Garland Shifflett – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Garland Shifflett spent most of his 18-year professional baseball career in the minor leagues. Still, his brief stints in the majors left an impression on those who followed his journey from small-town Virginia to the big leagues.

Born in Elkton, Virginia in 1935, this right-handed pitcher picked up the nickname “Duck” during a career that ran from 1955 to 1972.

Shifflett played just 16 games in Major League Baseball, appearing with the Washington Senators in 1957 and the Minnesota Twins in 1964 before retiring from professional baseball.

His major league stats show an 0-2 record with a 6.31 ERA and 10 strikeouts. But honestly, Shifflett’s real baseball story played out in the minors, where he won 144 games and lost 117, sporting a solid 3.14 earned run average.

On June 11, 1964, he notched his only career save against the Detroit Tigers. His last MLB appearance came on June 26, 1964, facing the Chicago White Sox, which closed the book on his big league dreams.

Shifflett’s career kind of sums up what so many players go through—dedicating their lives to baseball but spending most of it in the minors. His journey from the Washington Senators to the Minnesota Twins gives a peek into pro baseball life in the late 1950s and 1960s.

From his amateur days to his post-baseball life in Colorado, where he passed away in 2020, Shifflett’s story shows both the tough parts and the rewards of chasing a professional baseball career.

Early Life and Amateur Beginnings

Garland Jessie Shifflett was born on March 28, 1935, in Elkton, Virginia. He found his love for baseball there, in that small town.

People called him “Duck” from early on, though who knows exactly why. He showed real talent as a kid and worked through local youth leagues before making a name for himself at the high school level.

Growing Up in Elkton, Virginia

Elkton was a small town, and that’s where Shifflett first grabbed a baseball. The rural Virginia setting gave him plenty of chances to play the game he loved.

Shifflett started showing promise as a pitcher pretty young. Local coaches and scouts noticed his right-handed delivery and knack for the game.

He got the nickname “Duck” while he was still young. The story behind it is a bit of a mystery, but it stuck with him his entire career.

Growing up in Elkton, he played a lot of baseball in open fields and local diamonds. Those early games really helped him understand the sport.

His family always backed his baseball dreams. That support was huge as he worked on his skills during his teens.

High School Baseball at Elkton High

At Elkton High School, Shifflett kept developing as a pitcher. The high school team was his first real taste of organized, competitive baseball.

He stood 5 feet 10 inches and weighed 165 pounds, which was pretty standard for pitchers back then.

As he pitched for Elkton High, professional scouts started to take notice. Word started spreading about this talented young pitcher from a small Virginia town.

Playing in that high school league helped Shifflett get used to pressure and different types of hitters.

Path to Professional Baseball

Major league organizations noticed Shifflett’s talent. The Washington Senators decided to take a chance on the young pitcher from Virginia.

He wrapped up his amateur career when he signed with the Senators. That choice set him on a course that would shape the next two decades of his life.

The jump from amateur to pro baseball was a big deal. At 22, he made his major league debut on April 22, 1957, with the Washington Senators.

His rise from Elkton’s fields to the pros showed what hard work and raw talent can do. He was ready to take on the best players in the country.

Major League Career

Garland Shifflett’s major league career covered just 16 games over two separate seasons, seven years apart. He debuted with the Washington Senators in 1957 and returned for a final run with the Minnesota Twins in 1964.

Debut with the Washington Senators

Shifflett broke into the majors on April 22, 1957, with the Washington Senators at 22 years old. His rookie season didn’t give him many chances to pitch.

He got into six games during that first campaign. Adjusting to major league hitters was tough, and he struggled a bit.

That first taste of the big leagues wasn’t easy. The jump from the minors to facing MLB hitters was a real challenge for him.

His short stint with the Senators kicked off what would end up being a pretty limited major league career. The team kept him around in the system, but big league opportunities didn’t come often.

Final MLB Season with the Minnesota Twins

After seven years in the minors, Shifflett got another shot in 1964 with the Minnesota Twins. The Senators had moved and become the Twins, so he stayed in the same organization.

On June 3, 1964, he pitched against the New York Yankees. He threw a scoreless eighth inning in a 3-0 loss at Yankee Stadium.

He appeared in 10 games during the 1964 season. In his final major league appearance, he faced right fielder Floyd Robinson, who grounded out to first base.

