Charley Schanz – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Charles Murrell Schanz stands out as a fascinating figure in baseball history. He really embodies the journey of so many players who fought their way through the minor leagues just to get a shot at the majors.

Born in Anacortes, Washington, in 1919, this right-handed pitcher spent 17 seasons in professional baseball before finally hanging up his cleats in 1950.

Schanz put together a major league record of 28 wins and 43 losses over six seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox. His best year popped up in 1944 when he won 13 games as a rookie. At 6-foot-3 and tipping the scales at over 200 pounds, he was a big guy, bespectacled, and known more for his stubborn determination than raw talent.

Schanz’s career spanned the tough war years of the 1940s, a time when many established players were off serving overseas.

Digging into Schanz’s career, you see the struggles and little victories of a journeyman pitcher. He overcame early control issues and physical setbacks to make his major league dreams real.

From his early days mopping floors while trying to get through engineering school to his last season in Sacramento, Schanz’s story really shows what it takes to stick with pro baseball for nearly twenty years.

Early Life and Background

Charles Murrell Schanz was born on June 8, 1919, in Anacortes, Washington. He faced tragedy early on when his father died during Charley’s childhood.

His path from small-town Washington to professional baseball started with his education in California. He joined local baseball leagues as a kid.

Family and Upbringing

Charley Schanz grew up in a family that hit hard times early. His father, also Charles Murrell Schanz, died when Charley was still a little kid.

His mom, Leana Hadden, raised him on her own. The family moved to California while Charley was still young.

By 1923, his mother worked as a typist and got listed in the Sacramento City Directory as Mrs. Leanah Schanz. Later, she became a teacher in Sacramento, showing her commitment to education and supporting her family.

Growing up in a single-parent household shaped Schanz’s early life. His mom’s work ethic and drive probably rubbed off on him as he chased his baseball dreams despite plenty of bumps in the road.

Education and Youth Baseball

Schanz attended Carmichael Elementary, then San Juan and Christian Brothers high schools around Sacramento. He played baseball for a couple seasons in high school, starting to pick up the skills that would eventually pay the bills.

Besides school ball, Schanz played two years in the Sacramento Winter League. That extra time on the diamond gave him some much-needed experience and a taste of stiffer competition.

After high school, he did a year at Sacramento Junior College. He worked as a janitor in 1938 and tried to make it through engineering school, showing a practical side as he supported himself and explored different options.

Path to Professional Baseball

In 1938, Schanz’s baseball path changed for good when he attended a baseball school run by the San Francisco Seals. Larry Woodall and Lefty O’Doul, both big names in Pacific Coast League baseball, ran the camp.

At 18, Schanz already stood 6-foot-3 and weighed 203 pounds. He wore eyeglasses, which became a signature look for him.

Scout Harry Krause spotted Schanz’s potential at that camp and offered him a contract. That led to his first assignment with the Tucson Cowboys of the Class-D Arizona-Texas League.

That’s where his 17-season professional baseball journey began, eventually leading him to the majors.

Minor League Journey

Charley Schanz spent 13 years grinding it out in the minors. He climbed from Class D all the way to Triple-A, dealing with control problems, injuries, and bouncing between teams before finally getting his shot.

Early Teams and Development

Schanz started his pro career in 1938 with the Tucson Cowboys in the Class-D Arizona-Texas League. Just 18, he already had the size and wore those trademark glasses.

His first season was rough. He pitched 204 innings and finished 9-16 with a 4.59 ERA. Still, that heavy workload gave him some real experience, even if the record wasn’t pretty.

The next year, he improved. Schanz dropped his ERA to 3.49 and went 10-5 before moving up to Class C Salt Lake City. The jump up proved tough, and he struggled to a 6.63 ERA in 57 innings.

By 1940, Schanz played in Class B ball with the Western International League. He split time between the Tacoma Tigers and Yakima Pippins, combining for an 18-9 record.

He got hot, winning 10 straight games from late July through September.

Notable Achievements in the Minors

Schanz really broke through in 1942 with Tacoma. He went 18-13 with a 3.00 ERA and finished third in the league with 149 strikeouts.

He did all this after a shoulder injury forced him to rely more on finesse than just trying to overpower hitters.

