Ray Schalk
Position: Catcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
5-9, 165lb (175cm, 74kg)
Born: August 12, 1892 in Harvel, IL
Died: May 19, 1970 in Chicago, IL
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Evergreen Park, IL
High School: Litchfield HS (Litchfield, IL)
Debut: August 11, 1912 (3,757th in major league history)
vs. PHA 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: September 15, 1929
vs. STL 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1955. (Voted by Veteran’s Committee)
View Ray Schalk’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1913 season
Full Name: Ray William Schalk
Nicknames: Cracker
Nine Players Who Debuted in 1912
Rabbit Maranville
Cy Williams
Del Pratt
Bobby Veach
Ray Schalk
Casey Stengel
Buck Weaver
Ray Chapman
Herb Pennock
All-Time Teammate Team
C: Buck Crouse
1B: Jack Fournier
2B: Eddie Collins
3B: Willie Kamm
SS: Travis Jackson
LF: Bibb Falk
CF: Happy Feslch
RF: Carl Reynolds
SP: Ed Walsh
SP: Eddie Cicotte
SP: Ted Lyons
SP: Red Faber
SP: Carl Hubbell
M: Kid Gleason
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Notable Events and Chronology for Ray Schalk Career
Biography
Hall of Famer Ray Schalk was one of the premier catchers of his day. He caught a ML-record four no-hitters in his career, including two in May 1914 and Charlie Robertson’s perfect game April 30, 1922. He handled perennially strong pitching staffs, including the 1920 White Sox rotation that boasted four 20-game winners. The 5’9″ 165-lb workhorse caught 100 or more games in 12 seasons (1913-23, ’25) and led AL catchers eight times in fielding, eight times in putouts (eight straight years, 1913-20), four times in double plays, and twice in assists. His .989 fielding average in 1922 tied the AL record at the time. He set ML catching records for career games and putouts, and still holds the ML career record for double plays and the AL career mark for assists. An important innovator, he is credited with being the first catcher to back up plays at first and third base. A powerless, merely adequate batter, he set a record for catchers by stealing 30 bases in 1916. He hit for the cycle on June 27, 1922. His best batting came in the 1919 World Series, when he hit .304 as eight of his teammates threw the Series to gamblers; he could tell what was happening, and almost came to blows with pitcher Lefty Williams.@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@
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Factoids, Quotes, Milestones and Odd Facts
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.
Played For
Chicago White Sox (1912-1928)
New York Giants (1929)
Managed
Chicago White Sox (1927-1928)
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.
Similar: Luke Sewell, Steve O’Neill
Linked: 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
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.
Post-Season Appearances
1917 World Series
1919 World Series
Description
Schalk was a 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.
Where He Played: Catcher
Feats: Schalk’s 30 stolen bases in 1916 set a record for catchers.
Batting Feats
-
- June 27, 1922: Cycle…
Notes
Schalk was third in voting for the 1922 AL Most Valuable Player Award, behind George Sisler and Eddie Rommel.
Quotes About 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
Trivia: How many 20-game winners did Ray Schalk catch?
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.
Other Resources & Links
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View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
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