Garland Shifflett

Garland Jessie Shifflett
(Duck)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10½", Weight 165 lb.
• High School Elkton (VA) High School
• Debut April 22, 1957
• Final Game June 26, 1964
• Born March 28, 1935 in Elkton, VA USA
• Died May 13, 2020 in Lakewood, CO USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Right-hander Garland Shifflett spent virtually all of his mound career from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s in the minor leagues. Garland made it into 6 games for the Washington Senators in 1957 and another 10 outings for the Minnesota Twins seven seasons later in 1964, losing his only two decisions. This was the extent of his major league career.

1955 saw Shifflett start his first season in a long run of minor league play with a bang, going 11-5 for the Erie Senators and also leading the class D Pony League with a fine 1.95 ERA. Shifflett became a work-horse on the mound during his minor league career. In his 16-year run in the minors, Garland saw action with five different clubs, spending eleven seasons with the Charlotte Hornets franchise and three years with the Denver Bears, along with single seasons with the Chattanooga Lookouts, Evansville Triplets after starting off with Erie.

Garland had double-digit winning seasons in eight of his sixteen seasons, with 14 wins being his tops in 1957 with Charlotte, which included a 16-inning shutout in the South Atlantic League playoffs. Again with the Charlotte club, this time in the Southern League in 1967, he put together a 12-7 season with a stand-out 1.45 ERA. Nearing the end of his career, at the age of 36 in 1971, Garland went 12-7 with the Denver Bears, helping them to the West Standings Title and the American Association Playoffs Championship. He was awarded the league's annual Allie Reynolds Award for the top pitcher in the circuit.

The 16th season rolled around and Garland pitched just 88 innings, mostly in relief roles, appearing in 51 games, winning 5 and losing 4 with a 4.70 ERA and he decided that it was time to call it a career. He had chalked up 144 victories and 117 losses with a 3.14 ERA while pitching 2,173 innings and appearing in 707 games, during his sixteen-year minor league time.

After baseball, Shifflett became a warehouseman for the Coors Brewing Company and as of last notice was living in Lakewood, CO. In early 2021, his wife reported that he had passed away, although details were lacking, but internet sleuths were quick to fill these in.

Notable Achievements

• 1971 Pitcher of the Year American Association, Denver Bears.

Sources

Baseball Players of the 1950s

Related Sites

• BR Minors page