| John Shea | |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Left |
| Birth Date: | 1904 12, mf=yes |
| Birth Place: | Everett, Massachusetts, US |
| Death Place: | Malden, Massachusetts, US |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | June 30 |
| Debutyear: | 1928 |
| Debutteam: | Boston Red Sox |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | June 30 |
| Finalyear: | 1928 |
| Finalteam: | Boston Red Sox |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 0–0 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 18.00 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 0 |
| Teams: | |
John Michael Joseph Shea (December 27, 1904 – November 30, 1956) was a professional baseball relief pitcher who played one game for the 1928 Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at 5inchesft10.5inchesin (ftin) and 171lb, he threw and batted left-handed.
Shea, nicknamed "Lefty", was signed by the Boston Red Sox on June 15, 1928, the day after he graduated from Boston College, where he had played college baseball.[1] He made his first professional appearance two weeks later, on June 30; it was also Shea's only major league appearance.[2] Hosting the New York Yankees at Fenway Park, the Red Sox were trailing, 9–3, at the end of the eighth inning in the first game of a doubleheader.[3] Shea was brought in to pitch the top of the ninth; the first batter that he faced was Lou Gehrig, whom he walked.[3] This was followed by a double and then three ground outs, which allowed two of the Yankees to score.[3] Thus, Shea was charged with two earned runs in one inning pitched, for an earned run average of 18.00[2]
Shea went on to have a brief minor league career, pitching for the Pittsfield Hillies of the Eastern League in 1928 and 1929.[4]
A native of Everett, Massachusetts, Shea died in 1956, aged 51, at his home in Malden, Massachusetts.[5]