Jeremy Guthrie
Guthrie pitching for the Orioles in 2008
Colorado Rockies – No. 15
Starting pitcher
Born: (1979-04-08) April 8, 1979 (age 33) Roseburg, Oregon
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 28, 2004 for the Cleveland Indians
Career statistics (through May 27, 2012)
Win-Loss	49-68
Earned run average	4.23
Strikeouts	644
Teams
Cleveland Indians (2004–2006) Baltimore Orioles (2007–2011) Colorado Rockies (2012–present)

Jeremy Shane Guthrie (born April 8, 1979, in Roseburg, Oregon) is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher^[1] for the Colorado Rockies.

Early life and education[link]

Guthrie was born in Roseburg, Oregon and grew up in Ashland, Oregon. As a youth, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.^[2] Guthrie attended Ashland High School, where he excelled in basketball, football, baseball, as well as the classroom, where he was class valedictorian. After high school, he attended Brigham Young University before transferring to Stanford University, where he was a starting pitcher on their baseball team.

Baseball career[link]

Stanford[link]

2001[link]

Guthrie was the ace of the Stanford University staff and formed a battery with Ryan Garko. He pitched in the regionals that season against MAAC champion Marist College in the first game and won 5-3. His team made it all the way to the World Series final in Omaha, but lost 11-1 in the Championship to the Miami Hurricanes.

Cleveland Indians[link]

Guthrie was the first-round selection (22nd overall) of the Cleveland Indians in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft.^[3] He signed with the Indians on October 3, 2002.^[4] His US $4 million contract for four years included a US $3 million signing bonus.^[5]

2006[link]

Guthrie spent most of 2006 season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, but was twice called up to the majors to join the Cleveland Indians as a relief pitcher. He wore jersey number 57 for both the Bisons and the Indians. After being removed from the 40-man roster following the signing of Trot Nixon and with no remaining Minor League options, he was designated for assignment on January 19, 2007.^[5]

Baltimore Orioles[link]

2007[link]

Guthrie was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on January 29, 2007.^[5] Upon joining the team, he requested and was granted permission to wear uniform number 46 from then-executive vice president of baseball operations Mike Flanagan, who had worn it during his playing career with the ballclub.^[6] After starting the year in the Baltimore Orioles' bullpen and then moving into the starting rotation, Guthrie enjoyed a breakout year in 2007, becoming one of the best and most consistent pitchers in the American League. Through June 21 that year, he ranked 2nd in ERA and allowing more than two earned runs in just 1 out of 10 starts. He was also first in the AL in WHIP.^[7]

Through the end of July 2007, Guthrie had a 7-3 record in 17 starts to go with a sparkling 2.89 ERA and a 1.027 WHIP (second only to 2-time Cy Young award winner Johan Santana), albeit in only 124.7 innings of work. Guthrie's rise to unexpected success in the first half of the season led to consideration for the American League's Rookie of the Year Award.

2008[link]

In August of 2008, Guthrie recorded his first career complete game, defeating the Seattle Mariners 3-1. Throughout the 2008 season, Guthrie emerged as the staff ace of the Baltimore Orioles.

2009–2011[link]

Guthrie pitched for Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Guthrie pitched on Opening Day for the Orioles against the New York Yankees before a record Opening Day crowd at Camden Yards. Guthrie pitched six innings and gave up three runs. He was able to get a career high win total in 2010 with 11 although he lost 14.

Colorado Rockies[link]

2012–Present[link]

Guthrie pitching for the Rockies

On February 6, 2012, Jeremy Guthrie was traded to the Rockies for pitchers Matt Lindstrom and Jason Hammel.^[8]

Personal life[link]

At Stanford, he studied sociology; he continues to pursue his degree in the offseason. Guthrie is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he served a two-year mission for them in Spain.^[9] He lives in American Fork, Utah with his wife, Jenny and three children, including daughter, Avery, and older son, Hudson.^[10] The couple's second son was born on July 19, 2010.^[11] He also continues to be active in promoting the Scouting program among boys in the Baltimore Area Council.^[2]

References[link]

External links[link]

	Biography portal
	Baseball portal

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Buffalo Bisons: Individual Player Stats

Jay Mohr
Jay Mohr, July 2, 2004
Born	Jon Ferguson Mohr (1970-08-23) August 23, 1970 (age 41) Verona, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, Comedian
Years active	1990–present
Spouse	Nikki Cox (2006-present) Nicole Chamberlain (1998-2004)
Website
http://jaymohr.com

Jay Ferguson Cox Mohr (born Jon Ferguson Mohr; August 23, 1970) is an American actor and stand up comedian. He is known for his role as Professor Rick Payne in the TV series Ghost Whisperer, the title role in the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried, which ran from 2008 to 2010, as a featured player for two seasons on the long running sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and the back-stabbing sports agent Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire. Mohr could also be known for his near-identical impersonation of actor Christopher Walken.

