"His stint in the major leagues began in 1978, and through 1981 he had been the most successful relief pitcher in the history of the Seattle Mariners- and that good fortune followed him to the Yankees. After all, he was 4-4 with three saves in the first half of '82. However, on July 5, upon suggestion from coach Jeff Torborg to then manager Gene Michael, Shane was asked to do something he had rarely done in his four-year major league career- and not since 1979- start. By season's end his response was a gritty 7-7 record, with three complete games in 17 starting appearances.
Shane has the type of smooth, effortless motion that makes pitching look easy. And after the ball is released, control is the trademark of this 27-year-old left-hander. Shane's strikeouts outnumbered his walks by a 2 to 1 ratio in 1982. Moreover, he averaged just one gopher ball for every 16.4 innings pitched. Being around the plate, without being taken downtown, pleases the manager, teammates and fans alike.
Shane is entering his prime years as a pitcher and the Yankees are lucky to have him in Pinstripes. His transition to a starter was so successful that he figures to have a lock on a spot in Billy Martin's starting rotation. If 'Great Expectations' were written today about any 1983 Yankee, it would have to be Shane Rawley."
-The New York Yankees Official 1983 Yearbook
"Rawley was acquired by the Yankees on April 1 from Seattle in exchange for Gene Nelson, Bill Caudill and Bobby Brown. He spent the first half of the season in the bullpen with a 4-4 record and three saves, then made a start on July 5 and remained in the rotation for the rest of the season, winning seven and losing seven. Shane won five of his last seven decisions and completed six full innings in all but three of his 17 starts. The Yankees were shut out in three of his losses.
Used primarily as a starter in the minors, starting 79 of 85 minor league appearances, Shane was used primarily as a reliever in the majors for his first five seasons until the middle of last season. He missed the final two weeks of the 1980 season with a severely strained muscle behind his left shoulder, then suffered a broken left foot in late January 1981 and underwent surgery. Shane missed most of spring training that year and opened the season with Seattle on the DL, yet was named AL Player of the Week September 21-27 (2-0, four saves, eight innings, no earned runs).
Shane graduated from William Horlick (WI) High in 1973. He was a three-time MVP in baseball while also earning honors in basketball. He attended Indian Hills C.C. (Centerville, IA) where he pitched for coach Pat Daugherty, also his first manager in pro ball. Signed to his first pro contract by the Expos' Bob Oldis, Shane earned his pilot's license in 1980."
-1983 New York Yankees Information Guide
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