Shano Collins

From BR Bullpen

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John Francis Collins

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 6' 0", Weight 185 lb.

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Biographical Information[edit]

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Shano Collins played sixteen seasons in the majors and was considered a good defensive outfielder with a strong arm. Though not a participant, he had an interesting role in the Black Sox scandal.

Collins began his pro career with the Haverhill Hustlers of the New England League in 1907. After not playing the next summer, he was with the Springfield Ponies of the Connecticut League in 1909 and hit .322. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox and hit just .197 as a rookie in 1910 while splitting time between first base and the outfield. After several years as a starter, Collins was platooned with Nemo Leibold beginning in 1917. Shano delivered in the clutch, rapping the game-winning hit in the pennant-clinching game against the Boston Red Sox on September 21st. He started all six World Series games and hit leadoff, collecting the team's first hit and scoring the first run of the Series. In 1918, he became the first man to belt three bases loaded triples in one season.

Shano split time with Leibold in 1919 but had no part in the fixing portion of the Black Sox Scandal, going 4-for-16 in the World Series. But... when indictments were brought against the implicated parties for their alleged actions, it was Shano who was listed as the wrong party on them, alleging the conspirators had defrauded him of $1,784. When Chick Gandil refused to report to the club in 1920, Collins took his job as the Sox regular first baseman and batted .303, a career-best. Prior to the 1921 season, he was traded along with Leibold to the Red Sox for Hall of Famer Harry Hooper. He ended his playing days after parts of five seasons in Boston.

In his career, Shano was among league leaders in doubles, triples, and RBI several times while stealing 225 bases. The similarity scores method shows Dave Philley as the closest comparison. After his playing days, he managed the Red Sox in 1931 and 1932. He also managed at Des Moines and Pittsfield in the minors.

He earned the nickname "Shano" (pronounced SHAWN-oh) as a variation on "Sean", the Gaelic version of "John". He was the grandfather of Bob Gallagher.

Notable Achievements[edit]


Preceded by
Heinie Wagner
Boston Red Sox Manager
1931-1932
Succeeded by
Marty McManus

Records Held[edit]

  • Bases Loaded Triples, career, 8

Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1925 Pittsfield Hillies Eastern League 8th none Replaced Bud Stapleton
1926 Des Moines Demons Western League 99-64 1st none
1927 Des Moines Demons Western League 82-72 3rd none
1928 Pittsfield Hillies Eastern League 87-65 2nd none
1929 Pittsfield Hillies Eastern League 77-75 4th none
1930 Nashua Millionaires New England League 5-13 - none Team disbanded June 16
Des Moines Demons Western League 51-39 4th none Replaced Claude Davenport (26-32) on June 20
1931 Boston Red Sox American League 62-90 6th Boston Red Sox
1932 Boston Red Sox American League 11-44 -- Boston Red Sox Replaced by Marty McManus on June 19
1942 Pittsfield Electrics Can-Am League -- Detroit Tigers -- Replaced by Rabbit Moore

Further Reading[edit]

  • Andy Sturgill: "Shano Collins", in Jacob Pomrenke, ed.: Scandal on the South Side: The 1919 Chicago White Sox, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2015, pp. 28-31. ISBN 978-1-933599-95-3

Related Sites[edit]