Early life[link]

Mohr was born in Verona, New Jersey. His mother, Jean (née Ferguson), is a nurse, and his father, Jon Wood Mohr, is a marketing executive.^[1] He has two sisters, Julia and Virginia.

Career[link]

Acting career[link]

Mohr appeared as a featured player for the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons of Saturday Night Live. His 2004 memoir, Gasping for Airtime: Two Years in the Trenches of Saturday Night Live (ISBN 1-4013-0006-5), details this tumultuous period of his life, including his battle with chronic panic attacks. Though his potential was appreciated by SNL creator/producer Lorne Michaels, Mohr was impatient with his progression to full cast member, and left the show on bad terms. He has since reconciled with Michaels.

Mohr had a recurring role in the first season of The Jeff Foxworthy Show as Jeff Foxworthy's brother, Wayne. Mohr's first major film role was in 1996 when he played the conniving Bob Sugar, a sleazy sports agent in Jerry Maguire, followed in 1997 by a starring role in Picture Perfect. In 1999, Mohr starred in the television series Action, in which he played sleazy film producer Peter Dragon. Mohr later hosted a talk show on ESPN entitled Mohr Sports which ran briefly in 2001 before being cancelled. He was also the voice-over artist for Fox Sports Net's Beyond the Glory. Mohr has also appeared in movies such as Are We There Yet?, Small Soldiers, Go, Pay It Forward, and The Groomsmen. Mohr was offered a late night talk show job by Michael Eisner but he declined. Mohr managed to convince Eisner to let him host a talk show on ESPN entitled Mohr Sports which ran briefly in 2001 before being cancelled. The talk show job Mohr passed was then offered to Jimmy Kimmel and became Jimmel Kimmel Live. ^[2]

In 2003 and 2004, Mohr created, hosted, and was executive producer of NBC's Last Comic Standing reality television program. The show aired for three seasons, but was cancelled near the end of the third season due to poor ratings, only to be renewed later. Mohr was very vocal toward NBC concerning its cancellation^[3] and did not return for the show's fourth season in 2006. Mohr was replaced with new host Anthony Clark, but he is credited as a consultant. On the season finale of Last Comic Standing 4, Jay performed as a guest comedian. He had a recurring role on the TV series Ghost Whisperer, which had developed into a regular role. Mohr also appeared in an episode of the hit sitcom Scrubs - "My Own Private Practice Guy" in 2003 and in an episode of The West Wing in 2004. Parts of Mohr's stand up was featured in Comedy Central's animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties.

Mohr starred as newly divorced dad Gary Brooks for two seasons on the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried. Paula Marshall played his ex-wife. In January 2010 he took the role as Billy in Clint Eastwood's thriller film Hereafter.^[4] He was also set to guest star on NBC's fall 2010 show, Outlaw.^[5]

Radio[link]

Mohr has contributed frequently to The Jim Rome Show as a caller and has also guest-hosted the program. His nickname on the show is "Slam Man", and, more recently, the derisive "Weigh More" and "Ham Man," "Salami Man" and -- when feeling particularly fancy -- "Prosciutto Man." Rome often lets him promote his upcoming comedy club appearances. Mohr finished in 7th place in the 2007 Smack-Off, 6th place in the 2008 Smack-Off, 10th place in the 2009 Smack-Off, 6th place in the 2010 Smack-Off, and 6th place in the 2011 Smack-Off. Jay is also known to do "drive-by" call-in's to the show to usually promote one of his stand-up shows or live events.

