He made his major league debut in September 1922, and threw his first pitch to legendary swatter Babe Ruth.[1] Baseball historian William C. Kashatus noted that when Shaute came to the pitching mound, "the Indians were clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth with two outs and bases loaded with Yankees".[1] Shaute gained notoriety when he struck out Ruth on four pitches to end the inning.[1] In the following inning, he faced another powerful hitter, Bob Meusel, who "swung so hard on Shaute's first offering that he whirled completely around and fell to the ground".[1] The pitcher next struck out Yankee catcher Freddie Hoffman.[1] Kashatus observed that Shaute "continued to dominate Ruth for the next three years".[1]
The situation changed in 1927, however, when Ruth hit 60 home runs, setting a major league record that stood for more than seven decades.[1] Ruth hit three of those home runs—numbers 30, 40, and 52—off of Shaute.[1] Nevertheless, during his 13-season career, Shaute struck out Ruth on more than 30 occasions.[1]
Shaute enjoyed his best season in 1924, "when he won 20 games for the lowly Indians who finished sixth that year".[1]
^ abcdefghijkKashatus, William C. (2002). Diamonds in the Coalfields: 21 Remarkable Baseball Players, Managers, and Umpires from Northeast Pennsylvania. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 99. ISBN978-0-7864-1176-4.
