1961 Yankess Of The Day: Rollie Sheldon

Sheldon is similar to Jimmy Coates in that his contributions to the great 1961 Yankees have been forgotten. But rest assured, he helped make the Yankees of that year, that much better.

He made only two appearances in April. His second, the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Senators on April 30th, was a loss despite allowing just 5 hits in 7 innings.

Following two relief appearances in May, he got his second start on May 21st against the Orioles.

Again, he piched 7 innings.

Again, he gave up but 5 hits.

Again, he took the loss.

Another relief appearance followed a week later, and the he was back starting on the last day of May against the Red Sox. He didn't quite last 7 innings (6.2), and (here we go again!) he gave up 5 hits, plus 3 earned runs. But Sheldon and the Yankees emerged victorious, 7-6.

June was argurbly Rollie's best month as he went 3-0 with a 2.86 ERA and batters hit less than .200 against him (.197).

He pitched a total of 7 games, 4 of them starts. His first three appearances were the second game of doubleheaders.

First he went the distance and beat the Twins, 6-1 on June 5th. Then he pitched a perfect ninth in a 9-6 loss to Kansas City. Finally, he beat the expansion Los Angeles Angels 5-1 with a pitching line that consisted of 8 innings, 6 hits,6 walks, and 6 Ks!

On June 19, he started against Kansas. This time, he allowed only 2 walks and 5 hits in his 8.1 innings. It would be a no decision, however, and the Yankees eventually lost 4-3.

Then he won a wild one against Minnesota on June 24th.

Shelly lasted less than 6 innings and surrendered 6 hits and 5 (earned) runs. Yet he won the game 10-7 to lift his won-loss record to 4-2. His last appearance in June was on the 27th as he tossed a perfect 8th inning (1 strikeout) against the Angels.

July was Sheldon's busiest month as he pitched nine times, six of them starts.

Actually, he started with a fine relief appearance (5.1 innings) against the Sens on the very first day of July. He didn't get a decision, but he allowed only 2 hits and 2 walks.

Following another relief appearance 3 days later against the Tigers, he was back starting against the Indians. Despite 4 hits and 5 walks allowed, he finished with a shutout.

Four days later, he pitched another shutout, this time a 5 hitter, no walks and 7 Ks.  This dropped his ERA to 2.28.

But then he staggered in his next two starts.

First he allowed 6 runs in only 5 1/3 innings work against Chicago on July 14. Then he allowed 3 earned runs and 7 hits against Washington. His effort against the Red Sox on the 22nd was no better as Rollie was shelled for 4 earned runs in only 3.1 innings of work.

He gained a little revenge by beating the White Sox on a fine 4 hitter, but in his last July start, he was knocked out on 5 hits in only 1.1 innings work.

He waited 6 days in August before getting a start against Minnesota. 8 hits allowed but only 2 runs scored, and Roland had his 8th victory.

Chicago again had his number in his next start, but on August 20th, he won his 9th game with another 8 hitter, this time against the Tribe.

He pitched three more times that month: A good relief appearance, a bad relief appearance, and then a very short start (5 hits and 4 runs in 2 innings) for his 4th loss on the season.

Having pitched six times in August, Sheldon was destined for the same in September.

His first two September starts we nothing of note, and in his third he retired one batter and gave up 5 earned runs. His ERA was now at a season high 3.76. And it was his 5th and final loss on the year. Sheldon was destined for the bullpen for the rest of the year.

But oddly enough, once there, he pitched very well.

He didn't recieve a decision in a fine relief appearance against the Tigers on September 15th, which was the second game of a doubleheader. But three innings, no hits and five strikeouts made him a winner eleven days later against the O's.

Rollie Sheldon's last regular season game came three days later, as he pitched the eighth and ninth innings of a 2-1 win over Boston. It was Sheldon who got the win thanks to 2 shutout innings. It would be his last time he tossed a pitch on the mound that year.

Sheldon's final record of 11-5 was the same as Jim Coates. His ERA (3.66) was higher, but he managed to toss more innings (162.2) and start more games (21) then Coates.

But perhaps, dissapointing to Sheldon, was his lack of World Series play that year. Sheldon would be the "odd man out" on the mound in the fall classic against Cincinnati.


References


Golenbock, Peter. "1961." Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print. pp. 405-445.

Smith, Ron. The Sporting News Presents 61*: The Story Of Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle And One Magical Summer. St. Louis: Sporting News, 2001. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 29 Aug. 2011.