He was, at one time, a frequent guest on the Opie and Anthony radio program. His appearances occurred less frequently after Mohr moved to California due to the time difference between California and New York. Instead, Mohr began appearing as a caller more frequently on the Ron and Fez Show. In June 2008, Mohr's work schedule allowed him to once again become a frequent contributor on Opie and Anthony.

Podcast[link]

Mohr hosts his own podcast entitled Mohr Stories. The podcast was hosted on the SModcast Podcast Network,^[6] often taped in his garage, which he has dubbed "Fake Mustache Studios".^[7] On May 4, 2012, Mohr announced his departure from SModcast. He will be hosting Mohr Stories on his newly-formed network named "Fake Mustache Studios".^[8]

Other work[link]

In June 2004, Mohr's first book, Gasping for Airtime: Two Years in the Trenches of Saturday Night Live, was published by Hyperion and chronicled his two years working on Saturday Night Live. In May 2010, publisher Simon & Schuster released Mohr's second book, No Wonder My Parents Drank: Tales from a Stand-Up Dad. He has also hosted the 2010 and 2011 NHL Awards.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life[link]

Jay Mohr, 2009

Mohr has a son, Jackson,^[9] from his six-year marriage with former model Nicole Chamberlain.

He married actress Nikki Cox on December 29, 2006.^[10] In December 2008, he filed legal papers requesting a legal name change to Jay Ferguson Cox Mohr, adding the surname of his wife.^[11] Mohr has been sober since 1996.^[12] He commented on the Late Late Show that he is of Scottish ancestry.^[13] Mohr was raised Presbyterian, but he converted to Roman Catholicism.^[14][15][16]

Mohr and Cox's son, Meredith Daniel Mohr, was born on May 5, 2011.^[17]

Filmography[link]

• Suburgatory (2011)
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2011)
• Outlaw (2010)
• Hereafter (2010)
• Monk (2009)
• Lonely Street (2009)
• Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust (2009) (Video game)
• Gary Unmarried (2008–2010) (TV)
• Saints Row 2 (2008) (Video game)
• Street Kings (2008)
• Even Money (2007)
• Christmas Do-Over (2006)
• Ghost Whisperer (2006–2008)
• Community Service (2006)
• Scarface: The World Is Yours (2006) (Video game)
• The Groomsmen (2006)
• Las Vegas (2005) (TV)
• King's Ransom (2005)
• Are We There Yet? (2005)
• Seeing Other People (2004)
• Shorties Watchin' Shorties (2004)
• CSI: Miami (2003)
• Scrubs (2003)
• Fastlane (2002) (TV)
• S1m0ne (2002)
• The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)
• Speaking of Sex (2001)
• Black River (2001)
• Cherry Falls (2000)
• Family Guy (2000) (TV)
• Pay It Forward (2000)
• 200 Cigarettes (1999)
• Go (1999)
• Playing by Heart (1999)
• Action (1999) (TV)
• Small Soldiers (1998)
• Paulie (1998)
• Jane Austen's Mafia! (1998)
• From The Earth To The Moon (1998)
• Suicide Kings (1997)
• Picture Perfect (1997)
• Jerry Maguire (1996)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jay Mohr

• Jay Mohr official website
• Jay Mohr at the Internet Movie Database
• Jay Mohr SI.com archive
• Weekly column on FOXSports.com
• Jay Mohr on the Jim Rome Show

Zack Hample
Hample with his baseball collection in 2008
Born	Zachary Ben Hample (1977-09-14) September 14, 1977 (age 34) New York, NY
Occupation	writer
Nationality	American
Genres	sports
www.zackhample.com

Zachary Ben Hample (born September 14, 1977, son of Stoo Hample and Naomi Cohen) is an American sports writer and Major League baseball collector. He is best known for having caught more than 5,000 baseballs in the stands at Major League stadiums.

Writing[link]

Hample has written three books. The first, How to Snag Major League Baseballs, was published by Simon & Schuster in 1999 when he was a junior at Guilford College. The second, Watching Baseball Smarter, was published by Random House in 2007 and was the 8th best selling American sports book that year. His third book, The Baseball, also published by Random House, was released on March 8, 2011. Hample, a part-time writer for minorleaguebaseball.com from 2005 to 2007, contributed the foreword to Major League Baseball: An Interactive Guide to the World of Sports in 2008 and wrote the introduction for Baseball Scorekeeper in 2011.