“That was the year I really learned to pitch,” Schanz said later. “When you don’t have your fast one, you’ve got to mix them up or get your brains knocked out.”

In 1943, he joined the San Diego Padres. Even though the team landed in seventh place, Schanz won 17 games and lost 18, holding a 3.23 ERA. Again, he finished third in league strikeouts.

Key Minor League Statistics:

• 1942: 18-13, 3.00 ERA (Tacoma)
• 1943: 17-18, 3.23 ERA (San Diego)
• 1949: 22-17, 3.25 ERA (Seattle)

Transition to Major Leagues

The Philadelphia Phillies picked Schanz third overall in the November 1943 minor league draft. His steady performance and better control had caught the eye of big league scouts.

Russ Newland of the San Francisco Chronicle gave Schanz high marks for his 1943 season, saying he “did the best pitching job, week in and week out.” Newland even suggested Schanz might have won 30 games on a better team.

At 24, Schanz had learned to pitch smart, not just hard. His years in the minors taught him to mix up his pitches and focus on location instead of just blowing it by hitters.

He married Doris Roberts of Sacramento in November 1943, which gave him some personal stability as he geared up for his shot at the majors. The couple had three sons during his baseball run.

Major League Career Highlights

Charley Schanz pitched in the big leagues from 1944 to 1950, finishing with a 28-43 record and a 4.34 ERA over 155 games.

He started with four seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies, where he had his best run as a rookie in 1944, and wrapped up with a short stint with the Boston Red Sox in 1950.

Philadelphia Phillies Tenure

Schanz made his major league debut on April 24, 1944, against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Shibe Park. He lost his first game 8-2, but quickly settled in with the Phillies.

He spent four seasons with Philadelphia from 1944 to 1947. During that stretch, he pitched in 121 games, starting 80 of them.

Schanz showed his stuff early on. On May 29, 1944, he threw a one-hitter against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds. Joe Medwick hit a two-run homer in the seventh for the only hit, but the Phillies won 5-2.

He also showed his versatility on June 22, 1944, when he pitched nine innings of relief and won a 1-0 game that lasted 15 innings against the Boston Braves.

Best Seasons and Key Performances

Schanz’s rookie season in 1944 was the high point of his major league career. He went 13-16 with a 3.32 ERA for the Phillies, who finished way out of first place.

His 13 wins that year made up almost half his career total. Not bad, considering Philadelphia managed only 61 wins as a team.

The next year, 1945, was a struggle. Schanz ended up 4-15 and lost a month to acute jaundice. He admitted he came back from the hospital sooner than he should have.

On July 15, 1945, Schanz tied a major league record by hitting four batters in one game. That game was memorable for another reason—slugger Jimmie Foxx came in to relieve him and threw 2⅔ scoreless innings.

Role with Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox picked up Schanz in late September 1949 after he went 22-17 with a 3.25 ERA for the Seattle Rainiers in the Pacific Coast League.

Schanz sounded optimistic about joining the Red Sox, calling it “a dream set-up” and “the best chance I’ve ever had.” Playing for a contender was a big deal for him.

His time in Boston didn’t go as planned. Schanz appeared in only 14 games in 1950, all in relief.

He managed a 3-2 record but struggled with his control, posting an 8.34 ERA by his last appearance on July 2.

The Red Sox put him on waivers in July 1950. The St. Louis Browns claimed him but voided the deal when he didn’t report, which basically ended his major league career.

1950 Season and Retirement

Charley Schanz’s last big league season came with the Boston Red Sox in 1950. He worked only as a relief pitcher before his contract got cut in July.

His struggles on the mound and release marked the close of his six-season major league career.

Final Games and Performance

Schanz started the 1950 season hopeful about joining a strong Red Sox team. “This is a dream set-up,” he said in spring training. “It’s the best chance I’ve ever had and I’m going to make every effort to make this team.”

He pitched in 14 games for Boston, all in relief. He went 3-2 but had major trouble with his control and effectiveness.

His ERA ballooned to 8.34 by his last game on July 2.

The drop-off from his minor league success in 1949 was tough to watch. Just the year before, he had won 22 games with a 3.25 ERA for Seattle in 321 innings.

Major league hitters proved a much bigger challenge for the 31-year-old veteran.

His final big league stats: 28 career wins, 43 losses, a 4.34 ERA, and 243 strikeouts.

