From a young age, George was drawn to the magic of baseball. Growing up in a tight-knit Slovak immigrant family, he honed his skills on the sandlots of Youngstown. In 1943, at just 17, George tried out for the Dodgers and signed a contract that would change his life forever. His journey through the minor leagues was marked by dedication and countless hours of practice. He perfected his swing with a rope hanging from the ceiling, carving out a swing so natural it seemed like a smile - earning him the iconic nickname "Shotgun." But it was in 1946 that George became part of history. In a game that would forever be remembered in American sports, he extended his hand in congratulations to Jackie Robinson, the first African American player in modern organized baseball. That handshake, captured in a photograph, became a symbol of unity and transcended the boundaries of the game. George's major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948 marked the beginning of a remarkable career. He played an essential role in their successes, including a pinch-hit home run in the 1953 World Series. Beyond his accomplishments on the field, George remained a man of humility and strong values, leaving the legacy that reaches far beyond the baseball diamond.

George Thomas

Anne Marie

In the heart of Jersey City, where dreams rose as high as its magnificent skyscrapers, a simple handshake became a timeless symbol of sportsmanship, unity, and the dawn of a new era.

The year was 1946, a time when America's favorite pastime was about to undergo a significant transformation. It was long before the Civil's Right's movement, and long before Rosa Parks.

Dodger's farm team, Montreal Royals, played their International League opener against the Jersey City Giants. On that day, more than seventy-five years ago, Jackie Robinson wasn’t a star.

It was his debut at Montreal Royal. Although, by entering the team, he already made history as the first African-American player in organized baseball, now he was just one of dozens of International (all–White) League players trying to prove they belonged.

Roosevelt Stadium was jam-packed, far beyond its capacity, as fans gathered to witness history. Some wanted to see Jackie succeed, while others secretly hoped for his failure.

Under the scorching sun, Jackie Robinson stood on the baseline, his heart pounding. With the National Anthem playing in the background, he understood the weight he was carrying upon his shoulders.

In the moments ahead, he will be representing millions of African Americans who pinned their hopes on him. If he could succeed in a predominantly white world of baseball, he would show that others could too. If he could earn the respect, maybe doors would open for everyone.

However, Jackie's journey had been far from easy. During spring training in Florida, he struggled with his batting and endured an arm injury that hampered his throwing. Off the field, he faced relentless bigotry. Many of his teammates ignored him, even refusing to touch the bat after he did. The fear of losing his spot on the team haunted him.

He knew these were the moments that would make or break his life. The game began.
Tension filled the air as Jackie stepped up to the plate. In his first at-bat, Jackie hit a ground ball to the Giants' shortstop. It was a momentary setback.

But in the second inning, the Royals took charge. Tom Tatum singled, and Red Durrett hammered a pitch over the left-field wall for a home run, scoring the first two runs of the game. Then came the third inning, and with it, Robinson's second chance.

With two runners on base, he faced Giants' pitcher Warren Sandel. The crowd held its breath as Jackie swung at the pitch.

Then, in a moment of pure magic, Robinson connected with Sandel's pitch. The stadium echoed with the crack of the bat, the ball soared high into the sky, and time seemed to stand still...

But as Jackie sprinted down the basepath, the outfielders could only watch the ball disappearing over the fence! A tremendously loud sound of thousands, filled with joy, erupted and spread through the stadium, following Jackie to the end of his home run!

As he approached home plate, Jackie knew he was about to make history! In a final burst of speed, he crossed the home plate, scoring a three-run homer and extending the Royals' lead to 5-0!

However, what made that moment truly historic was not only Jackie's outstanding performance!

It was George's Shuba smile and his open arm, with whom he greeted his fellow teammate congratulating him for a great play.

When Jackie completed his trip around the bases, Shuba, the Royals’ left fielder and their next batter, shook his hand.

At that moment, as two teammates with their smiles ear-to-ear shook hands, the barrier of color in baseball was symbolically broken.

It was not a moment of grand celebrations, nor of elaborate displays of emotion. What made history, what was to become "The handshake for the century", was a simple act of camaraderie between two teammates. A pure gesture of support. And in its simplicity, it was an act that gave an addditional sourge of courage to a man who stood at the forefront of breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier.

