Shamsky, Art

Arthur Louis Shamsky

A member of the fabled 1969 "Amazing Mets" team that won the World Series, Shamsky hit .300 for the club that season, and thus, is something of a folk hero in New York to this day. An outfielder with a sweet left-handed stroke, Art was one of the championship Mets' outstanding hitters and more popular players. After his baseball career, Shamsky became a real estate consultant and a sports broadcaster in New York City, where he also owns a restaurant. Art is a member of the New York Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. October 14, 1941

Career Highlights:
Shamsky first played in the majors with the 1965 Cincinnati Reds, appearing in 64 games that year and hitting .260. The following season, he slugged 21 home runs in only 96 games, and finished the campaign with a splendid .521 slugging average. On August 12, Art hit three home runs in his final three at-bats, including 2 in extra innings (that game, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, saw a record 11 home runs in the contest). He then hit a home run in his first at-bat August 14 to tie a Major League record by slamming a home run in 4 straight at-bats!

After playing one more season with the Reds, Shamsky was traded to the New York Mets before the 1968 season. In 1969, Art became a hero to New York's Jewish community as he hit .300 with 14 HR and 47 RBI for the Mets. In the NL Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves, Art was outstanding, leading all batters with 7 hits; he went 7-13 for a .538 average. The Mets then upset the heavily favored Baltimore Oriole powerhouse in the World Series to capture the franchise's first title. The Mets actually lost the first game, then swept the next four to win the Series in convincing fashion.

The following season, Art continued his success, hitting .293 and registering career-highs in games (122), hits (118), runs (48), and RBI (49). He remained with the Mets until 1972, when he played in a total of 22 games for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland A's before back problems forced his retirement.

Career Dates:
Shamsky played for the Cincinnati Reds, 1965-67, the New York Mets, 1968-71, and the Oakland A's and Chicago Cubs in 1972.

Position:
Outfield, although he spent some time at first base, as well.

Physical description:
6'1", 168 pounds
Left-handed

Career Statistics:
Games: 665
Batting Avg.: .253
Slugging Avg.: .427

At-bats: 1686
Hits: 426
Doubles: 60
Triples: 15

Home Runs: 68
Home Run %: 4.0
Runs: 194
RBI: 233

BB: 188
Strike Outs: 254
Stolen Bases: 5

Pinch Hitting
At-bats: 189
Hits: 41

Fielding Statistics
Put-outs: 1196
Assists: 65
Errors: 13
Double-plays: 50

Total Chances per Game: 2.7
Fielding Avg: .990

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