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Oglethorpe University

Official Athletics Site of the Oglethorpe University Stormy Petrels

Hall of Fame

Earl Shepherd

  • Class
    1928
  • Induction
    1994
  • Sport(s)
    Baseball
Earl "Shep" Lenward Shepherd was born on April 6, 1906 in Thomasville, GA. 

Shepherd was a shortstop who began the 1926–27 school year with a contract to play for the Cleveland Indians (under player-manager Tris Speaker) whenever his college career ended. Shepherd’s injury and subsequent turnover in the Cleveland Indians organization (the American League elected Cleveland president E. S. Bernard as AL president and Tris Speaker resigned), as well as Earl’s desire to finish his studies in 1928 (which he did), doused his major-league aspirations.
In 1927 Oglethorpe scored victories against Clemson and Furman, then won that year's Atlanta Championship with 4–3 and 6–1 wins against Georgia Tech. That game was played in rainy conditions at Grant Field, causing Shepherd slipped on the wet turf when making a throw. He hurt his arm, but Anderson shifted him to outfield for the next nine games. Shepherd reported to the Cleveland Indians on June 1, 1927, as scheduled.

Shepherd remained in the minor leagues until 1930. Over his career he totaled 873 at-bats, 256 hits,17 recorded homeruns, and had a .309 batting average in 1929.

Shepherd later taught sciences and coached at Tech High in Atlanta, where his best player was Marty Marion, who went on to play shortstop with the St. Louis Cardinals.
In the 1930s Shepherd was a chemist for Atlantic Steel and played semipro for the company team, sometimes called Dixiesteele. He was on the 1937 team that won the Atlanta City championship.

He died on April 6, 1991, aged 85. 
 
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