Bob Shawkey, a right-handed pitcher who played in seven World Series with the New York Yankees, is a Pennsylvania native but made Syracuse his home after his playing days were over. Shawkey started his 14-year pro baseball career with the Philadelphia Athletics. But he gained fame after he was traded to the Yankees, where he played from 1915-1927.

Shawkey, who pitched 425 games for the Yankees, struck out an American League-record 15 batters in a game in 1919. He was the starting pitcher in the first game played in Yankee Stadium in 1923, the same year he lead the AL with a 2.46 ERA. During the inaugural game, Babe Ruth hit the first homer at the new Yankee Stadium but Shawkey hit the second.

Overall, Shawkey won 207 career games and had 20-win seasons in 1916, 1919, 1920 and 1922. While pitching for the Yankees, he was fourth in strikeouts and fifth in complete games. In 1930, Shawkey managed the Yankee for one season replacing Miller Huggins. He went on to coach and manage a number of team in his later years.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1913-1915: Played with the Philadelphia Athletics

1915-1927: Played with the New York Yankees

1919: Set an all-time American League strikeout mark of 15 in a single game vs. the A’s

1923: Led American League in ERA with 2.46; On April 18, pitched the first game played in Yankee Stadium; and beat the Red Sox 4-1 and also hit a home run before an a nnounced crowd of 74,217.

1930: Managed New York Yankees replacing Miller Huggins

1931-1944: Managed Jersey City, Newark and Scranton.

1944: Moved to Syracuse, married Gertrude Weiler, formed the Industrial League.

1946-1951 Managed, coached, scouted for Watertown, Pittsburg, Tallahassee, Detroit and Jamestown

1953-1958: Coached Dartmouth College baseball team.

1962: Manager in Syracuse Chiefs Old Timers Game.

1976: Threw out the first ball on opening day at the refurbished Yankee Stadium.