Shane Rawley

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Shane Rawley

|image=Shane Rawley - Seattle Mariners - 1981.jpg

|caption=Rawley in 1981

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Right

|throws=Left

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1955|7|27}}

|birth_place=Racine, Wisconsin, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 6

|debutyear=1978

|debutteam=Seattle Mariners

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 17

|finalyear=1989

|finalteam=Minnesota Twins

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=111–118

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=4.02

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=991

|teams=

Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|1978}}–{{mlby|1981}})
New York Yankees ({{mlby|1982}}–{{mlby|1984}})
Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|1984}}–{{mlby|1988}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|1989}})

|highlights=

All-Star (1986)

}}

Shane William Rawley (born July 27, 1955) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball from 1978 through 1989 for the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Minnesota Twins.

Rawley began his MLB career as a relief pitcher with the Mariners and became a starting pitcher with the Yankees. He was selected to the National League All-Star team in 1986 as a member of the Phillies. The next year, he won a career-high 17 games, leading the NL in games started with 36. In his major league career, Rawley had a 111–118 win–loss record with 991 strikeouts and a 4.02 earned run average (ERA).

Career

Rawley attended William Horlick High School in Racine, Wisconsin.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-times-coming-of-age-shane-r/148253491/|title=Coming of age: Shane Rawley finds maturity is real key to pitchers' success|newspaper=The Journal Times |date=June 22, 1986|pages=19|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=May 28, 2024}} He starred on the baseball and basketball teams, and was named All-City for basketball as a senior. Rawley graduated in 1973 and enrolled at Indian Hills Community College (IHCC) for the 1973–1974 academic year. Playing for their college baseball team, he had a 6–2 win–loss record with 63 strikeouts while allowing 30 hits and 19 runs. The Montreal Expos selected him in the 1974 MLB draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ottumwacourier.com/sports/former-all-star-ace-rawley-headed-to-ihcc-hall-of-fame/article_2ca9dbe6-43ae-50f2-868a-41118d97bd4b.html|title=Former All-Star ace Rawley headed to IHCC Hall-of-Fame|first=SCOTT JACKSONCourier sports|last=writer|date=February 19, 2014|website=Ottumwa Courier|accessdate=May 28, 2024}} On May 27, 1977, the Expos traded Rawley and Ángel Torres to the Cincinnati Reds to complete an earlier trade for Santo Alcalá.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-piqua-daily-call-reds-expos-complet/148253005/|title=Reds, Expos complete Alcala deal|newspaper=The Piqua Daily Call |date=May 28, 1977|pages=7|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=May 28, 2024}} After the 1977 season, the Reds traded Rawley to the Seattle Mariners for Dave Collins.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader-reds-acquire-dave-collins/148254379/|title=Reds acquire Dave Collins|newspaper=Argus-Leader |date=December 10, 1977|pages=19|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=May 28, 2024}}

Rawley made his major league debut with the Mariners in April 1978. He pitched as a setup reliever{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-shane-comes-with-guns-b/148414436/|title=Shane comes with guns blazin'|newspaper=The Daily Herald |date=April 11, 1978|pages=16|via=newspapers.com}} and had a 7–7 win–loss record and 13 saves in the 1980 season. He broke his foot in January 1981 and struggled when he returned.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bellingham-herald-shane-rawley-glad/148414496/|title=Shane Rawley glad to be going to Yankees|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald |date=April 2, 1982|pages=17|via=newspapers.com}} He had a 0–3 with a 4.41 earned run average at the time of the 1981 MLB strike.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-times-shane-rawley/148414230/|title=Shane Rawley|newspaper=The Journal Times |date=June 28, 1981|pages=11|via=newspapers.com}} On April 1, 1982, the Mariners traded Rawley to the New York Yankees for Bill Caudill, Gene Nelson, and a player to be named later. On April 6, the Yankees sent Bobby Brown to Seattle to complete the trade.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/16/sports/mariners-dispute-82-yankee-trade.html|title=Mariners Dispute '82 Yankee Trade|work=The New York Times |date=February 16, 1983|via=NYTimes.com|accessdate=May 28, 2024}} The Yankees transitioned Rawley into a starting pitcher in July 1982 and he had a 11–10 win–loss record as a starter. After the 1982 season, the Yankees signed Rawley to a four-year contract.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/23/sports/yankees-rawley-agree.html|title=Yankees, Rawley Agree|work=The New York Times |date=November 23, 1982|via=NYTimes.com|accessdate=May 28, 2024}}

