George Scharein

George Albert Scharein (Tom)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 174 lb.
• Debut April 19, 1937
• Final Game April 28, 1940
• Born November 21, 1914 in Decatur, IL USA
• Died December 23, 1981 in Decatur, IL USA

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Biographical Information

George Scharein was a light-hitting shortstop for the 1937-39 Philadelphia Phillies and also played 7 games for them in 1940. In 1941, he was the shortstop for the legendary Newark Bears who went 100-54. He hit .229 for them.

He played for Nashville in 1936. He was purchased by the New York Giants and then traded to the Phillies later that year.

The Phillies had used Leo Norris at shortstop in 1936, and in 1937 used Scharein while Norris played backup at short, third, and mostly at second base. Although Norris was a better hitter than Scharein, slugging .407, 1937 was his last year in the majors.

In 1938 it was Scharein's turn to serve as backup in the way that Norris had. Del Young, who had broken in during 1937 as a second baseman, played shortstop in 1938, and while Scharein was at short a lot of the time, he also played 39 games at second base.

Scharein was again the regular shortstop in 1939, as Young appeared in only 77 games hitting .263.

Scharein was let go after only 7 games in 1940, in spite of hitting .294, perhaps because he had made 5 errors. 22-year-old rookie Bobby Bragan won the job, hitting .222. He was to keep the job through 1942.

• George's brother Art Scharein was also a light-hitting infielder whose career had a similar trajectory. Art was a regular in his first two seasons, and then appeared in only one game in his third and last season.