Fast start for a future clown

Al Schacht

In his first start of the season for the Washington Nationals pitcher 106 years ago today, Al Schacht authors a 7-0 shutout of the Philadelphia Athletics in a Monday afternoon game at Shibe Park.

Schacht allows nine hits, all singles, to help Washington win its first game of the 1920 season.

The shutout is the only one in a brief, injury-shortened stay in the majors, a truncated career on the field that leads Schacht to a second career as baseball’s “Clown Prince of Baseball.”

Schacht’s shutout also comes five years after the right-hander pitches in the minors during the 1915 season for Harrisburg, where his on-field teammate and off-field roommate is Jim Thorpe – yes, that Jim Thorpe.

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