Charlie Shoemaker
Encyclopedia
Charles Landis Shoemaker (August 10, 1939 — May 31, 1990) was an American
professional baseball
player. The native of Los Angeles, California
, appeared as a second baseman
in parts of three Major League Baseball
seasons (1961–1962; 1964) for the Kansas City Athletics
. He batted left-handed
, threw right-handed, stood 5 in 10 in (1.78 m) tall and weighed 155 pounds (70.3 kg).
Shoemaker attended high school in Montebello, California
, and the University of Arizona
before signing with the Athletics in 1961. After batting
.271 in 82 games played
for the Class A Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides
of the Sally League
that season, he was recalled by the A's in September 1961. He collected ten hits
in 28 at bats, including two doubles
for a .385 average. But in two succeeding trials with Kansas City, he batted only .206 in 63 at bats. All told, he batted .258 as a Major Leaguer, with 23 hits, no home runs and four runs batted in.
The final seven years of his career were spent exclusively in minor league baseball
, and Shoemaker retired after the 1971 season.
Charlie Shoemaker died in Mount Penn, Pennsylvania
, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 50 on May 31, 1990.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. The native of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, appeared as a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
in parts of three Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
seasons (1961–1962; 1964) for the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. He batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
, threw right-handed, stood 5 in 10 in (1.78 m) tall and weighed 155 pounds (70.3 kg).
Shoemaker attended high school in Montebello, California
Montebello, California
Montebello is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, in the southwestern part of the San Gabriel Valley. It is located on of land just east of downtown Los Angeles. It is considered part of the Gateway Cities, and the city is a member of the Gateway Cities Council of...
, and the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
before signing with the Athletics in 1961. After batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.271 in 82 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
for the Class A Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
of the Sally League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
that season, he was recalled by the A's in September 1961. He collected ten hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 28 at bats, including two doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
for a .385 average. But in two succeeding trials with Kansas City, he batted only .206 in 63 at bats. All told, he batted .258 as a Major Leaguer, with 23 hits, no home runs and four runs batted in.
The final seven years of his career were spent exclusively in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, and Shoemaker retired after the 1971 season.
Charlie Shoemaker died in Mount Penn, Pennsylvania
Mount Penn, Pennsylvania
Mount Penn is the name of a mountain peak and a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,076 at the 2009 Census. The peak is sometimes recognized as the southern end of the Reading Prong mountains.-Geography:...
, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 50 on May 31, 1990.