Bob Shaw RIP

[JohnBriggs12]

Former Milwaukee Brave pitcher Bob Shaw passed away several days ago at age 77.

 

Shaw was 15-9 with a fine 2.80 ERA for the Braves in 1962 and 7-11 with a 2.66 ERA in 1963. He was the key guy in the trade the following winter for Felipe Alou.

 

Shaw briefly earned the nickname "Balk Shaw" in 1963. That year the umpires had a directive to enforce the balk rule of coming to a full one second stop in the stretch. Since this rule had not been enforced to the letter previously, a few guys had trouble adjusting most notably Shaw. It became farcical on May 4, 1963 in a game against the Cubs, when umpire Al Barlick called 5 balks on Shaw in one game bringing his total for the season to date to 8. I have a vague memory of watching that game on television, a rare game of the week appearance for the Braves and seeing Shaw fuming on the mound. The uproar that ensued resulted in a directive to the umps to return to their previous rule interpretation and Shaw did not record another balk the rest of the year.

[Boy Jeenius]

While I do remember Shaw as a Brave, and do remember the Felipe Alou trade(wasn't Del Crandall also dealt in that deal?), I remember Bob Shaw the most for ruining Bill Parsons in his only season as Del Crandall's pitching coach. I remember the big TV spot with Shaw changing Parson's delivery to get more rotation on his breaking ball. Parsons ended up being destroyed after a great debut season.

[RockCoCougars]

RIP, we are losing a lot of Milwaukee Braves. I'm not old enough to remember Shaw's career as a pitcher or as a pitching coach. Thanks for making me feel a little younger guys!