Chuck Schilling
Encyclopedia
Charles Thomas Schilling (born October 25, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American
former second baseman
in Major League Baseball
for the Boston Red Sox
from 1961-65. Schilling, who attended Manhattan College
, threw and batted right-handed, stood 5'11" (185 cm) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).
After playing for Boston's AAA Minneapolis Millers
farm team
in 1960, Schilling broke into the major leagues in 1961
, the same year as friend and fellow Long Islander, eventual Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski
. A slick fielder, his arrival prompted the Red Sox to move the incumbent American League
batting champion, Pete Runnels
, from second base to a first baseman
and utility infielder
role. Schilling appeared in 158 games as a rookie, setting career highs in batting average
(.259), hits
(167), runs scored
(87), and runs batted in (62). He made 8 errors
in 846 chances for a league-best fielding percentage
of .991. He won Red Sox' Most Valuable Player (now the Thomas A. Yawkey
) Award for 1961 as bestowed by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
In Schilling's sophomore season, 1962
, he suffered a wrist injury and missed over 40 games, and his batting ability was impaired for the rest of his career. Although he hit a personal-best 7 home runs in 1962, he batted only .230 and he would never again exceed the .240 mark as a hitter. He reclaimed the regular second baseman job in 1963
, and batted .234 in 143 games and lost his regular job to Felix Mantilla
and Dalton Jones
in 1964
.
By the start of the 1966
campaign, Schilling had become a utility player. Coming out of spring training
, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins
with catcher
Russ Nixon
for left-handed pitcher Dick Stigman
. Schilling began the season on the Twins' 28-man roster, but he never appeared in any games and retired before the rosters were cut to 25 men on May 15.
During his five-season career, Schilling batted .239 in 541 games played, with 23 home runs and 146 runs batted in.
In retirement, Schilling returned to Long Island, where he became a secondary-school mathematics teacher and played competitive softball
until the age of 69.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
from 1961-65. Schilling, who attended Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
, threw and batted right-handed, stood 5'11" (185 cm) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).
After playing for Boston's AAA Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
in 1960, Schilling broke into the major leagues in 1961
1961 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Cincinnati Reds ; Whitey Ford, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Candlestick Park: National League, 5-4 *All-Star Game , July 31 at Fenway Park: 1–1 tie...
, the same year as friend and fellow Long Islander, eventual Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
. A slick fielder, his arrival prompted the Red Sox to move the incumbent American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
batting champion, Pete Runnels
Pete Runnels
James Edward "Pete" Runnels was a Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Washington Senators , Boston Red Sox and Houston Colt .45s . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed....
, from second base to a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and utility infielder
Utility infielder
A utility infielder is a baseball player, usually one who does not have a regular starting role on the team and who is capable of playing more than one of the four defensive infield positions: second base, third base, shortstop, and less typically first base...
role. Schilling appeared in 158 games as a rookie, setting career highs in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.259), hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(167), runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(87), and runs batted in (62). He made 8 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 846 chances for a league-best fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
of .991. He won Red Sox' Most Valuable Player (now the Thomas A. Yawkey
Tom Yawkey
Thomas Austin Yawkey, born Thomas Austin , was an American industrialist and Major League Baseball executive. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Yawkey became president of the Boston Red Sox in 1933, and was the sole owner of the team for 44 seasons, longer than anyone else in baseball history.-Early...
) Award for 1961 as bestowed by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
In Schilling's sophomore season, 1962
1962 in baseball
The 1962 season is perhaps most notable for the dismal 40–120 record of the New York Mets, the third-worst winning percentage and the record for most games lost since 1900.-Major League Baseball:...
, he suffered a wrist injury and missed over 40 games, and his batting ability was impaired for the rest of his career. Although he hit a personal-best 7 home runs in 1962, he batted only .230 and he would never again exceed the .240 mark as a hitter. He reclaimed the regular second baseman job in 1963
1963 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers beat New York Yankees ; Sandy Koufax, MVP*All-Star Game, July 9 at Municipal Stadium: National League, 5–3; Willie Mays, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: USC...
, and batted .234 in 143 games and lost his regular job to Felix Mantilla
Felix Mantilla Lamela
Félix Mantilla Lamela is a former Major League Baseball player. In his 11-year career, Mantilla played for the Milwaukee Braves , New York Mets , Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros . An infielder/outfielder, he played second base the majority of his career...
and Dalton Jones
Dalton Jones
James Dalton Jones is a former Major League Baseball player who played nine seasons in the big leagues for the Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , and Texas Rangers .-Biography:...
in 1964
1964 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over New York Yankees ; Bob Gibson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 7 at Shea Stadium: National League, 7–4; Johnny Callison, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Minnesota...
.
By the start of the 1966
1966 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Los Angeles Dodgers ; Frank Robinson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at Busch Stadium: National League, 2–1 ; Brooks Robinson, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Ohio State...
campaign, Schilling had become a utility player. Coming out of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
with catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Russ Nixon
Russ Nixon
Russell Eugene Nixon is a former catcher, coach and manager in American Major League Baseball. A veteran of 55 years in professional baseball, Nixon has managed at virtually every level of the sport, from the lowest minor league to MLB assignments with the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves...
for left-handed pitcher Dick Stigman
Dick Stigman
Richard Lewis Stigman is a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1960-1966. He graduated from Sebeka High School in Sebeka, Minnesota. Dick was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cleveland Indians in . He would play for the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland...
. Schilling began the season on the Twins' 28-man roster, but he never appeared in any games and retired before the rosters were cut to 25 men on May 15.
During his five-season career, Schilling batted .239 in 541 games played, with 23 home runs and 146 runs batted in.
In retirement, Schilling returned to Long Island, where he became a secondary-school mathematics teacher and played competitive softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
until the age of 69.