The Brooklyn Dodgers, National League champions, pose for a team photo, Sept. 26, 1952, at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn. Seated on ground: Charlie Di Giovanna. Seated in first row, from left: George Shuba, Andy Pafko, Pee Wee Reese, George Pfister, Cookie Lavagetto, Chuck Dressen, Jake Pitler, Billy Herman, Billy Cox, Roy Campanella, Carl Furillo, Dr. Harold Wendler. Second row: John Griffin (in T-shirt), Lee Scott (in suit), Jim Hughes, Gil Hodges, Ben Wade, Johnny Rutherford, Jackie Robinson, Clem Labine, Clyde King, Chris van Cuyk, Preacher Roe, Joe Black, Ralph Branca, Rocky Nelson. Last row: Joe Landrum, Ed Amoros, Rube Walker, Carl Erskine, Bobby Morgan, Tommy Holmes, Rocky Bridges, Billy Loes, Duke Snider, Dick Williams, Ken Lehman, Ronnie Negray, Steve Lembo, Ray Moore. AP Photo
Ball players are remembered for different things. Some pitchers were known to throw at a batter’s head (Sal Maglie, Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson). Some ball players were wizards in the field (Pee Wee Reese, Phil Rizzuto, Ozzie Smith), and others on the base paths (Maury Wills, Pete Rose). George “Shotgun” Shuba was known for a handshake, a handshake dubbed, “The Handshake of the Century.” But we get ahead of the story.
Born Dec. 14, 1928, George Shuba, son of Czech immigrants, was one of 10 children. He was born, lived but for his years in Brooklyn, and died in Youngstown, Ohio. He played an injury-shortened seven big league years, all for the Brooklyn Dodgers. This is his story. Let’s start at the end and work forward to the handshake. First, his career.
He was brought up July 2, 1948, at 23 years of age, after a sensational year in the minors. Dodgers President and General Manager Branch Rickey didn’t think he had enough power and played good enough defense and sent word that Shuba shouldn’t be a starter. He was a utility outfielder and pinch-hitter. Baseball Research gives us his career numbers. Shuba had 814 career at-bats. He managed 211 hits, 24 of which were home…
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