Meet Urban Shocker

URBAN SHOCKER

Positions: Pitcher
Full Name: Urban James Shocker

Bats: Right - Throws: Right

Born: September 22, 1890 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Died: September 09, 1928 in Denver, Colorado, USA

Organizations: St. Louis Browns (7), New York Yankees (6)

URBAN SHOCKER'S WALL OF GLORY

PITCHING

• Wins Leader: 1 (1921)
• SV Leader: 1 (1920)
• SO Leader: 1 (1922)

FIELDING

• PO as P: 1 (1922) 
• Fielding % as P: 2 (1924, 1925)

WHO?

Urban Shocker, born Urbain Jacques Shockor, was a MLB pitcher for the New York Yankees and St. Louis Browns, from 1916 to 1928.

Urban Shocker started his career with the NY Yankees, but was traded to St. Louis Browns after 2 seasons. With 4 consecutive 20-wins seasons in the early 1920's he was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. After 7 seasons in St. Louis, he was re-acquired by New York. Shocker was the last Yankee to legally throw a spitball. 

Shocker had a congenital heart condition so severe (it was corroing one of his valves) that it is said that he had to sleep either sitting or standing up. By early fall of 1927, he was too ill to maintain his spot in the rotation. In 1928 he just pitched 2 shutout innings in relief on Memorial Day against Washington Senators. No long after that game, during a practice at Comiskey Park, Shocker collapsed and was released by Yankees. He passed away in Denver in September of that very same year.

After just 13 seasons, in 412 games Shocker had a record of 187-117 and ERA of 3.17. He was also a good fielding pitcher in his era, with just 15 errors in 769 chances (.980 fielding %)

MY COMMENT:

You could win more than 500 games as pitcher (as Cy Young did), or bat more than 700 HR (like the Babe), but you never, ever, will have a name as cool as "Urban Shocker".

Its fair to say that it wasn't his real name, but neither a nickname. Urbain Jacques Shockor was of French heritage. His nephew Roger Shockor stated that Urbain changed his name as a consequence of sport writers misspelling it. Still the most badass name in MLB history (as long as I know).

Beside his colorful name, Shocker was also a fighter. He was a dominant pitcher and a spitball artist while battling a painful heart disease, although very few people knew it.  

BEST FIVE SEASONS

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP
1919	28	SLB	AL	13	11	.542	2.69	30	25	14	5	0	211.0	193	75	63	6	55	86	1.175
1920	29	SLB	AL	20	10	.667	2.71	38	28	22	5	5	245.2	224	97	74	10	70	107	1.197
1921	30	SLB	AL	27	12	.692	3.55	47	38	30	4	4	326.2	345	151	129	21	86	132	1.319
1922	31	SLB	AL	24	17	.585	2.97	48	38	29	2	3	348.0	365	141	115	22	57	149	1.213
1923	32	SLB	AL	20	12	.625	3.41	43	35	24	3	5	277.1	292	122	105	12	49	109	1.230

Note: If you are using a cell phone to look at this table, put it horizontally for a better experience

What do you think? is "Urban Shocker" the coolest name in baseball? If not, who is? Share your thoughts!