Danny Shay

Daniel C. Shay

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10"

• Debut April 30, 1901
• Final Game September 10, 1907
• Born November 8, 1876 in Springfield, OH USA
• Died December 1, 1927 in Kansas City, MO USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Danny Shay played in the big leagues in 1901, 1904-1905 and 1907. He was the starting shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1904 and played 39 games at each of second base and shortstop for the Cards in 1905.

Shay also played thirteen years in the minors, including parts of five seasons for Stockton and parts of three for San Francisco.

The SABR biography of Shay says he began playing semi-pro ball in 1896. He worked for a time as a jockey and later ran a tobacco shop. He was a minor league manager for six years, until he killed a black man named Clarence Euell at a diner in 1917. This all started when Shay claimed that Euell, who was a waiter at the diner didn't get him a packet of sugar quickly enough and a physical altercation broke out, which ended with Shay shooting Euell. He was acquitted (although the papers called it a miscarriage of justice), but never managed again. Later, he worked in the county surveyor's office and as a scout. He suffered a stroke and in 1927 he was found dead in a hotel room as a result of a gunshot wound to right side his head. To this day, it was never confirmed whether Shay was murdered or committed suicide. As a result of his stroke, Shay lost use of his right arm, which would have made it pretty difficult for him to shoot himself in that spot.

Related Sites

• Danny Shay at the SABR Bio Project