Schacht, Al

Alexander Schacht

After a fifteen-year major league career (three as a pitcher, the rest as a coach), he spent over half a century clowning in ballparks. He became known as the "Clown Prince of Baseball," entertaining millions of baseball fans and G.I.'s during World War Two, and becoming one of America's most beloved humorists. In 1946, he was presented the Bill Slocum Award for longtime service to baseball.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. November 11, 1892 - d. July 14, 1984

Career Highlights:
After being expelled from high school because he had accepted $4 to pitch a game in upstate New York, Al became an outstanding pitcher in the minor leagues; in 1919, he established a record by pitching an astonishing 10 shutouts for Jersey City in the International League. The Washington Senators signed Schacht after a publicity campaign run by Schacht himself, who wrote letters to owner Clark Griffith extolling the mighty feats of minor league hurler Schacht, and signing them "a fan." Late in the 1919 season, he started two games for the Senators, winning them both (including one complete game) and had an ERA of 2.40. He remained with the Senators for two more seasons, but after developing arm trouble, he retired as a player in 1921. He had a record of 14-10 with a 4.48 ERA.

Although his playing days ended, Schacht remained an important part of the game. A natural comedian, he first began clowning in the minors while with Newark. In 1914, he was announced to pitch the second game of a double header, and made his appearance on the field riding a horse and wearing an outrageous costume. While a coach with the Senators (he started coaching immediately following his playing career), Schacht began to develop his comic act with fellow coach, and resident clown, Nick Altrock. After a while, Al began clowning on his own and took to the road -- he once played 128 towns in 130 days. Schacht was on hand for 25 World Series and 18 All-Star Games! His act -- part pantomime and part anecdotes -- could, in the words of a former teammate, "make a corpse laugh." He later owned a successful restaurant in New York and authored three books, including Clowning Through Baseball.

Career Dates:
Schacht pitched for the Washington Senators, 1919-21.

Position:
Pitcher

Physical description:
5'11", 142 pounds
Right-handed

Career Statistics:
Wins: 14
Losses: 10
Winning pct.: .583

ERA: 4.48

Games: 53
Games Started: 18
Complete Games: 8

Innings Pitched: 197
Hits Allowed: 254
Bases-on-Balls: 61
Strike Outs: 38

Shut-outs: 1

Relief Pitching
Wins: 4
Losses: 6
Saves: 2

Batting
At-bats: 52
Hits: 10
Home Runs: 0
Batting Average: .192

Fielding Statistics
Put-outs: 13
Assists: 42
Errors: 4
Double Plays: 2

Total Chances per Game: 1.1
Fielding avg: .932

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