Ray Schalk
Schalk played much of his career at 5'9" and 165 pounds, yet he caught 100 or more games in a season 12 times, and retired as the major league record holder for most games behind the plate. He called four no-hit games, also a record, and he was considered a master handler of pitchers. His White Sox teams had one of the finest pitching staffs of their era, and he helped the club to two World Series appearances, including their last title. But he is often remembered for being one of the honest men in the 1919 World Series, in which eight of his teammates conspired to throw their games against the Reds.
| Career Batting Stats |
| G |
AB |
H |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
SLG |
OBP |
OPS |
OPS+ |
| 1762 |
5306 |
1345 |
579 |
11 |
594 |
177 |
.253 |
.316 |
.340 |
.656 |
92.2 |
|
Quotes About Ray Schalk
"Of the Sox' four backstops, [Ed] Walsh seems to like best to pitch to Schalk, although any of the regulars has shown ability to handle him. Only a kid of 20, Schalk has demonstrated that he knows a lot about catching and lacks only experience." — I.E. Sanborn, Chicago Tribune
Teams Ray Schalk Managed
Chicago White Sox (1927-1928)
Where does Ray Schalk rank among baseball greats?
Ray Schalk ranks #23 among the Top 50 all-time at C. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1922
Schalk was 29 years old and he put it all together with the stick and behind the mask. He led the league in assists, putouts, chances and fielding, committing just eight errors. His .989 fielding average tied the AL record for catchers. With the bat he hit .281, which was one point below his best mark for a full season. He set a career-high with four homers and plated 60 runs, while stealing 12 of 16. On June 27 he hit for the cycle. The Sox improved 15 games in the standings, finishing with a 77-77 mark.
According to Brian Cooper (author of "Red Faber: A Biography of the Hall of Fame Spitball Pitcher"): "On May 11, 1925, Schalk caught a baseball
dropped from the new, 462-foot Tribune Tower. He caught the third ball dropped. The first did not clear some scaffolding and the second bounced off his glove in a one-handed attempt. On the third drop, Schalk calmly snared the ball with both hands. Legend had it that team owner Charles Comiskey was unaware - and unhappy - about his future Hall of Famer participating in
the stunt, which stopped lunchtime traffic on Michigan Avenue for 20 minutes. However, the Tribune carried preview articles, so it is unlikely
that Sox management was unaware. In any case, Schalk was not in the White Sox lineup later that afternoon, when Walter Johnson and Washington beat the Sox 9-0."
Description
Schalk was quick behind the plate, and is credited as being the first catcher to back up first and third base on throws from the infield or outfield, though that's a dubious claim.
Where He Played
Catcher
As a Manager
He was 102-125 in one and a half seasons at the helm. Schalk resigned on July 4, 1928, preferring to return to catching duties only. At the end of the season he was released by Chicago and signs with the Giants.
Born
Raymond William Schalk was born on August 12, 1892, in Harvel, IL.
Died
May 19, 1970, Chicago, IL
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Major League Debut
8 11,
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1912
Rabbit Maranville
Cy Williams
Del Pratt
Bobby Veach
Ray Schalk
Casey Stengel
Buck Weaver
Ray Chapman
Herb Pennock
Nicknames
Cracker
Similar Players
Luke Sewell, Steve O'Neill
Related Players
Schalk replaced Eddie Collins as manager of the White Sox in November of 1926... In 1982, Kansas City's John Wathan broke Schalk's single-season steal record for catchers, ending up with 36... Schalk caught three White Sox pitchers who eventually were enshrined in the Hall of Fame: Ed Walsh, Red Faber, and Ted Lyons
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1936 |
BBWAA |
4 |
1.8% |
1937 |
BBWAA |
24 |
11.9% |
1938 |
BBWAA |
45 |
17.2% |
1939 |
BBWAA |
35 |
12.8% |
1942 |
BBWAA |
53 |
22.7% |
1945 |
BBWAA |
33 |
13.4% |
1946 |
Nominating Vote |
36 |
17.8% |
1947 |
BBWAA |
50 |
31.1% |
1948 |
BBWAA |
22 |
18.2% |
1949 |
Run Off |
17 |
9.1% |
1949 |
BBWAA |
24 |
15.7% |
1950 |
BBWAA |
16 |
9.5% |
1951 |
BBWAA |
37 |
16.4% |
1952 |
BBWAA |
44 |
18.8% |
1953 |
BBWAA |
52 |
19.7% |
1954 |
BBWAA |
54 |
21.4% |
1955 |
BBWAA |
113 |
45.0% |
1955 |
Veterans |
|
% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1917 World Series
1919 World Series
Feats
Schalk's 30 stolen bases in 1916 set a record for catchers.
Batting Feats
Notes
Schalk was third in voting for the 1922 AL Most Valuable Player Award, behind George Sisler and Eddie Rommel.
Trivia Question
How many 20-game winners did Ray Schalk catch?
Trivia Answer
Schalk caught nine different pitchers who won 20 games in at least one season. Those pitchers combined to win 20 games on 17 different occassions. The list: 1912, Ed Walsh;
1913, Reb Russell and Jim Scott; 1915, Red Faber and Jim Scott; 1917, Eddie Cicotte; 1919, Eddie Cicotte and Lefty Williams; 1920, Eddie Cicotte, Lefty Williams, Red Faber and Dickie Kerr; 1921, Red Faber; 1922, Red Faber; 1924, Sloppy Thurston; 1925, Ted Lyons; 1927, Ted Lyons.
Learn More about Ray Schalk
Search Amazon.com for Books about Ray Schalk ⇒
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View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
Sources used for the Ray Schalk Player Page:
SABR member Jacob Pomrenke