Bill Shanner was a professional baseball player born in 1894, whose brief career in Major League Baseball was marked by a single game appearance on October 1, 1920. As a position player, Shanner's time in the big leagues occurred during a transitional period for baseball, as the sport was moving out of the deadball era and beginning to embrace a new style of play that emphasized power hitting. Despite his limited exposure to the game, Shanner's presence on a Major League roster is a testament to the competitive nature of baseball during the early 20th century.
In the solitary game he played, Shanner recorded no hits, home runs, or runs batted in, finishing with a batting average of 0.0. His professional career did not see significant statistics, but his journey to the major leagues reflects the aspirations of many players of his time who sought to make their mark in a challenging and evolving sport. Bill Shanner remains a footnote in baseball history, representing the countless athletes who contributed to the rich tapestry of the game, even if only for a fleeting moment.