Barney Schultz
Encyclopedia
George Warren "Barney" Schultz (born August 15, 1926, in Beverly, New Jersey
), was a professional baseball
player. He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies
in 1944. He was a pitcher
in the Major Leagues from 1955-1965. He would play for the St. Louis Cardinals
, Detroit Tigers
, and Chicago Cubs
. In October 1966 he was briefly reactivated by the Cardinals so that he could receive a major league pension.
Schultz was strictly a relief pitcher, appearing in 227 games overall without any starts. He was an early specialist in the knuckleball
. He had two good years with the Cubs, then was traded to the Cardinals where he had his best season, 1964, with 14 saves (a significant quantity in those days) and a 1.64 earned run average. Probably his most visible moment was a negative, in Game 3 of the 1964 World Series
, in which he gave up a game-winning home run to Mickey Mantle
in the nationally-televised Saturday game. However, he had been credited with a save in Game 1, and the Cardinals ultimately won the Series in 7 games.
Cardinals' utility catcher Bob Uecker
was sometimes called upon to catch when Schultz was brought in to pitch. It was from that experience that he drew some of his material when joking about the difficulties of catching the knuckler.
After his playing career ended, Schultz was a St. Louis Cardinals minor league pitching instructor from 1967 to 1970 and the Cardinals pitching coach from 1971 to 1975. He was a member of the Chicago Cubs staff in 1977.
Beverly, New Jersey
Beverly is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 2,577.Beverly was originally incorporated as a borough on March 5, 1850, within Willingboro Township...
), was a professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 1944. He was a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in the Major Leagues from 1955-1965. He would play for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, and Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. In October 1966 he was briefly reactivated by the Cardinals so that he could receive a major league pension.
Schultz was strictly a relief pitcher, appearing in 227 games overall without any starts. He was an early specialist in the knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
. He had two good years with the Cubs, then was traded to the Cardinals where he had his best season, 1964, with 14 saves (a significant quantity in those days) and a 1.64 earned run average. Probably his most visible moment was a negative, in Game 3 of the 1964 World Series
1964 World Series
The 1964 World Series pitted the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals against the American League champion New York Yankees, with the Cardinals prevailing in seven games. St...
, in which he gave up a game-winning home run to Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
in the nationally-televised Saturday game. However, he had been credited with a save in Game 1, and the Cardinals ultimately won the Series in 7 games.
Cardinals' utility catcher Bob Uecker
Bob Uecker
Robert George "Bob" Uecker is an American former Major League Baseball player, later a sportscaster, comedian, and actor. Uecker was given the title of "Mr. Baseball" by Johnny Carson...
was sometimes called upon to catch when Schultz was brought in to pitch. It was from that experience that he drew some of his material when joking about the difficulties of catching the knuckler.
After his playing career ended, Schultz was a St. Louis Cardinals minor league pitching instructor from 1967 to 1970 and the Cardinals pitching coach from 1971 to 1975. He was a member of the Chicago Cubs staff in 1977.