Career Statistics:

• Games: 16 total (6 in 1957, 10 in 1964)
• Record: 0-2
• ERA: 6.31
• Strikeouts: 10

After the 1964 season, Shifflett’s major league career ended. At the time, he probably didn’t realize that would be his last shot at the majors.

Minor League Journey

Garland Shifflett’s pro baseball career lasted 18 years, and nearly all of it unfolded in the minor leagues. He traveled through several organizations and cities, from Erie, Pennsylvania to Denver, Colorado, where he became one of the top pitchers in the American Association.

Erie Senators and Early Success

Shifflett kicked off his pro career with the Erie Senators in 1955 after signing with the Washington Senators for a $4,000 bonus. The right-hander from Elkton made a fast impression in the minor league system.

His years in Erie laid the groundwork for his long career. That experience helped him move from semi-pro baseball and his old job as a midnight shift press punch operator at a steel mill in Orange, Virginia.

While playing for Erie, Shifflett honed the skills that led to his first major league call-up in 1957. His performance at the lower levels showed why the Senators wanted him.

Charlotte Hornets Tenure

The Charlotte Hornets played a big role in Shifflett’s career within the Senators system. He really started to shine as a pitcher while in Charlotte.

His success in the Southern League got the attention of the front office, and that’s what led to his shot at the majors.

Playing in Charlotte challenged him and got him ready for the next level. Those seasons were big for his growth as a pitcher.

Chattanooga Lookouts and Other Affiliates

Shifflett’s minor league path sent him to several affiliates in both the Senators and later the Twins organizations. Each stop gave him new experiences with different styles and competition.

Moving from team to team let him refine his pitching and adapt to different coaches. That was pretty normal for players working their way up.

These changes helped make Shifflett a more complete pitcher. Every team brought new lessons and chances to improve.

Denver Bears and Evansville Triplets

Shifflett’s best minor league years happened with the Denver Bears from 1969 to 1972. At 36, in 1971, he was named the American Association’s most valuable pitcher as the Bears won the championship.

His time with Denver was the high point of his minor league career. Getting named MVP really showed just how good and durable he was as a pitcher.

Shifflett wrapped up his minor league career with 144 wins and 117 losses over 16 seasons. He finished with a 3.83 ERA and 1,122 strikeouts across more than 2,000 innings.

Those Denver years proved that “Duck” Shifflett, known for his unique walk, could still compete well into his thirties. His 1972 season marked the end of his playing days.

Career Accomplishments and Notable Stats

Garland Shifflett’s career in pro baseball ran from 1955 to 1972, and most of his best moments came in the minors. His 0-2 record in the majors doesn’t really match up with his 144 wins and 117 losses over 707 minor league games.

Overall Pitching Record

Shifflett put together a 144-117 record with a 3.14 ERA in the minors. He pitched 2,173 innings over 707 games between 1955 and 1972.

He also picked up 52 saves during his time in the minors. That 3.14 ERA shows solid pitching over nearly 20 years.

In the majors, he pitched in just 16 games across two seasons. He made his MLB debut on April 22, 1957, with the Washington Senators at age 22.

His last major league outing came on June 26, 1964, with the Minnesota Twins. Across those two short stints, he struck out 10 and had a 6.31 ERA.

Noteworthy Seasons and Achievements

Shifflett spent 11 different seasons with the Charlotte Hornets between 1956 and 1968. That’s a pretty remarkable run with one team.

Those years in Charlotte were the heart of his career. That’s where he did his best work as a pitcher.

His minor league stats show steady performance year after year. With 144 wins, he proved himself as a reliable arm in the system.

Keeping his ERA under 3.20 for such a long time really says something about his pitching. And 707 career appearances? Teams kept calling on him again and again.

Role as a Workhorse Pitcher

Shifflett mostly worked as a relief pitcher in the majors. Out of his 16 MLB games, he started only once.

In the minors, he pitched in 707 games over 18 seasons—that’s about 39 games a year. That kind of workload shows he was dependable and tough.

He threw 2,173 innings in the minors, averaging around 121 innings each season. That’s a lot of pitching.

With the Charlotte Hornets, he was a key piece of their staff for years. Teams counted on his experience and steady work.

117 Losses and Context

Shifflett’s 117 minor league losses might look high, but you have to consider how long he played and how much he pitched. His 144 wins against 117 losses give him a .552 winning percentage.

