Who is the man: Jim Shellenback produced what would be his finest major league season in 1970, appearing in 39 games and posting a 6-7 mark and a 3.69 ERA.
Can ya dig it: Shellenback was no older than 27 when this photo was taken. I know. I didn't even believe that when I wrote it, but it's true.
Right on: That's a good look at the Major League Baseball logo on his left shoulder.
You see that cat Shellenback is a bad mother: Shellenback suffered a badly broken right leg in a car accident in 1967 and was told by doctors he would never play again. When his leg emerged from the cast, it was shorter than his left leg. He missed a year-and-a-half rehabilitating, but he would play through 1977.
Shut your mouth: Shellenback's uncle, Frank Shellenback, was a pitcher for the White Sox in 1918 and 1919. He also was the last remaining legal spitballer in professional baseball.
No one understands him but his woman: I missed posting this on Shellenback's 71st birthday by one lousy day.
(A word about the back): Can you imagine letting a rookie go 11 innings in his first start in a 1-1 game today? He'd be a folk hero.
I always set aside cards with the MLB logo patch on them. They are my own little tribute to those silly 1/1 LogoMan cards. Now I have another one for the checklist.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who pitched 11 innings today would probably get a baseball card memorializing it, if Highlights cards weren't a thing of the past too.