Howie Shanks

Howard Samuel Shanks
(Hawk)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut May 9, 1912
• Final Game October 3, 1925
• Born July 21, 1890 in Chicago, IL USA
• Died July 30, 1941 in Monaca, PA USA

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Biographical Information

Howie Shanks played 14 seasons in the majors. He was not normally a strong hitter, but led the 1921 American League in triples. Most of his career was with the Washington Senators (1912-22). A multi-position player, he had 606 games in left field, 485 at third base, 235 at shortstop, 159 at second base, and at least 25 at each of center field, right field and first base.

He started in the minors at age 18 in 1909. After his major league playing days he played a couple years in the minors before turning to coaching at the major league level.

After his playing career ended, Shanks was a Cleveland Indians coach from 1928 to 1932. In 1938, he managed the Beaver Falls Browns to a 51-50 record and third place in the Pennsylvania State Association.

He was part of an outfield that stayed together for five years (1912-1916), with Danny Moeller and Clyde Milan. A June 1978 article in Baseball Digest about "stable outfields" refers to him as "Hank Shanks".

Related Sites

• Howie Shanks at the SABR Bio Project