Spec Shea
Born: 10/2/1920 in Naugatuck, CT, USA
Died: 7/19/2002 in New Haven, CT, USA
MLB Debut: 1947-04-19 | Final Game: 1955-08-27
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: Francis Joseph Shea
Biography
Spec Shea was a notable pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1947 to 1955. Born in 1920, Shea's professional career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, marked by the post-World War II era where the game saw an influx of talent and increased competition. He concluded his career with a record of 56 wins and 46 losses, showcasing a solid performance on the mound with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.8. Over his career, Shea struck out 361 batters and secured five saves, highlighting his versatility and ability to perform in high-pressure situations.
Shea's most distinguished moment came with his selection to the All-Star Game, where he represented the best of the game during his era. Known for his competitive spirit and strategic pitching, Shea contributed to his teams not only through his skills but also his leadership on the field. His career spanned a time when baseball was evolving, and he left a lasting impact on the teams he played for, including the Washington Senators and the New York Yankees. As a pitcher, Shea exemplified the hard work and dedication that defined the era, making his mark in the annals of baseball history.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | 46 | 195 | 118 | 48 | 12 | 5 | 943.7 | 849 | 398 | 66 | 497 | 361 | 3.80 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | NYY | AL | 14 | 5 | 27 | 23 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 178.7 | 127 | 61 | 89 | 89 | 3.07 | - |
| 1948 | NYY | AL | 9 | 10 | 28 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 155.7 | 117 | 59 | 87 | 71 | 3.41 | - |
| 1949 | NYY | AL | 1 | 1 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 52.3 | 48 | 31 | 43 | 22 | 5.33 | - |
| 1951 | NYY | AL | 5 | 5 | 25 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 95.7 | 112 | 46 | 50 | 38 | 4.33 | - |
| 1952 | WSN | AL | 11 | 7 | 22 | 21 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 169.0 | 144 | 55 | 92 | 65 | 2.93 | - |
| 1953 | WSN | AL | 12 | 7 | 23 | 23 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 164.7 | 151 | 72 | 75 | 38 | 3.94 | - |
| 1954 | WSN | AL | 2 | 9 | 23 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 71.3 | 97 | 49 | 34 | 22 | 6.18 | - |
| 1955 | WSN | AL | 2 | 2 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 56.3 | 53 | 25 | 27 | 16 | 3.99 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 195 | 298 | 29 | 58 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 33 | 0 | 19 | 63 | 0.195 | 0.245 | 0.258 | 0.504 | -1202.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | NYY | AL | 27 | 56 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0.196 | -248.6 |
| 1948 | NYY | AL | 28 | 47 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 0.149 | -258.7 |
| 1949 | NYY | AL | 20 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1951 | NYY | AL | 25 | 28 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0.214 | 0.0 |
| 1952 | WSN | AL | 22 | 63 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 0.238 | -248.3 |
| 1953 | WSN | AL | 23 | 62 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0.177 | -447.1 |
| 1954 | WSN | AL | 23 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.050 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | WSN | AL | 27 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.400 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.400 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | WS | NYA | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.400 |
Playoff Career Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15.3 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 2.35 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
| Year | Round | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | WS | NYA | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15.3 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 2.35 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 195 | 15 | 49 | 125 | 6 | 8 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | NYA | P | 27 | 0 | 9 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1948 | NYA | P | 28 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| 1949 | NYA | P | 20 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| 1951 | NYA | P | 25 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 3 |
| 1952 | WS1 | P | 22 | 0 | 14 | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| 1953 | WS1 | P | 23 | 0 | 5 | 24 | 0 | 2 |
| 1954 | WS1 | P | 23 | 11 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 1 |
| 1955 | WS1 | P | 27 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 195 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 23.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1947 | Rookie of the Year | ML | 3rd | 67.0 | 165 | 0 |