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Chris Short
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Christopher Joseph Short (September 19, 1937 – August 1, 1991), nicknamed "Styles", was an American professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies (1959–1972) and Milwaukee Brewers (1973). He threw left-handed, and batted right-handed.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Short was born in Milford, Delaware, on September 19, 1937. He was the son of Issac Short, a Delaware judge who had attended the University of Pennsylvania.[1] Short attended Lewes High School for three years, where he played center on the basketball team and pitcher on the baseball team. In his 1955 season at Lewes, he finished with a 9–1 record, allowing 23 hits, 6 walks, and striking out 121 batters.[2] In 1956, he was the fourth leading scorer in Delaware high school basketball, finishing the season with 374 points.[3] He graduated high school from the Bordentown Military Institute.
Baseball career
[edit]Short made his first appearance on the mound on April 19, 1959, against the Cincinnati Reds, appearing in the 2nd inning to replace Jim Owens. He allowed five runs on four hits while striking out three and walking three in 3.2 innings.[4]
Short was considered a top pitcher from 1964 through 1968 with the Phillies.[5] He was 17–9 in 1964, with a 2.20 ERA in 2202⁄3 innings pitched. It was his career-best ERA and was third in the league behind only Sandy Koufax (1.74) and Don Drysdale (2.18). Teammate Jim Bunning was 5th that season with a 2.63 ERA. Juan Marichal finished 4th (2.48). That year, however, the Phillies and Short suffered a historic collapse in the pennant race. After leading by six and a half games with 12 to go, manager Gene Mauch decided to start his two aces, Bunning and Short, for eight of the last 12 games. Short pitched respectably despite the heavy workload, giving up only six earned runs in 18 innings over his final three starts. But weak hitting, ineffective relief pitching and poor defense (the team committed 17 errors in a 10-game losing streak[6]) doomed Philadelphia. The Phillies lost three games in a row to the hot St. Louis Cardinals, who won the NL race by 1 game and defeated the New York Yankees in the 1964 World Series.
On October 2, 1965, Short threw 15 shutout innings at Shea Stadium, striking out 18 Mets only to receive a no-decision. The game would end in a scoreless tie after 18 innings.[7] Short ended up winning 55 games from 1964 through 1966, topping off with a 20–10 record in 1966. A back injury during the 1969 season would curtail his season while also proving to hurt his career.[8]
Short's contract was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers from its then-Triple-A affiliate Evansville Triplets on April 5, 1973.[9] His final appearance on the mound was on September 18, 1973, against the Cleveland Indians. He entered in relief of Jim Colborn in the ninth inning, trying to preserve a 5-4 lead with a runner on second base. Facing John Ellis, Short allowed a home run as the Indians won the game 6-5.[10]
In 15 seasons, Short finished with a 135–132 record, just over a .500 winning percentage (.506). He had a career ERA of 3.43 and 1629 career strikeouts in 501 games (308 starts). He allowed 886 earned runs in 2325 innings pitched.[11] He was only ejected once, on May 25, 1971 (a game in which he was not pitching), for bench jockeying.[12]
Short ranks 4th among Phillies pitchers all-time in wins (132), 5th in games appeared in (459), 3rd in games started (301), 19th in complete games (88), 4th in shutouts (24), 4th in innings pitched (2253), and 4th in strikeouts (1585).[13]
After baseball
[edit]In 1979, Short was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame.[14] Between 1985 and 1988, Short taught young pitchers at Suburban Baseball Camp, which was held at Barness Park in Warrington, Pennsylvania. He suffered from diabetes in his later years, along with trying to support his three sons. While working for a Wilmington insurance agency in October 1988, he suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm, lapsing into a coma. He died on August 1, 1991, in a convalescent home, having never regained consciousness. He was posthumously named to the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame the following year.[15]
In 2016 Short was one of 16 new members inducted to the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "'64 Phillies: The sad tale of Chris Short", philly.com, September 24, 2014
- ^ "Big Winner For Lewes". The News Journal(Wilmington, Delaware). June 4, 1955.
- ^ "Curran Second To Burns For Scoring Toga". The News Journal(Wilmington, Delaware). March 16, 1956.