Baseball Collection[link]

As of May 13, 2012, Hample has collected 5,912 baseballs from 49 different Major League stadiums. He acquired his first ball from a Mets reliever at Shea Stadium on June 20, 1990, snagged his 3,000th ball by using his famous baseball glove trick at Yankee Stadium on May 7, 2007, and set a personal, one-game record with 36 baseballs at Great American Ball Park on September 14th, 2011. Hample caught Barry Bonds' 724th career home run at PETCO Park on August 16, 2006 and caught the first home run of the 2007 Home Run Derby, hit by Justin Morneau at AT&T Park. On May 28, 2011, Hample caught an Alex Rios batting practice home run ball for his 5,000th baseball at Rogers Centre. He also recently visited Japan's Tokyo Dome, with a total of 12 balls at that game.

During the final week ever at the old Yankee Stadium, Hample gained worldwide recognition by catching home run balls on consecutive nights. On September 16, 2008, he made a leaping catch on a Jason Giambi home run and immediately celebrated with a goofy dance that was captured by the TV cameras. The following night, in nearly exactly the same spot in the right field bleachers, Hample reached far over a railing to make a backhanded catch on a Johnny Damon home run and celebrated with the same dance. The Yankees' announcers quickly recognized him from the previous game, and within the next 24 hours the story was covered by ESPN, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN International, Japanese TV, and many other media outlets. Yahoo! Sports initially acknowledged Hample's baseball-snagging skills, but did not know that it was he who had made the catches.^[1] Less than two weeks later, on September 28, 2008, Hample caught the last home run ever hit by a Mets player at Shea Stadium, this one off the bat of Carlos Beltran On October 8, 2008, Hample made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan to Zack Hample: 'I think you're the worst man in America'Jay Leno and followed that nearly a year later with an appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Prior to Hample's three notable home run catches of 2008, he had been featured on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, and on an episode of the John O'Hurley version of the game show To Tell The Truth, during which he managed to trick the audience and two of the four celebrity panelists.^[2]

On April 21, 2011 Hample caught Mike Nickeas' first major league career homerun. Also, on July 24, 2011 Hample caught Mike Trout's first major league career homerun.^[3]

Charity work[link]

Since 2009, Hample has been raising money for Pitch In For Baseball, a non-profit charity that provides baseball equipment to underprivileged children all over the world.^[4] With help from his friends and fans, who pledge money for every baseball that he snags at Major League stadiums, Hample has raised more than $20,000.

Video games[link]

Hample, a competitive video game player, appeared briefly in the 2007 documentary The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. According to Twin Galaxies, he holds official world records on half a dozen classic video games including Breakout (896 points)^[5] and Arkanoid (1,658,110 points).^[6]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official web site
• Official blog
• NPR Interview
• ESPN.com article
• Sports Illustrated article
• New York Times article
• Associated Press article
• Deadspin article

Bruce Chen
Kansas City Royals – No. 52
Pitcher
Born: (1977-06-19) June 19, 1977 (age 35) Panama City, Panama
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
MLB debut
September 7, 1999 for the Atlanta Braves
Career statistics (through May 20, 2012)
Win-loss record	63-62
Earned run average	4.50
Strikeouts	920
WHIP	1.38
Teams
Atlanta Braves (1999-2000) Philadelphia Phillies (2000-2001) New York Mets (2001-2002) Montreal Expos (2002) Cincinnati Reds (2002) Boston Red Sox (2003) Houston Astros (2003) Baltimore Orioles (2004-2006) Texas Rangers (2007) Kansas City Royals (2009-present)
Career highlights and awards
Joe Burke Special Achievement Award (2010) Royals Pitcher of the Year Award (2011)

Chen pitching for the Texas Rangers in 2007

Bruce Kastulo Chen (Chinese: 陳用彩) (born June 19, 1977 in Panama City, Panama) is a Panamanian professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.

Background[link]

Chen is of Chinese descent. His paternal grandfather, Kuen Chin Chan Lee, joined his brothers and other relatives in Panama at age 9. Bruce's maternal grandmother, Kuen Yin Liu de Laffo, was born in Panama, but her family had to return to China after fire destroyed their home. After years of hard labor, she was able to return to Panama at age 24. Both of Bruce's grandparents have died, but he hopes to reconnect with his Chinese roots someday.^[1] Bruce's older brother, Greg Kateso Chen, is also a professional baseball player (team he plays for not found). Bruce Chen attended Panamerican Institute and studied civil engineering during the baseball off-season at Georgia Tech.