That loss total comes from years of heavy usage, not poor pitching. Guys with shorter careers just don’t rack up that many decisions.

His 3.14 ERA shows he pitched well, even with the losses. In baseball, win-loss records don’t always tell the whole story.

The 27-win gap over his losses shows he was successful overall. Longevity let him pile up numbers that most players never reach.

Life After Baseball

Garland Shifflett left professional baseball and started a steady career in the brewing industry. He eventually settled down in Colorado and made a life for himself in Lakewood.

He built a quiet existence there and stayed until his death in 2020 at age 85.

Post-Retirement Career

After he retired from baseball in 1972, Shifflett landed a job with the Coors Brewing Company. He worked as a warehouseman, and honestly, that job gave him the financial stability he’d missed out on during his playing years.

Switching from baseball to the brewing industry was a pretty big change. Back in the minor leagues, he’d struggled to make ends meet—he only earned $11,000 in 1971.

At Coors, though, he finally got consistent pay and benefits. That must have felt like a relief after years of uncertainty.

Shifflett adjusted to brewing work without much trouble. His solid work ethic and reliability—traits that kept him in baseball for 18 years—helped him fit right in at his new job.

People at Coors called him “Duck” because of his bowlegs, the same nickname he had in baseball. He stayed with the company until he retired for good, and that steady job gave him a pension minor league baseball never could.

Personal Life in Colorado

Shifflett chose Colorado as his permanent home after he finished playing. He settled in Lakewood, just outside Denver, and raised his family there.

It made sense for him to stay. He’d played his last professional seasons with the Denver Bears from 1969 to 1972, even winning the American Association championship in 1971.

Family life in Lakewood seemed to suit him. He lived there quietly for almost fifty years, and the small-town feel probably reminded him a bit of Elkton, Virginia, where he grew up.

He kept his connection to baseball alive through local leagues and by getting involved in the community. Colorado’s baseball scene gave him plenty of ways to stay close to the sport he loved.

Legacy and Passing

Garland Shifflett died on May 13, 2020, in Lakewood, Colorado. He was 85.

His life stretched across baseball’s changing eras, from the 1950s all the way through the 1970s.

His legacy isn’t just about his time in the majors. Over 16 seasons in the minors, he racked up 144 wins, 117 losses, and posted a 3.08 ERA in 707 games.

The Los Angeles Times once put him on the front page, spotlighting the tough road for minor league players trying to get recognition and fair pay. Shifflett’s story really brings those struggles to light.

He stayed the only major league player to come out of Elkton, Virginia. That made him a unique figure in his hometown’s baseball history.

Legacy, Recognitions, and Data Sources

People have preserved Garland Shifflett’s major league career in baseball databases and historical records. His story stands for the dedication of so many minor league players who kept chasing their dreams, even when the big leagues felt out of reach.

Recognition in Baseball Circles

Shifflett holds the rare distinction of being the only Major League Baseball player born in Elkton, Virginia. That’s earned him a spot in local baseball history and Virginia sports records.

His nickname, “Duck,” followed him throughout his career. The Los Angeles Times even featured him on their front page in 1972 during a piece on career minor leaguers when the big leagues were on strike.

Local newspapers and baseball historians have tracked his journey from Elkton High School to the majors. Regional publications have highlighted his story as part of Virginia’s contribution to pro baseball.

Historical Data and Research

Baseball-Reference.com lists all of Shifflett’s major league stats. He played 16 games in the MLB between 1957 and 1964 with the Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins.

His minor league record is pretty impressive—144 wins and 117 losses over 707 games. Those numbers show just how long he stuck with professional baseball, even if the majors didn’t offer many chances.

Modern baseball researchers still point to his career as a classic example of the minor league experience in the 1950s and 1960s. An 18-year run in pro baseball? That kind of dedication is something you just have to respect.

Key Data Sources and References

Baseball-Reference covers a ton of major league stats, including his 6.31 ERA and that 0-2 record. They also track his matchups against notable players like Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra.

StatsCrew.com keeps detailed minor league stats from his career, stretching from 1955 to 1972. You can actually see how he moved up through different levels of pro baseball.

BR Bullpen shares his bio and some career highlights. Local Virginia newspapers, plus The Baseball Bloggess, add more about his background and what he did after baseball.

You can still find historical game logs and box scores from his major league games in various baseball archives and newspaper databases.