Mike Shelton

Michael Chris Shelton

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lbs.
• Born August 27, 1962

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Mike Shelton pitched six seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies chain, topping out in AAA. He began his career in 1985, pitching 51 games -- all in relief -- for the class A Spartanburg Suns. He showed promise, leading the team in appearances, ERA (1.87), games finished (45), and saves (23). He didn't allow a home run in his 72.1 innings, struck out 69 (8.6 K/9) and walked 24 (3.0 BB/9). He moved up the ladder to the AA Reading Phillies the following year, and was tried in the starting rotation for a while. Of the 37 games in which he appeared in '86, he started 18 of them. He posted an ERA of 3.30, walked fewer men per nine innings than he had in Spartanburg, but his strikeout rate was cut in half, going from 8.6 K/9 to 4.3 K/9. He was back in Reading for 1987, again splitting time between the rotation and the bullpen. He appeared in 41 games, with 15 starts. His ERA went up a bit to 3.85, his strikeout and walk rates remained almost identical, but his hit rate went up. (From 8.4 H/9 in 1986 to 10.9 H/9 in '87.) Despite that, he was moved up to AAA for 1988. Again appearing as a starter and reliever for the Maine Phillies, he pitched in 33 ballgames, starting seven of them, posting a 3.29 ERA. His hit rate came back down to Earth, but his walk rate went up. However, he gave up a mere two home runs in 98.1 innings, and his strikeout rate improved. He remained at the AAA level for 1989, but moved from Old Orchard Beach to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He only saw action in 10 games -- three starts -- and was not nearly as productive as he had been. His ERA rose all the way to 6.35, his walk rate and home run rate both rose significantly, and his hit rate went into orbit. The only bright spot was that his strikeout rate also went up. He'd find himself back in Reading in 1990, but only pitched in five games, faring very poorly; his ERA ballooned all the way to 13.94. This was his final professional season.

Shelton appeared as a contestant on The Price is Right on January 16, 1990. He was among the first contestants called to "come on down" that day, and was the first to win his way onstage to play a pricing game -- Most Expensive -- which he won. (Incidentally, the second pricing game that day was the baseball-themed Three Strikes.) He did not win his Showcase Showdown, however. While chatting with host Bob Barker on the air, he indicated that he was chiefly used as a long reliever.