Career[link]

Atlanta Braves[link]

Chen signed with the Atlanta Braves as an amateur free agent on July 1, 1993. He made the South Atlantic League All-Star team in 1997 when he went 12-7 with a 3.51 ERA in 28 starts for the Macon Braves. In 1998 he made 23 starts for the Greenville Braves and was 13-7 with a 3.29 ERA. He was selected by the Southern League as an All-Star and the Most Outstanding Pitcher. He was also a Double-A All-Star, Baseball America minor league All-Star and the Braves minor league pitcher of the year.

He made his Major League debut with the Braves on September 7, 1998 against the New York Mets. He started the game but only lasted three innings while allowing 4 runs on 6 hits. He picked up his first win, when he went seven innings on September 12 against the Florida Marlins. He remained with the Braves through mid-2000, pitching in 42 games (starting 11) and was 8-2 with a 4.28 ERA.

Philadelphia Phillies[link]

He was traded by the Braves to the Philadelphia Phillies on July 12, 2000 (with Jimmy Osting) for Andy Ashby. He was a full-time starter with the Phillies, starting 31 games with a 7-9 record and 4.28 ERA. While playing for the Phillies, Chen had a loyal group of fans known as "The Chen Pen".^[2]

New York Mets[link]

The Phillies traded him to the New York Mets on July 27, 2001 for Dennis Cook and Turk Wendell. He made 11 starts (and 1 relief appearance) for the Mets and was 3-2 with a 4.61 ERA.

Montreal Expos[link]

Chen was traded again, on April 5, 2002 to the Montreal Expos (with Luis Figueroa, Saul Rivera and Dicky Gonzalez) for Phil Seibel, Scott Strickland and Matt Watson. He made 15 appearances (only 4 starts) for the Expos and was 2-3 with a 6.99 ERA.

Cincinnati Reds[link]

He was traded for the fourth time, on June 14, 2002, to the Cincinnati Reds for Jim Brower. He only made 1 start for the Reds and appeared in relief 39 times, with a 4.31 ERA.

Houston Astros[link]

Released by the Reds, he was signed as a free agent by the Houston Astros on March 14, 2003. He appeared in only 11 games and had an ERA of 6.00 with the Astros.

Boston Red Sox[link]

The Boston Red Sox selected him off waivers from the Astros on May 7, 2003. He appeared in 5 games for the Red Sox, with 2 starts and had a 5.11 ERA.

Toronto Blue Jays[link]

He signed as a free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays on November 26, 2003. He made 3 starts in AAA with the Syracuse SkyChiefs.

Baltimore Orioles[link]

He was sent to the Baltimore Orioles on May 1, 2004. He added a changeup to his repertoire of pitches, which includes an 87–90 mph fastball, and a slow 12–6 curveball. His 11 starts for the Orioles, from the end of 2004 through the 2005 season, indicated that he was well on his way to fulfilling the enormous potential that made him such a highly regarded prospect earlier in his career – but that turned out not to be true.^{[citation needed]}

In 2006, Chen appeared to have regressed. He went 0–7 with a 6.93 earned run average (ERA), starting 12 games, but appearing in 28 others coming out of the bullpen. After pitching for an entire season without a win, the Orioles declined to re–sign Chen, and he filed for free agency on November 1, 2006.

Texas Rangers[link]

Chen signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on February 6, 2007, with an invitation to spring training. Chen made the Rangers' opening day roster, taking a spot in the bullpen. He was reported to have reworked his contract to accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma if room was needed on the roster.

Kansas City Royals[link]

On March 1, 2009, Chen signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. He made his debut with the Royals on June 27, 2009. He allowed 4 runs in 7 1/3 innings. Chen's second start was much better, as he only gave up two runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts.^[3] On August 6, 2009, Chen won his first major league game since Oct. 2nd, 2005.^[4]

Chen re-signed a minor league contract with the Royals on December 11, 2009. On April 26, 2010, he earned his first Major League save, in a 3–1 Royals victory over the Seattle Mariners. He threw seven perfect innings before allowing a hit on July 20, 2010 against the Los Angeles Angels.