While other players didn't even acknowledged Robinson's first homer, George „Shotgun“ Shuba didn't divide. George Shuba's son, Mike, emphasized that his father's handshake was not intended as a statement against racism; it was simply the right thing to do. As George was known to say later in life: „I would've shaken his hand if he was Technicolor!.“

Shuba's handshake with Robinson that day was captured by a photographer. It was a frozen moment in time that would become legendary.

The iconic photograph of Jackie Robinson and George Shuba's historic handshake didn't just capture the attention of sports enthusiasts; it resonated deeply with the American public. The image became a symbol of hope and progress during a time of racial division and discrimination. It represented the idea that unity and equality were achievable goals.

Over the years, the photograph's popularity continued to grow. It appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country, reminding people of the importance of treating everyone with respect and dignity. And George Shuba displayed it with honor, in his living room wall, until the day he died.

The impact of a one photograph lived further. Sculptor Marc Mellon recognized its historical significance.

He transformed the powerful image into a magnificent seven-foot statue, known as "The handshake of the century," now located in George Shuba's hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.

This statue served as a lasting tribute to a moment that transcended sports, and became a symbol of the broader struggle for civil rights and equality. It reminds us that greater change is built out of small, everyday acts of humanity, as it was with George's simple gesture of kindness and acknowledgment.

„A Handshake of the Century“

George Thomas Shuba, known to many as "Shotgun," lived a life that intertwined with the grandeur of America's favorite pastime, baseball. Born on December 13, 1924, Youngstown, Ohio, he was the youngest of ten children born to Slovak immigrants. Younstown, back then, was a city where dreams were woven as tightly as the steel produced in its many mills, and young George was about to become part of something truly remarkable.

Baseball had always held a special place in George's heart. As a child, he attended Holy Name Elementary School on the city's Eastern European west side, but it was on the neighborhood sandlots that he honed his skills. He was often seen as the second baseman in local pickup games, displaying a talent that would later become legendary.

In 1943, at the age of 17, George Shuba's life took an unexpected turn. He tried out for the Brooklyn Dodgers and signed a contract that would lead him on a remarkable journey through the world of baseball. A twist of fate, in the form of an ear injury, prevented him from joining the U.S. Army during World War II. Instead, he spent those war years playing for minor league clubs, gaining valuable experience and perfecting his swing.

Despite initial opposition from his father, who believed he should work in the steel mills, George was determined to pursue his baseball dream. He practiced tirelessly, swinging a bat at a rope hanging from the ceiling, marking the strike zone with knots. He swung that bat 600 times a day, crafting a swing so natural it seemed like a smile. It was this dedication that would earn him the nickname "Shotgun."

In the mid-1940s, George was recruited by the Montreal Royals, a minor league team affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Little did he know that he was about to become part of a historic moment that transcended the game itself. On April 18, 1946, Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Montreal Royals, breaking the color barrier in modern organized baseball. In a photograph that would become famous, George Shuba extended his hand in congratulations to Jackie Robinson, marking the first interracial handshake in professional baseball.

George's journey continued as he made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on July 2, 1948. He played a pivotal role during his career, delivering a pinch-hit home run in the 1953 World Series opener, among many other memorable moments. His career stats painted a picture of a skilled and dedicated player.

But George Shuba wasn't just a baseball player; he was a man of character and humility. He remained deeply connected to his Slovak roots and his religious upbringing. A visit to his home in the early 1970s revealed that he still recited a Slovak prayer before meals, a tradition passed down from his father.

After retiring from baseball, George returned to Ohio and met the love of his life, Katherine. They settled in Austintown, where they raised three children. Despite the visibility he gained as a professional athlete, George remained a humble and down-to-earth man.

Throughout his life, George Shuba continued to cherish the photograph of that historic handshake with Jackie Robinson. It hung behind his favorite living room chair, a symbol of unity and progress in a time of racial division.

On September 29, 2014, George Thomas "Shotgun" Shuba passed away at the age of 89. He was the last living Brooklyn Dodger who appeared in the final game of the 1955 World Series, a moment of triumph for the Dodgers. But his legacy extended beyond the baseball field. George Shuba will always be remembered not only for his contributions to the sport but also for his role in promoting interracial harmony and the values of sportsmanship, respect, and kindness.

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