R.I.P. George "Shotgun" Shuba

From a Dodgers press release:

DODGERS' GEORGE "SHOTGUN" SHUBA PASSES AWAY AT 89

Brooklyn Dodger George "Shotgun" Shuba passed away at the age of 89 at his home in Youngstown, OH.

It was George who extended his hand, "A Handshake for the Century", in offering congratulations near home plate to Jackie Robinson, his Montreal Royals teammate, who hit a home run on Opening Day 1946 at Roosevelt City in Jersey City. Robinson, the African-American infielder, was breaking the sport's color barrier that afternoon.

Photographers captured a smiling Robinson shaking hands with Shuba after Robinson's three-run home run in the third inning against Jersey City pitcher Warren Sandell.

Shuba's nickname was born after someone compared his line drives to the sound of buckshot. Shuba compiled a lifetime .259 batting average in 355 games with Brooklyn from 1948-55 with 24 home runs and 125 RBI. He was the first National League pinch-hitter to hit a home run in World Series history, connecting against the Yankees in 1953.

Shuba returned to Dodger Stadium in 2005 when the club staged a 50th anniversary celebration of the team's first and only championship in Brooklyn. Twelve of the 13 living members attended: Shuba, Carl Erskine, Roger Craig, Bob Borkowski, Don Newcombe, Johnny Podres, Clem Labine, Sandy Koufax, Ed Roebuck, Don Zimmer, Tommy Lasorda and Duke Snider (the only player not present was Billy Loes).

Shuba is survived by his wife, Kathryn, his son, Michael, daughters Marlene and Marykay and his sister, Helen.

Funeral services are pending.

Earlier at SoSG: George "Shotgun" Shuba

George "Shotgun" Shuba

1946: George Shuba congratulates Jackie Robinson after Robinson's first home run for the Dodger organization.

Having just watched all 23 hours of Baseball: A Film by Ken Burns (and getting all teary-eyed several times), I'm in a historic frame of mind.

Fortunately, our friends at Blue Heaven and The Trolley Dodger are students of the game.

Blue Heaven links to this article from the Tribune Chronicle (Ohio) about George Shuba, a Brooklyn Dodger outfielder from 1948 to 1955:

Playing for the Montreal team in the Dodgers' organization, a very young George Shuba — he was 21 at the time — was waiting to bat and did what came naturally when his teammate, Jackie Robinson, crossed home plate after hitting his first home run.

"He called me later and thanked me," Shuba said. "And I said, what for?"

The moment is described as the first interracial handshake in professional baseball.

Robinson had been afraid, Shuba said, that none of his teammates would shake his hand after he'd broken baseball's color barrier. For Shuba, it was only natural — he saw no difference between himself and Robinson, having played with African American athletes at Chaney High School, where he graduated in 1942.

"I said, 'Are you on our team? Are you on our side? OK then.' "

Robinson went on to make history. Shuba went on to hit a home run in the 1953 World Series — the first Series home run by a pitch hitter in history, he says.

And let's not fail to recognize one of the coolest baseball nicknames ever. Here's to George "Shotgun" Shuba.