On October 1, 2010, in his last start of the season, Chen threw a two-hit shutout against the Tampa Bay Rays, striking out seven and only walking two. It was the first shutout he has thrown in his Major League career. He finished the season with a 12–7 record, and an ERA of 4.17.

Bruce had a productive 2011 season, posting a 12–8 record with a 3.77 ERA. On November 23, 2011, Chen agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Royals.^[5]

World Baseball Classic[link]

Chen pitched for Panama in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, working five innings, giving up four hits, two runs (both earned), and a walk, with three strikeouts, against a powerful Cuba team in the opening round of the tournament at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

References[link]

External links[link]

	Biography portal
	Baseball portal
	Panama portal

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

James Shields
United States Senator from Illinois
In office October 27, 1849 – March 4, 1855
Preceded by	Sidney Breese
Succeeded by	Lyman Trumbull
United States Senator from Minnesota
In office May 11, 1858 – March 4, 1859
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Morton Wilkinson
United States Senator from Missouri
In office January 27, 1879 – March 4, 1879
Preceded by	David Armstrong
Succeeded by	George Vest
Personal details
Born	(1810-05-10)May 10, 1810 Altmore, County Tyrone, Ireland
Died	June 1, 1879(1879-06-01) (aged 69) Ottumwa, Iowa
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1846 - 1848; 1861 - 1862
Rank	Brigadier General
Battles/wars	Mexican-American War American Civil War

James Shields (May 10, 1810 – June 1, 1879) was an American politician and United States Army officer who was born in Altmore, County Tyrone, Ireland. Shields, a Democrat, is the only person in United States history to serve as a U.S. Senator for three different states. Shields was a senator from Illinois 1849 to 1855, in the 31st, 32nd, and 33rd congresses, from Minnesota from May 11, 1858 to March 4, 1859, in the 35th congress, and from Missouri from January 27, 1879 to March 4, 1879, in the 45th congress.

Early life and career[link]

A descendant of the Ó Siadhail clan, Shields was the nephew of another James Shields, also born in Ireland, who was a Congressman from Ohio. The younger Shields immigrated to the United States around 1826 and settled in Kaskaskia, Randolph County, Illinois where he studied and later practiced law.^[1] He served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, beginning to serve in 1836, and then as an Illinois Supreme Court justice and in 1839 as the state auditor. (He was elected when not yet a citizen; Illinois then required only that a legislator have been resident in the state for six months.)

Shields nearly fought a duel with Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1842. Lincoln had published an inflammatory letter in a Springfield, Illinois, newspaper, the Sagamon Journal that poked fun at Shields, the State Auditor. Lincoln's future wife and her close friend, continued writing letters about Shields without his knowledge. Taking offense to the articles, Shields demanded "satisfaction" and the incident escalated to the two parties meeting on a Missouri island called Sunflower Island, near Alton, Illinois to participate in a duel. Lincoln took responsibility for the articles and accepted the duel. Just prior to engaging in combat, Lincoln made it a point to demonstrate his advantage by easily cutting a branch just above Shields' head, the two participants' seconds intervened and were able to convince the two men to cease hostilities, on the grounds that Lincoln had not written the letters. ^[2][3]

Shields as brigadier general during the Mexican-American War

In 1846, Shields was selected as a brigadier general of volunteers to fight in the Mexican-American War. He served under Zachary Taylor along the Rio Grande River. He commanded the 3rd Brigade, Volunteer Division, at the battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo, where he was wounded. He returned to fight at the battles of Contreras and Churubusco, his brigade now part of the 4th Division. He was again wounded at the Battle of Chapultepec.

Following the war, on August 14, 1848, he was nominated by President Polk, and confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as governor of Oregon Territory that was created that same day.^[4] However, he declined the position and Joseph Lane was nominated and became the first governor of the new territory.^[5] He resigned to run for the Senate from Illinois. His election was voided by the Senate on the grounds that he had not been a United States citizen for the nine years required by the United States Constitution; having been naturalized October 21, 1840. He returned to Illinois and campaigned for re-election, and won the special election to replace himself, and was then seated.

In 1855, he was defeated for re-election, so he moved to Minnesota. He was elected as one of the two first Senators from that state, but his term was only from 1858 to 1859, and he was again not re-elected.

