MLB History: Bert Shepard Tries Out for Washington Senators
By David Hill
Everyone remembers the MLB career of Pete Gray, an outfielder with only one arm. However, he was not the only handicapped player during World War Two, as Bert Shepard tried out as a pitcher for the Washington Senators despite having just one leg.
One could understand if Bert Shepard never considered an MLB career. He had pitched in the minors prior to World War Two, showing some potential despite a lack of command. However, his career appeared to have come to an end when his fighter plane was shot down in Germany. His right leg was amputated, and he was fitted with an artificial limb while in a prisoner of war camp.
While there, he taught himself to walk once again. As he increased in his mobility, Shepard tried pitching once more. Although it took some time to get used to pitching once again, Shepard persisted, and began to find his old form.
Liberated from the POW camp, he returned stateside. With the ongoing war effort, teams were looking everywhere to find any reasonably healthy to fill out their rosters. Shepard, having pitched in the minors previously, headed to a Spring Training tryout with the Washington Senators on this day in 1945, where he attempted to pitch his way on to the roster.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
In what would prove to be an upset, Shepard actually performed well during his tryout. In fact, he pitched well enough to impress former MLB pitcher and Senators owner Clark Griffith, who made Shepard the team’s pitching coach.
Shepard, however, refused to give up his dream of pitching. He threw batting practice for the Senators, and would appear in exhibition games, but had yet to make his way into a regular season outing. That changed on August 4, when Shepard entered what would be a 15-4 blowout loss to the Red Sox.
Surprisingly, Shepard pitched well. He pitched for 5.1 innings, allowing just one run on three hits and a walk. Shepard even struck out two batters, including the first batter he faced, George Metkovich. If one expected that his disability would hinder him in the field, they were mistaken, as Shepard handled both his chances in the field flawlessly.
Although that would be his only appearance in the Majors, Shepard continued to pitch and manage in the minors through 1952. He never would have that same level of success again on the field or as a manager, but he remained an inspiring figure throughout his life.
Next: Time to care about the WBC
World War Two gave a lot of players a chance in the Majors that may not have had one otherwise. Bert Shepard was one of those players, as he began his improbable journey on this day in 1945.