Bill Schuster, New Inductee to PCL Hall of Fame

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I have to admit that Bill Schuster never crossed my radar screen when I filled out my PCL Hall of Fame ballot. But here’s what Dick Beverage wrote about Schuster:

“BILL SCHUSTER, shortstop. Seattle, 194041; Los Angeles, 1941-43, 1946-49; 1949-50 Seattle; Hollywood, 1952. In 1,450 games Broadway Bill hit .275, but the numbers don’t begin to tell the story of his career. In nine years as a regular player, he played with three pennant winners— Seattle, 1940, Los Angeles, 1943 and 1947— and was the core of the defense on each of those clubs. Schuster led all PCL shortstops: in putouts, five times; assists, three times; and total chances, three times. As a hitter Bill did not post great averages— .298 in 1942 was his best. But he scored frequently, had a lot of doubles and was on base often. Bill had an ebullient personality, treated baseball as a fun game that it is and was wildly popular with the fans. After his playing career ended, he worked at Santa Anita racetrack. He died on June 29, 1987 at the age of 74.”