- ^ "Philadelphia Phillies at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, April 19, 1959", baseball-reference.com
- ^ "Baseball Reference". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Baseball Reference Phillies Schedule and Results 1964". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Oct 2, 1965, Phillies at Mets Play by Play and Box Score". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. October 2, 1965. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
- ^ "Philography:Chris Short", thatballsouttahere.com, October 31, 2014
- ^ "Chris Short Joins Brewers," The Associated Press (AP), Thursday, April 5, 1973. Retrieved October 2, 2021
- ^ "Milwaukee Brewers at Cleveland Indians Box Score, September 18, 1973", baseball-reference.com
- ^ "Baseball Reference Chris Short overview". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Retrosheet game summary". Retrosheet.org. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Major League Baseball Phillies All-Time Records". MLB. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame". desports.org. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Chris Short, Pitcher, 53", The New York Times, August 2, 1991, retrieved October 14, 2019
- ^ "Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame-2016", www.phillyhall.org
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac
- Chris Short at the SABR Baseball Biography Project
- Chris Short at Baseball Almanac
- Chris Short at Find a Grave
Members of the Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inducted as Phillies |
|  |
| Inducted as Athletics | ||
Chris Short
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background
Christopher Joseph Short was born on September 19, 1937, in Milford, Delaware, to Isaac D. Short and Vivian M. Short.[6] His father, Isaac D. Short, was a prominent attorney and judge who earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1931 and was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1932; he later served as a judge on the Sussex County Court of Common Pleas and as vice chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery.[6] Short's mother, Vivian M. Short, supported the family during his early years in southern Delaware.[6] Raised in a professional household in the small, rural community of Milford and surrounding Sussex County, Short experienced an upbringing shaped by his father's judicial career, which emphasized public service and local governance in a tight-knit environment.[6]Education and early baseball
Chris Short began his formal education at Sunny Hills School in Wilmington, Delaware (now known as the Sanford School), where he first played organized baseball. He later attended Lewes High School near Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, for three years, developing his skills as a left-handed pitcher despite early challenges with control.[6] To refine his discipline and baseball abilities, Short enrolled at Bordentown Military Academy in New Jersey for his senior year. There, he excelled on the mound, striking out 147 batters over 83 innings and pitching a no-hitter while fanning 18 in a seven-inning game. His overall high school pitching record stood at an impressive 30-6.[6][3] A lifelong Phillies fan, Short signed directly with the Philadelphia Phillies as one of baseball's early bonus players in 1957, forgoing college offers from over a dozen other major league clubs. With encouragement from his family, including his father, a local judge who supported his athletic pursuits, Short bypassed further education to launch his professional career.[6][3][4]Professional career
Minor leagues and MLB debut
After signing as an amateur free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies on June 14, 1957, Chris Short began his professional career in the low minors.[3] His first assignment was with the Class D Johnson City Phillies of the Appalachian League, where he posted a strong 9-2 record with a 3.45 ERA over 99 innings, striking out 119 batters.[7] This performance highlighted his potential as a hard-throwing left-hander, building on his high school success at Lewes High School and a postgraduate year at Bordentown Military Institute.[6] In 1958, Short advanced to the Class B High Point-Thomasville Phillies in the Carolina League, where he logged a full season as a starter, going 13-13 with a 2.63 ERA in 243 innings and 221 strikeouts.[7] His endurance and command improved markedly, completing 17 games including three shutouts, solidifying his rapid progression through the Phillies' system.[6] Short's 1959 season bridged the minors and majors. He started with the Phillies and made his MLB debut on April 19 at Cincinnati's Crosley Field, entering in relief and pitching 3⅓ innings while allowing five earned runs.[6] After two brief starts, he was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons of the International League, where he excelled with a 12-9 record, 3.16 ERA, and 130 strikeouts in 182 innings.[7] He finished his rookie season 0-0 with an 8.16 ERA in three games (14⅓ innings).[6][8]Mid-career peak and achievements