Retirement Decision and Circumstances

The Red Sox put Schanz on waivers in early July 1950 after his rough outings. The St. Louis Browns claimed him on July 5, but he never showed up as required by the waiver rules.

On July 12, the Browns voided the claim and sent his rights back to Boston. Instead of continuing in the majors, Schanz finished out the 1950 season with the Seattle Rainiers in the Pacific Coast League.

His minor league numbers weren’t much better—he posted a 6.29 ERA in 103 innings with Seattle. That turned out to be his last professional season, capping a career that stretched from 1938 to 1954.

Schanz kept playing in the Pacific Coast League through 1954 before finally retiring. He stayed involved with youth baseball in Sacramento and worked as a truck salesman for Tidewater Oil.

Legacy and Post-Baseball Life

After his major league run ended with the Boston Red Sox in 1950, Charley Schanz stayed close to the game. He coached youth baseball and got involved in the Sacramento community.

He also built a successful business career but always kept his commitment to helping young players grow.

Life After Retirement

Schanz eventually put down roots in Sacramento, California, and took a job as a T.B.A. (Tires, Batteries, and Accessories) truck salesman for Tidewater Oil. That work brought him a steady paycheck and let him stay close to home.

He married Doris Roberts from Sacramento in November 1943. Together, they raised three sons: Gary, Rick, and Kevin.

After leaving professional baseball, Schanz shifted his focus to family life. That became his main priority.

He kept playing in the Pacific Coast League through 1954, spending his last seasons with Seattle and Sacramento. He kept his ERA under 4.00 in all four of those years.

His career after baseball stretched out for nearly forty years. Schanz lived quietly in Sacramento until he died from coronary artery disease on May 28, 1992, at age 72.

Contributions to the Baseball Community

Schanz really got involved in youth baseball around Sacramento. He spent a lot of time coaching and mentoring kids in local leagues.

He helped found the Pacific Little League Park. That park became a real hub for youth baseball in the area.

Schanz didn’t just coach—he also helped organize and shape youth baseball programs. He brought his professional background to the table, teaching fundamentals and sportsmanship.

Local kids learned from his experience with both hitting and pitching. Even though he only hit .134 in his career, he understood the mental side of the game.

Recognition and Tributes

People in Sacramento mostly recognized Schanz for his work in youth baseball. Folks in the local sports scene respected all he did for the community.

He’s buried at East Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento. His grave quietly honors his contributions to baseball, both big league and local.

The Pacific Little League Park is still there, serving young players long after Schanz’s time. That’s probably his most lasting tribute.

Baseball reference books still list his major league stats: 28 wins, 43 losses, and a 4.34 ERA over five seasons. He had his best year in 1944, winning 13 games for Philadelphia.

Personal Life and Memorial

Charley Schanz married Doris Roberts of Sacramento on November 20, 1943. They had three sons together.

After his playing days ended, Schanz stayed active in youth baseball and worked as a truck salesman until he passed away in 1992.

Family and Personal Endeavors

Schanz and Doris Roberts got married in Sacramento in November 1943. They raised three sons: Gary, Rick, and Kevin.

Once he retired from pro ball in 1954, Schanz stayed close to the sport by helping with youth baseball. He became a founder of the Pacific Little League Park in Sacramento, sharing his baseball knowledge with the next generation.

For work, Schanz took a job as a T.B.A. truck salesman for Tidewater Oil. The job gave him stability and let him stick around Sacramento, the city he called home.

His dedication to youth baseball really showed how much he wanted to give back to the game that shaped his life.

Passing and Memorial

Schanz died at home on May 28, 1992, at age 72. Coronary artery disease took his life.

He pitched during World War II, a time when so many players were serving overseas.

The baseball community remembered him as a dedicated pitcher who gave his all, even when he played for struggling teams. His standout season came in 1944, when he won 13 games for the last-place Philadelphia Phillies.

Gravesite and Lasting Remembrance

Schanz rests at East Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento, California. His grave quietly honors everything he gave to both professional and youth baseball.

He helped start the Pacific Little League Park, and that place still stands today. Sacramento kids keep playing there, even decades after he passed away.

You can still find his professional baseball stats in the record books. Over five seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox, he racked up 28 wins and 43 losses.