Jimmy Sheckard
Adaptability was the key to Jimmy Sheckard's career. Early on, he was a slugging outfielder who led the league in triples and homers, and drove in 100 runs. Later, he became a patient leadoff batter for Frank Chance's Chicago Cubs, drawing a record 147 walks in 1911, and 122 more the following season. An excellent defensive left fielder, Sheckard played in four World Series in five years for the Cubs, helping them to a pair of titles.
Quotes About Sheckard
"Sheckard was one of the brightest ball players in the business, and he was a bigger cog in the old invincible Cub machine than he ever received credit for being." — teammate Johnny Evers
Played For
Brooklyn Dodgers (1897-1898)
Baltimore Orioles, National League (1899)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1900-1905)
Chicago Cubs (1906-1912)
St. Louis Cardinals (1913)
Cincinnati Reds (1913)
All-Time Rankings
Jimmy Sheckard ranks #27 among the Top 50 all-time at LF. Rankings ⇒
Factoids
Jimmy Sheckard performed in a barbershop quartet along with teammates Solly Hoffman and Lew Ritchie in the 1910s.
Born
Samuel James Tilden Sheckard was born on November 23, 1878, in Upper Chanceford Twsp., PA.
Died
January 15, 1947, Lancaster, PA
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Primary Position: OF
Primary Team: BRO
Major League Debut
September 14, 1897
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1897
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| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1938 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1945 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1946 |
Nominating Vote |
1 |
.5% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1906 World Series
1907 World Series
1908 World Series
1910 World Series
Injuries and Explanation for Missed Playing Time
From Don Jensen's biography of Sheckard for SABR:
On June 2, 1908, Sheckard nearly lost the use of his left eye as a result of a fistfight with teammate Heinie Zimmerman. During the melee Jimmy threw something at the young infielder. Infuriated, Zimmerman picked up a bottle of ammonia and hurled it at his assailant. The bottle broke as it hit Sheckard between the eyes, spilling ammonia all over his face. Chance ran to Sheckard's assistance but Zimmerman had the best of the manager, too, until the rest of the team intervened. The Cubs originally tried to cover up the incident, but Sheckard was sidelined for several weeks and the story eventually leaked. Jimmy batted a career-low .231 in just 115 games that season (his fewest since 1900) but returned in time to participate in the famous 1908 pennant race.
Learn More about Jimmy Sheckard
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