Former Yankees, Red Sox Pitcher Rollie Sheldon Dies
A right-handed pitcher who helped the Yankees reach three World Series in his five-year MLB career died at 89.
Rollie Sheldon, a former major league pitcher, passed away on August 31 at the age of 89 in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Born in Woodstock, Connecticut, Sheldon stood at 5-foot-9 and weighed 135 pounds when he graduated high school in 1954. After serving in the U.S. Air Force and playing in Germany, he attended Texas A&M and later the University of Connecticut, where he excelled in both baseball and basketball.
The New York Yankees signed Sheldon in June 1960, and he made an immediate impact, going 15-1 with a 2.88 ERA and earning Rookie of the Year honors. He joined the 1961 Yankees, a team featuring stars like Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, and posted an 11-5 record with a 3.60 ERA, including two shutouts. Despite not pitching in the 1961 or 1962 World Series, Sheldon appeared in the postseason in 1964, where he retired all six batters in Game 7 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Sheldon's career took a turn when the Yankees traded him to the Kansas City Athletics in 1965. He went on to play parts of five seasons for the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, compiling a 38-36 record with a 4.09 ERA and 371 strikeouts. Sheldon, who grew up rooting for the Red Sox, expressed his love for the Yankees, stating that they had always been a part of his life. He is survived by his wife Shirley, two daughters, and two granddaughters.
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