Those that know Bobby Shantz know that he’s not much for giving speeches. But what they might not know is that the 1952 American League Most Valuable Player for Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics who pitched in the big leagues for 16 years can still run the bases.
At age 82.
But that’s exactly what Shantz, an avid golfer and Ambler resident since 1954, did Saturday on a day where the baseball field at his alma mater, Pottstown High School, was named “Bobby Shantz Field” in front of several hundred people that included family, friends, former teammates and fans.
“Somebody asked me if I thought I could walk to first base,” said Shantz, reflecting on the field dedication a day later at a Philadelphia Athletics autograph-signing event Sunday at the Days Inn in Hatboro. “I said, ‘I think I can run to first.’ And when I got to first I felt pretty good so I just kept on going. I almost went on my face between second and third. And when I got to home plate, somebody yelled ‘Slide!’ but I didn’t want to get my pants dirty.”
Once a player, always a player. Like getting his pants dirty was the only reason an 82-year-old wouldn’t slide into home plate.
“I wasn’t going to let Bobby show me up,” said former teammate Gus Zernial, who at age 84 demonstrated a little giddyup in his step as well by jogging out to the infield after his introduction during the ceremony. “Having a ball diamond named after him where the kids can remember Bobby Shantz is fantastic. Who wouldn’t want to be honored like that?”
Shantz was 24-7 for the fifth-place A’s the year he won the Most Valuable Player Award. During his career he was an eight-time Gold Glove winner, led the American League’s with a 2.45 earned run average in 1957 while pitching for the New York Yankees and was on the 1958 Yankees team that won the World Series.
In all, Shantz had a career record of 119-99 and threw his last pitch in the big leagues as a member of the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies.
Shantz’s childhood friend, Gabe Fieni, who played with Shantz in Sanatoga when they were 10 years old, first suggested that Pottstown High School name the field after Shantz. Tom Coyle, a Shantz friend and president of the Pottstown Boosters Club, spearheaded the project, which took six years to complete and was funded by a grant from Harleysville Bank and individuals who purchased commemorative bricks that form a wall just behind the home plate backstop. The A’s Society also worked for years in support of the project.
“It was just beautiful, to have all my teammates and the fans there,” said Shantz. “I was nervous at first about giving a speech, but after I got up there, I was OK.”
Which surprised his wife of 57 years, Shirley.
“He doesn’t mind answering questions, but he doesn’t like giving speeches,” said Mrs. Shantz. “I was really surprised because he said, ‘I’m just going to get up and say thank you.’
“It’s just a wonderful day for Bob. He really appreciates what the people of Pottstown have done for him,” she said.
Those attending the ceremony included A’s teammates Zernial, Lou Brissie, Carl Scheib and Forrest “Spook” Jacobs. Also on hand to honor Shantz was Detroit Tigers pitcher Virgil “Fire” Trucks, who at age 90 is the only living member of the Tigers’ 1945 World Championship team, St. Louis Browns pitcher Ned Garver and Washington Senators legend Mickey Vernon.
The Pottstown High School baseball team provided a batting practice exhibition and the Pottstown Middle School Band performed “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” for those on hand.
“This was a project of friendship,” said John Armato, director of community relations for Pottstown School District, during the ceremony. “All of Bobby’s professional accomplishments are overshadowed by the person who is Bobby Shantz. He is a model to all of us, and therein lies the reason to dedicate this field in his honor.”
