, 2007). "'Shotgun' George Shuba recounts his baseball life". The Vindicator: C-3. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Davidson, Christine (April 2007). "'A silent, seminal moment in baseball history'". The Metro Monthly: 8. 

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