Wally Shaner
Encyclopedia
Walter Dedaker Shaner was a reserve
outfielder
in Major League Baseball
, playing mainly at left field for three different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 6' 2", 195 lb., Shaner batted and threw right-handed. He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.
A native of Lynchburg, Virginia
, Shaner spent 13 years in baseball (1920–1932), including parts of four major league seasons with the Cleveland Indians
(1923), Boston Red Sox
(1926–1927) and Cincinnati Reds
(1929). His most productive season came in 1927 for the Red Sox, when he hit a .273 batting average
in a career-high 122 games.
In a four-season career, Shaner was a .278 hitter (175-for-629) with four home run
s and 74 RBI
in 207 games, including 80 runs
, 45 doubles
, eight triples
, 13 stolen base
s, and a .327 on-base percentage. In 170 fielding appearances, he posted a collective .965 percentage
(16 errors
in 455 chances). While playing for the 1925 Lincoln Links of the Western League
, Shaner finished fourth in the batting race with a .358 average in 122 games, while collecting 230 hits
, 85 RBI, 145 runs and 85 extrabases. His 30 triples in that season tied him for second place in minor league history and fifth place in all Organized Baseball.
Following his baseball retirement, Shaner worked as a stage manager at the Stardust Hotel
in Las Vegas
, Nevada
. He also was a World War II
veteran. Shaner died at the age of 92 in Las Vegas, Nevada
.
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in 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...
, playing mainly at left field for three different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 6' 2", 195 lb., Shaner batted and threw right-handed. He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.
A native of Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
, Shaner spent 13 years in baseball (1920–1932), including parts of four major league seasons with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1923), Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1926–1927) and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1929). His most productive season came in 1927 for the Red Sox, when he hit a .273 batting average
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 :...
in a career-high 122 games.
In a four-season career, Shaner was a .278 hitter (175-for-629) with four home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 74 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 207 games, including 80 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 45 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....
, eight triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 13 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, and a .327 on-base percentage. In 170 fielding appearances, he posted a collective .965 percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(16 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 455 chances). While playing for the 1925 Lincoln Links of the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
, Shaner finished fourth in the batting race with a .358 average in 122 games, while collecting 230 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....
, 85 RBI, 145 runs and 85 extrabases. His 30 triples in that season tied him for second place in minor league history and fifth place in all Organized Baseball.
Following his baseball retirement, Shaner worked as a stage manager at the Stardust Hotel
Stardust Resort & Casino
The Stardust Resort & Casino was a casino resort located on along the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada.The Stardust opened in 1958, although most of the modern casino complex was built in 1991. At its March 13, 2007 demolition it was the youngest undamaged high-rise building to ever be...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. He also was a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran. Shaner died at the age of 92 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.