<Archive Obituary> Ernie Shore (September 24th 1980)
Bill Schenley
Ernie Shore Is Dead At 89
Photo:
http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/al/bosox/eshore.jpg
FROM: The Winston-Salem Journal (September 25th 1980) ~
By David Watters, Staff Writer
Forsyth County last a former sheriff and baseball lost a
North Carolina Hall of Famer when Ernie Shore died last
night.
Shore, 89, served as sheriff for 36 years before he retired
in 1970. During his years as sheriff, Shore his department
grow from six men walking beats to 70 deputies.
And in his years in the major leagues, Shore is most
remembered for rooming with Babe Ruth and throwing a
perfect game in 1917 - a game that earned an asterisk in
most record books because Shore was not the starting
pitcher.
Shore had been in declining health since suffering a stroke
in 1975. Mrs. Shore died last June.
Shore died in his home at 1212 W. Fourth St. about 6:30
p.m. yesterday.
Shore was born Ernest Grady Shore in 1891, the son of a
tobacco farmer in East Bend in Yadkin County. He
graduated from Guilford College in 1914.
He got his start in professional baseball as a batting-practice
pitcher for the New York Giants before putting in four years
with the Boston Red Sox and two years with the New York
Yankees.
Shore earned a spot in baseball legend by pitching a perfect
game in 1917. Babe Ruth started the game for the Red Sox,
but he was ejected after he complained to the umpire after the
first batter walked.
After Shore came on in relief, the runner was thrown out trying
to steal second and Shore retired the next 26 batters to earn his
perfect game.
Shore's baseball career earned him several spots in several halls
of fame, and the baseball park where the Winston-Salem Red
Sox play is named for him.
In his years in the majors, he compiled a 65-41 record. But
he injured his arm with an overhand curve in 1917, and, after a
year in the Navy and two more with the Yankees, he returned to
Winston-Salem in 1922.
Shore married Lucille Harrison in 1926. He sold cars until the
Depression killed that market, and he began selling insurance
during the 1930s.
In 1936, $20,000 in debt and with three children, Shore decided
to run for sheriff. He campaigned with farmers before they went
to work, and was out again campaigning after he finished his own
job at 5 p.m. Shore was elected to the $4,000-a-year post.
During his tenure as sheriff, Shore got his department its first
county cars. And after fights with the county board, he became
the first North Carolina sheriff to equip cars with two-way radios.
Those who worked with him were saddened by news of his death.
"He had more impact on my life than any other man other than
my father," said Manly Lancaster, who succeeded Shore as
sheriff here. "It will be a great loss to everyone in the department.
He was just a wonderful person to work with and for."
Capt. Harvey L. Wood, the county jailer, said "Sheriff Shore
was a great man. This is a very, very sad moment in my life. He
will be remembered as a law enforcement officer, a leader in our
community and a friend to our county."
Wood also recalled visiting Boston with Shore and seeing the
ballpark where the former sheriff had pitched. During those days,
Wood said, Shore roomed in the home of the mayor of Boston -
former President John Kennedy's grandfather.
Years ago when the president-elect was in Greensboro,
Wood said he went with Shore to meet Kennedy. Former Sen.
Sam Ervin Jr. was there, and told Kennedy that Shore had
roomed with his grandfather.
"When the senator introduced us, the president-elect just
hugged the sheriff's neck," Wood recalled.
His funeral will be held at Vogler's Main Street Chapel Friday
at 2 p.m.
---
Photos: http://www.geocities.com/koufax75/ErnieShore.jpg
http://www.juliejames.org/fcpl/images/people_local/CP.09.897.1.jpg
1916 Sporting News M101 (#162) baseball card:
http://www.thedeadballera.com/Cards/ShoreErnie1916M101(GJ).jpg
1921 E121 baseball card:
http://www.thedeadballera.com/Cards/SHORE-ERNIE1921.jpg
Stats: http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/shoreer01.shtml
Ernie Shore Field:
http://www.planefunaviation.com/images/ernie_shore_field.jpg