He was the editor of the 1854 book, A History of Illinois, from its Commencement as a State in 1818 to 1847

Civil War and later career[link]

Statue of Shields at the Minnesota State Capital

Shields then moved to California and served as a brigadier general of volunteers from that state during the American Civil War. He commanded the 2nd Division of the V Corps, Army of the Potomac (subsequently part of the Army of the Shenandoah), during the Valley Campaign of 1862. He was wounded at the Battle of Kernstown on March 22, 1862, but his troops inflicted the only tactical defeat of General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson during the campaign (or the war). The day after Kernstown, he was promoted to major general, but the promotion was withdrawn, reconsidered, and then finally rejected. His overall performance in the rest of the Valley Campaign was poor enough that he resigned his commission, and his departure was not resisted by the War Department.

In 1863 he moved to Mexico and operated mines, and then to Wisconsin, but in 1866 moved to Missouri, where he served as member of the Missouri State House of Representatives, and as railroad commissioner. In 1879, he was elected to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Senator Lewis V. Bogy. He served only three months and declined to run for re-election.

Shields died in Ottumwa, Iowa. He is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Carrollton, Missouri. He represents Illinois in the National Statuary Hall.

See also[link]

	American Civil War portal
	United States Army portal

• List of American Civil War generals

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

External links[link]

• James Shields at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

v t e United States Senators from Minnesota Class 1 Rice Ramsey McMillan Davis Towne Clapp Kellogg Shipstead Thye McCarthy H. Humphrey M. Humphrey Durenberger Grams Dayton Klobuchar Class 2 Shields Wilkinson Norton Windom Stearns Windom Edgerton Windom Sabin Washburn K. Nelson Johnson Schall Benson Howard Lundeen Ball A. Nelson Ball H. Humphrey Mondale Anderson Boschwitz Wellstone Barkley Coleman Franken

v t e United States Senators from Missouri Class 1 Benton Geyer Polk Henderson Schurz Cockrell Warner Reed Patterson Truman Briggs Kem Symington Danforth Ashcroft Carnahan Talent McCaskill Class 3 Barton Buckner Linn Atchison Green Johnson Wilson Brown Drake Jewett Blair Bogy Armstrong Shields Vest Stone Wilfley Spencer Williams Hawes Clark Donnell Hennings Long Eagleton Bond Blunt

v t e United States Senators from Illinois Class 2 Thomas McLean Baker Robinson McRoberts Semple S. Douglas Browning Richardson Yates Logan Davis Cullom Lewis McCormick Deneen Lewis Slattery Brooks P. Douglas Percy Simon Durbin Class 3 Edwards McLean Kane Ewing Young Breese Shields Trumbull Oglesby Logan Farwell Palmer Mason Hopkins Lorimer Sherman McKinley Glenn Dieterich Lucas Dirksen Smith Stevenson III Dixon Moseley Braun Fitzgerald Obama Burris Kirk

v t e Chairmen of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services Military Affairs Committee (1816–1947) J. Williams Troup J. Williams Jackson Harrison Benton Preston Crittenden Benton Davis Shields Weller Davis Wilson Logan Spencer Randolph Logan Hawley Walthall Hawley Warren du Pont Johnston Chamberlain Wadsworth Reed Sheppard Reynolds Thomas Naval Affairs Committee (1816–1947) Tait Sanford Pleasants Lloyd Hayne Dallas Southard Rives R. Williams Mangum Bayard Fairfield Yulee Gwin Mallory J. Hale Grimes Cragin Sargent McPherson Cameron McPherson Cameron E. Hale Perkins Tillman Swanson Page F. Hale Trammell Walsh Armed Services Committee (1947–) Gurney Tydings Russell Saltonstall Russell Stennis Tower Goldwater Nunn Thurmond Warner Levin Warner Levin Warner Levin

v t e Illinois Comptrollers and Auditors of Public Accounts Auditors of Public Accounts (1818–1973) Berry Stapp Davis Shields Ewing Campbell DuBois Miner Lippincott Needles Swigart Pavey Gore McCullough Brady Russell Nelson Barrett Lueder Cooper Hodge Morey Smith Howlett Illinois Comptrollers (1973–present) Lindberg Bakalis Burris Netsch Didrickson Hynes Topinka