| Ray Schalk | |
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| Catcher | |
| Born: August 12, 1892 Harvel, Illinois |
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| Died: May 19, 1970 (aged 78) Chicago, Illinois |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| August 11, 1912 for the Chicago White Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 15, 1930 for the New York Giants | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .253 |
| Hits | 1,345 |
| Runs batted in | 594 |
| Stolen bases | 177 |
| Teams | |
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As Player As Manager |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1955 |
| Election Method | Veteran's Committee |
Raymond William Schalk (August 12, 1892 - May 19, 1970) was a Major League Baseball catcher noted for his fine handling of pitchers and remarkable defensive ability. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.
Born in Harvel, Illinois, Schalk played for the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association before being sold to the Chicago White Sox. He made his major league debut in 1912, playing 23 games behind the plate. He assumed the everyday role of catcher the following year, playing in 129 games, batting .244 and stealing 14 bases. Staying with the White Sox until 1928, Schalk established himself as one of the league's outstanding defensive catchers by leading the league's catchers in fielding percentage eight times and putouts nine times. He also established himself as one of the finest baserunning catchers, setting a single-season stolen base record for the position in 1916 with 30 swipes, which stood until John Wathan stole 36 in 1982.
Schalk played on the 1917 world champion White Sox team and was one of the honest players on the 1919 Black Sox, hitting .304 for the series. On April 30, 1922, he caught Charlie Robertson's perfect game against Detroit. Two months later, on June 27, Schalk hit for the cycle.
Schalk's playing time diminished in 1927 as he assumed the role of manager, which he held into the 1928 season. Over the two seasons, he won 102 games and 125, for a .449 winning percentage. Schalk moved to the New York Giants in 1929 but appeared in only 5 games before retiring. He finished his career with a .253 average, 579 runs, 594 RBI, and 177 stolen bases.
A museum in Nokomis, Illinois is dedicated to Schalk and two other Hall of Famers, Jim Bottomley and Red Ruffing. The Little League ball fields in Litchfield, Illinois, near his birthplace of Harvel, are named for him.
Schalk is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Evergreen Park, Illinois.
See also
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
- Baseball Hall of Fame – Member biography
- The Deadball Era
- Harvel Illinois, Historical Society of Montgomery County Illinois
| Preceded by Eddie Collins |
Chicago White Sox Manager 1927-1928 |
Succeeded by Lena Blackburne |
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