Shags Horan

Joseph Patrick Horan

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut July 14, 1924
• Final Game September 18, 1924
• Born September 6, 1895 in St. Louis, MO USA
• Died February 13, 1969 in Torrance, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Shags Horan played one season in the majors (and sat on the bench a lot) but is most famous for throwing dirt in Ty Cobb's face. Cobb had a verbal altercation with Horan's teammate with the New York Yankees, Lou Gehrig, in a game in 1924, and a bit later Horan, while walking past the Detroit Tigers' dugout, threw some dirt in Cobb's face. Cobb responded by saying that he would get even with Horan.

Horan was a multi-sport athlete, participating on a national champion soccer club and also paying handball. He had a playful personality, and hit home runs in the minors. After baseball he was in a few movies in small roles and worked for the L.A. Department of Water and Power.

His most notable minor league year was 1923, when he hit .411 with 23 home runs and 57 doubles for the Des Moines Boosters.

Main source: Shags Horan: Challenging Ty Cobb, and Living to Tell the Story [1].

Related Sites

• Obituary
• Find-A-Grave Memorial for Shags Horan