Steve Shea

Steven Francis Shea

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.
• School Ricker College, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• High School Bedford (MA) High School
• Debut July 14, 1968
• Final Game May 31, 1969
• Born December 5, 1942 in Worcester, MA USA
• Died March 4, 2015 in North Hampton, NH USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Steve Shea played parts of two seasons in the majors.

Originally signed by the Chicago Cubs, Shea made his minor league debut in 1962. After about two years in the Cubs chain, he was released in 1964 and missed the entire 1965 campaign. He was signed by the Houston Astros late in 1965 and was back on the mound in 1966, going 12-5 with a 1.78 ERA in 46 games for the Cocoa Astros of the Florida State League. After starting the 1968 season by going 8-5 with a 2.74 ERA in 18 starts for the Oklahoma City 89ers, he was called up to the majors in mid-July. For Houston, he went 4-4 with a 3.38 ERA and 6 saves in 30 relief outings.

Prior to the 1969 season, Shea's contract was purchased by the expansion Montreal Expos. It was part of the complicated deal that brought Rusty Staub to Montreal: on the eve of breaking camp, the Expos sent young pitchers Jack Billingham and Skip Guinn to Houston as compensation for Donn Clendenon's unwillingness to report to the Astros, and in turn purchased Shea, Leo Marentette and Howie Reed from Houston (OF Jesus Alou had already joined the Astros after the deal had first been announced back in January). Shea joined the Expos' Opening Day roster and pitched in 10 games, posting a 2.87 ERA, before being sent down to the Vancouver Mounties at the end of May. He pitched in the minors through 1971 but never made it back to the bigs.

After his baseball days, Shea earned his MBA from Boston College and was a longtime bank executive. He died in 2015 at age 72.