Shawn Kealoha Boskie (born March 28, 1967), is an American former
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Mod ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
, who played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB) from to . He was drafted by the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
in the first round, 10th overall, in the
1986 Major League Baseball Draft.
Early life
Boskie attended
Reno High School
Reno High School (RHS) is a public secondary school in Reno, Nevada, United States. It is a part of the Washoe County School District. The school's teams are known as the Reno Huskies, and the school colors are red and blue.
History
Reno High wa ...
in
Reno, Nevada
Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada-California border, about north from Lake Tahoe, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". Known for its casino and tourism industry, Reno is the ...
, where he played football and baseball. Both his parents were active bowlers and softball players throughout his childhood. His father, Dietrich Boskie, is of Hawaiian descent and grew up in
Hilo, Hawaii
Hilo () is a census-designated place (CDP) and the largest settlement in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States, which encompasses the Island of Hawaii. The population was 44,186 according to the 2020 census. It is the fourth-largest settlement i ...
. He has been active in the
Elks Club
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE; also often known as the Elks Lodge or simply The Elks) is an American fraternal order founded in 1868, originally as a social club in New York City.
History
The Elks began in 1868 as a soci ...
where he served as a leader locally, statewide, and nationally. His mother, Cheryl Boskie, has been a member of P.E.O. for 50 years. Boskie played college baseball at
Modesto Junior College
Modesto Junior College (MJC) is a public community college in Modesto, California. It is part of Yosemite Community College District along with Columbia College. MJC, and Columbia College, belong to the California Community College system al ...
in
Modesto, California
Modesto () is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,464 at the 2020 census, it is the 19th largest city in the state of California and forms part of the Sacramento-Stockton- ...
.
Professional career
Boskie made his major league debut on May 20, 1990, versus the
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
, pitching a 5-hit
complete game
In baseball, a complete game (CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A pitcher who meets this criterion will be credited with a complete game regardless of the number of innings played—pitche ...
, while collecting two hits himself. Overall, his rookie year was quite promising, highlighted by a 3.63
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA), in 15 games started. Boskie's best season was in , with the
California Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...
, when he achieved career statistical highs in wins (12) and innings pitched (). He tied for the league lead in
home runs
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
allowed (40), which ranks 12th-most all-time in a single MLB season. Boskie's eight-year big league career also included stints with the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
,
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...
,
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
, and
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
.
On September 6, 1995, Boskie was the starting pitcher when the Angels played the Orioles on the evening that
Cal Ripken Jr.
Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr. (born August 24, 1960), nicknamed "Iron man (sports streak), The Iron Man", is an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1981â ...
broke
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis Gehrig (born Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig ; June 19, 1903June 2, 1941) was an American professional baseball first baseman who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (1923–1939). Gehrig was renowned f ...
's consecutive games played streak of 2,130. Ripken hit a home run off Boskie in the 4th inning (Ripken's third game in a row in which he hit a home run).
Personal life
Boskie is a devout Christian. He worked with the non-profit legal advocacy organization
Alliance Defending Freedom
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF, formerly Alliance Defense Fund) is an American conservative Christian legal advocacy group that works to curtail rights for LGBTQ people; expand Christian practices within public schools and in government; and ...
for 10 years before joining Pure Flix Entertainment as Vice President of Investor Relations. He married Pamela Russell in 1990 and they reside in Scottsdale, AZ with three children.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boskie, Shawn
1967 births
Living people
American expatriate baseball players in Canada
Baltimore Orioles players
Baseball players from Nevada
California Angels players
Chicago Cubs players
Edmonton Trappers players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Modesto Pirates baseball players
Montreal Expos players
People from Hawthorne, Nevada
Philadelphia Phillies players
Reno High School alumni
Seattle Mariners players
Wytheville Cubs players
Peoria Chiefs players
Winston-Salem Spirits players
Charlotte Knights players
Iowa Cubs players
Vancouver Canadians players
Lake Elsinore Storm players
Albuquerque Dukes players
Tucson Sidewinders players
Erie SeaWolves players