Shane Rawley was born on July 27, 1955. He grew up in Racine, Wisconsin. He attended William Horlick High School. He played basketball and baseball and earned All-City honors in basketball. He graduated in 1973.
Rawley played one year at Indian Hills Community College. He had a strong season and was drafted in 1974. He joined the Montreal Expos organization and was traded twice before reaching the majors.
He debuted with the Seattle Mariners in 1978 as a reliever. In 1982, he joined the Yankees and became a starter. He later pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins. In 1986, he was named to the National League All-Star team. In 1987, he won 17 games and led the league in starts.
He ended his MLB career in 1989. His final record was 111 wins, 118 losses, a 4.02 ERA, and 991 strikeouts.
After baseball, Rawley helped build and co-own a softball complex in Yorkville, Wisconsin. He later moved to Florida and opened Shaner’s Pizzeria. He was inducted into the Racine County Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
In 2023, he published a novel about a baseball player and the Vietnam War.
Rawley began his path to professional baseball in Racine. His early training and education there shaped his later success. He remained connected to Racine through sports and community projects.
