Ben Shields
Born: 6/17/1903 in Huntersville, NC, USA
Died: 1/24/1982 in Woodruff, SC, USA
MLB Debut: 1924-04-17 | Final Game: 1931-05-23
Bats: R | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: Benjamin Cowan Shields
Biography
Ben Shields, born in 1903, was a professional baseball pitcher who played in the Major Leagues from 1924 until 1931. He began his career during an era characterized by the transition from the deadball era to a more offense-driven style of play. Shields made a modest impact on the mound, finishing his career with a win-loss record of 4-0 and an earned run average (ERA) of 8.27. Over the course of his career, he recorded a total of 9 strikeouts, showcasing a pitching style that, while not dominant, contributed to his teams in crucial moments.
Despite not being a household name, Shields was part of a generation of players who helped shape the game during the early years of the league's expansion and the evolution of pitching strategies. His career, which spanned through the late 1920s, coincided with significant changes in baseball, including the rise of more powerful hitters and the increasing popularity of the sport. While his statistics may not reflect a lengthy or extraordinary career, Shields remains a noteworthy figure for those studying the history of the game and its development during a transformative period.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 41.3 | 55 | 38 | 3 | 27 | 9 | 8.27 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | NYY | AL | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 27.00 | - |
| 1925 | NYY | AL | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 24.0 | 24 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 4.88 | - |
| 1930 | BOS | AL | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.0 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 9.00 | -72.8 |
| 1931 | PHI | NL | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.3 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 15.19 | 0.0 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.077 | 0.077 | 0.077 | 0.154 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | NYY | AL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1925 | NYY | AL | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
| 1930 | BOS | AL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1931 | PHI | NL | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 13 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | NYA | P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1925 | NYA | P | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1930 | BOS | P | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1931 | PHI | P | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 13 |