On June 30, 1984, the Yankees traded Rawley to the Philadelphia Phillies for Marty Bystrom and Keith Hughes.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/01/sports/yanks-trade-rawley-for-phils-bystrom.html|title=Yanks Trade Rawley for Phils' Bystrom|work=The New York Times |date=July 1, 1984|via=NYTimes.com|accessdate=May 28, 2024}} Rawley was named to the 1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and finished the season with 11 wins and a 3.54 ERA. In 1987 he finished the year as the Phillies ace, compiling a 17-11 record with a 4.39 ERA, leading the National League in games started. Though his 17 wins were the second-most in the National League, he did not receive any votes for the Cy Young Award.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/11/sports/phillies-bedrosian-cy-young-winner.html|title=Phillies' Bedrosian Cy Young Winner|first=Murray|last=Chass|work=The New York Times |date=November 11, 1987|via=NYTimes.com}} Rawley was the Phillies' Opening Day starting pitcher for the 1987 and 1988 seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/forgotten-phillies-opening-day-starters-of-the-last-30-years/2344029/|title=Forgotten Phillies Opening Day Starters of the Last 30 Years|first=Pat|last=Devlin|date=March 28, 2020|accessdate=May 28, 2024}}

After the 1988 season, the Phillies traded Rawley and cash considerations to the Minnesota Twins for Tom Herr, Eric Bullock, and Tom Nieto.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-25-sp-206-story.html|title=The Philadelphia Phillies traded pitcher Shane Rawley...|first=L. A. Times|last=Archives|date=October 25, 1988|website=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=May 28, 2024}} In 1989, he had a 5–12 record and a 5.21 ERA and became a free agent after the season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/26/sports/31-players-still-among-free-agents.html|title=31 Players Still Among Free Agents|first=Murray|last=Chass|work=The New York Times |date=December 26, 1989|via=NYTimes.com}} Rawley signed with the Boston Red Sox for the 1990 season,{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/01/09/Rawley-signs-with-Red-Sox/3057631861200/|title=Rawley signs with Red Sox – UPI Archives|website=UPI|accessdate=May 28, 2024}} but they released him at the end of spring training.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/04/02/Red-Sox-cut-pitchers-Rawley-Woodward-and-Ellsworth/2633639028800/|title=Red Sox cut pitchers Rawley, Woodward and Ellsworth – UPI Archives|website=UPI}} He completed his major league career with a 111–118 record, a 4.02 ERA, 991 strikeouts, and 40 saves.

Personal life

In the 1980s, Rawley contributed to the building of a softball complex in Yorkville, Wisconsin, and co-owned it for several years before selling his share.{{Cite web|url=https://journaltimes.com/news/local/new-owner-brings-new-life-to-the-former-shane-rawley-sports-center-in-yorkville/article_9f84c7b8-178a-5e76-a882-a220cb795d55.html|title=New owner brings new life to the former Shane Rawley Sports Center in Yorkville|first=Michael|last=Burke|date=June 5, 2005|website=Journal Times|accessdate=May 28, 2024}}

Rawley was inducted into the Racine County Sports Hall of Fame in 2011{{Cite web|url=https://journaltimes.com/sports/racine-county-sports-hall-of-fame-rawley-s-athleticism-went-beyond-baseball/article_2b0a6004-fd31-11e0-a0c8-001cc4c03286.html|title=RACINE COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME: Rawley's athleticism went beyond baseball|first=Peter|last=Jackel|date=October 22, 2011|website=Journal Times}} and the IHCC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.

After retiring from baseball, he has owned Shaner's Pizzeria in Sarasota, Florida, since August 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2013/12/04/mccurdys-comedy-theatre-moving-to-downtown-sarasota/29215710007/|title=McCurdy's Comedy Theatre moving to downtown Sarasota|first=GERRY|last=GALIPAULT|website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/phillies-players-food-restaurant-business-20240328.html|title=Here are the Phillies who have taken on another field: The food business|first=Michael|last=Klein|date=March 28, 2024|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|accessdate=May 28, 2024}} In 2023, he published a novel about a baseball player who fought in the Vietnam War.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/2023/12/15/shane-rawley-writes-first-novel-peter-cobb-three-strikes-youre-out/71831127007/|title=Shane Rawley, former major leaguer and longtime Sarasota resident, publishes first novel|website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|accessdate=May 28, 2024}}