Joe Shlabotnik is a fictional baseball player featured in the Peanuts comic strip. Shlabotnik was often mentioned as Charlie Brown’s favorite player. Brown spent much of his free time trying to hunt down Joe memorabilia — baseball cards, autographs, personal meetings, and organized a Joe Shlabotnik Fan Club, complete with a newsletter which folded after one issue.
Shlabotnik was demoted to the minors after having a .004 batting average over an entire season; his one hit was a bloop single with his team comfortably ahead. His greatest achievements included making spectacular plays on routine fly balls and throwing out a runner who had fallen down between first and second. After being sent down to the Green Grass League (a bush league), Shlabotnik retired as a player and agreed to manage the Waffletown Syrups. Sadly, he was fired after only one game, after calling for a squeeze play … with no one on base.
Linus van Pelt once invited Shlabotnik to a testimonial dinner for Charlie Brown; unfortunately, the ballplayer got lost en route from his day job at a car wash. Another time he was scheduled to appear at a sports banquet where fans could dine with their favorite athletes (the guest list included Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Jack Nicklaus, and Peggy Fleming), and Charlie Brown, Linus, and Snoopy bought tickets to sit at Joe’s table. He was the only athlete who didn’t show up, explaining later that he had marked the wrong event, city, and date on his calendar. Charlie Brown never did meet his hero.
One of my favorite strips is when Lucy gets a Joe Shlabotnik baseball card and Charlie Brown tries to work a trade. Sometime I want to work out how much the stars that Chuck offered was worth against a 1963 common. One deal had Mickey Mantle. A 1963 Mantle can be had for $1040. A 1963 common, $9.
People didn’t answer this question last time so I want to ask again: Since when did Charles Schulz say he based Lucy off his wife!!!!!!!!! Seriously people always say that in here but when did he ever say that!!!!!(Plz answer)
Templo S.U.D. over 4 years ago
what a negative Nancy Lucy van Pelt is here when it comes to a testimonial dinner for Charlie Brown
therese_callahan2002 over 4 years ago
“He’s got those steadily depressing, low down, mind messing, working at the car wash blues.”
Major Matt Mason Premium Member over 4 years ago
“How sharper than a serpent’s tooth, is LUCY’S BIG FAT MOUTH!!!”
jpayne4040 over 4 years ago
Back then, athletes and celebrities rarely did that kind of thing.
RichardLaird over 4 years ago
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Joe_Shlabotnik
RichardLaird over 4 years ago
Joe Shlabotnik is a fictional baseball player featured in the Peanuts comic strip. Shlabotnik was often mentioned as Charlie Brown’s favorite player. Brown spent much of his free time trying to hunt down Joe memorabilia — baseball cards, autographs, personal meetings, and organized a Joe Shlabotnik Fan Club, complete with a newsletter which folded after one issue.
Shlabotnik was demoted to the minors after having a .004 batting average over an entire season; his one hit was a bloop single with his team comfortably ahead. His greatest achievements included making spectacular plays on routine fly balls and throwing out a runner who had fallen down between first and second. After being sent down to the Green Grass League (a bush league), Shlabotnik retired as a player and agreed to manage the Waffletown Syrups. Sadly, he was fired after only one game, after calling for a squeeze play … with no one on base.
Linus van Pelt once invited Shlabotnik to a testimonial dinner for Charlie Brown; unfortunately, the ballplayer got lost en route from his day job at a car wash. Another time he was scheduled to appear at a sports banquet where fans could dine with their favorite athletes (the guest list included Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Jack Nicklaus, and Peggy Fleming), and Charlie Brown, Linus, and Snoopy bought tickets to sit at Joe’s table. He was the only athlete who didn’t show up, explaining later that he had marked the wrong event, city, and date on his calendar. Charlie Brown never did meet his hero.
Tallguy over 4 years ago
Joe Shlabotnik is the harbinger of doom.
gantech over 4 years ago
Ouch…very ouch…
JohnFarson19 over 4 years ago
One of my favorite strips is when Lucy gets a Joe Shlabotnik baseball card and Charlie Brown tries to work a trade. Sometime I want to work out how much the stars that Chuck offered was worth against a 1963 common. One deal had Mickey Mantle. A 1963 Mantle can be had for $1040. A 1963 common, $9.
WilliamPennat over 4 years ago
Local hero….
Ellis97 over 4 years ago
Poor Chuck. All he wants is a little respect.
knight1192a over 4 years ago
Unfortunately, Lucy may be right. However, it might be worse than a car wash. Might be he can make it and will then charge for his pressence.
SuperSunshine10 over 4 years ago
People didn’t answer this question last time so I want to ask again: Since when did Charles Schulz say he based Lucy off his wife!!!!!!!!! Seriously people always say that in here but when did he ever say that!!!!!(Plz answer)
Spiffy over 4 years ago
When I was a kid reading Peanuts, it never occurred to me that Joe Shlabotnik wasn’t a real baseball player.