Short's mid-career peak came during the mid-1960s with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he established himself as one of the National League's premier left-handed pitchers. In 1964, he achieved a breakout season with a 17-9 record, a 2.20 ERA over 220⅓ innings, 181 strikeouts, 12 complete games, and 4 shutouts, earning his first All-Star selection.[2][6] As a key member of the Phillies' rotation, Short contributed significantly to the team's surprising surge to a 6½-game lead in the NL pennant race by late September, but Short and Jim Bunning together started 8 of the final 12 games during their infamous 10-game losing streak that derailed their championship hopes, with Short pitching in 4.[6] Building on that momentum, Short delivered consistent excellence in 1965 and 1966, including a 15-inning shutout against the New York Mets on October 2 in which he struck out 18 batters. He posted an 18-11 record with a 2.82 ERA in 1965, leading the Phillies staff with 5 shutouts and striking out 237 batters in a career-high 297⅓ innings.[2] In 1966, he reached career highs with a 20-10 mark, 19 complete games, and 4 more shutouts, solidifying his status as the NL's second-best left-hander behind Sandy Koufax during this era of dominance.[2][6] Short's strong form continued into 1967 and 1968 despite some injury setbacks, including an Opening Day shutout in 1968. Selected for his second All-Star Game in 1967, he went 9-11 with a 2.39 ERA in 199⅓ innings before missing time with a knee injury.[2][6] He rebounded in 1968 with a 19-13 record and a 2.94 ERA over 269⅔ innings.[2][6] Teammates nicknamed him "Styles" for his eccentric personal habits, such as traveling light with just a brown paper bag containing essentials, which added a colorful note to his professional prowess.[6]Later years and retirement
Short's performance declined markedly after his mid-career peak, hampered by lingering effects from injuries. In 1969, a back injury limited him to just two starts for the Philadelphia Phillies, where he posted a 0-0 record with a 7.20 ERA over 10 innings before undergoing season-ending surgery for a herniated disk in June.[6][2] He recovered enough to return in 1970 but struggled with inconsistency, finishing 9-16 with a 4.30 ERA in 34 starts and 199 innings pitched, including an Opening Day shutout.[2] The following year, 1971, brought further challenges as he went 7-14 with a 3.85 ERA in 26 starts, again impacted by the back issues that prevented him from regaining his prior dominance.[6][2] By 1972, Short transitioned to a relief role with the Phillies, appearing in 19 games without a start and recording a 1-1 mark with a 3.91 ERA over 23 innings.[2] He was released by the team at the end of the season. In 1973, Short signed with the Milwaukee Brewers for his final major league campaign, serving primarily as a reliever and occasional starter; he compiled a 3-5 record with a 5.13 ERA in 42 appearances and 72 innings pitched.[6][2] At age 35, he retired after 15 seasons in the majors. Over his career, Short amassed 135 wins, 132 losses, 1,629 strikeouts, and 24 shutouts.[2][1]Personal life
Marriages and family
Chris Short was married three times during his life. His third marriage was to Pat Short in 1978.[6][9] Short was the father of three sons from his previous marriages: Rhawn, who became a physical-education teacher in Wilmington, Delaware; Nickey; and Eric.[6][9][5] At the time of his death, Rhawn resided in Newark, Delaware, while Nickey and Eric lived in Dunedin, Florida.[5] Early in his baseball journey, Short nearly quit the sport after hitting a batter and knocking him unconscious during a high school game in tenth grade, an incident that left him deeply upset and tearful.[6][10] His coach convinced him to persevere, emphasizing that the hit was not his fault, which allowed Short to continue developing his pitching skills. Post-retirement, Short settled in Delaware, where he worked in insurance sales in Wilmington and occasionally pitched in local beer leagues despite health challenges including diabetes.[6][9] He was known for his casual personal style, often wearing mismatched clothes carried in a paper bag, and struggled with heavy drinking and financial debts while supporting his family through various jobs.[9] Short's family played a key role in sustaining him during his frequent career travels with the Phillies, providing emotional grounding amid the demands of professional baseball. In his later years, he engaged with the local Delaware community, and former teammates organized charity golf tournaments to help cover his medical expenses after his 1988 aneurysm. His sons, however, found it emotionally difficult to visit him during his ensuing three-year coma, which preceded his death in 1991.[6][9]Death
Chris Short suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm on October 20, 1988, while at his office in Wilmington, Delaware, where he worked in insurance after his baseball career.[3] He collapsed and fell into a coma from which he never regained consciousness, remaining in a care facility for nearly three years.[11][12][5] Short died on August 1, 1991, at the age of 53 in Wilmington, Delaware.[2][13] He was buried in Union Cemetery in Georgetown, Delaware.[2][14] He was survived by his wife, Pat, and his three sons, Rhawn, Nickey, and Eric.[5][15]Legacy
Statistical overview
Chris Short's Major League Baseball career, spanning 15 seasons from 1959 to 1973, resulted in a 135-132 win-loss record, a 3.43 earned run average (ERA), and 1,629 strikeouts over 2,325 innings pitched.[2] Of those victories, 132 came with the Philadelphia Phillies, placing him fourth on the franchise's all-time wins list.[16] Short recorded 24 shutouts during his career and earned two All-Star selections, in 1964 and 1967.[17] His performance peaked in 1964, when he posted a 17-9 record with a 2.20 ERA in 42 appearances (31 starts), helping anchor the Phillies' pitching staff during their 92-70 season.[2] The following year, 1966, saw Short reach a career-high 20 wins against 10 losses, accompanied by a 3.54 ERA across 39 starts.[2]| Year | Team | W-L | ERA | GS | IP | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | PHI | 17-9 | 2.20 | 31 | 220.2 | 181 |
| 1966 | PHI | 20-10 | 3.54 | 39 | 272.0 | 177 |