Career
In 1910, Collins played first base for the White Sox, but he was quickly moved to right field, where he would enjoy a reputation for having one of the strongest throwing arms in baseball. He batted.286 (6 for 21) in the 1917 World Series, going 3-for-4 in Game 1. In 1918, he set a record with three bases-loaded triples in one season, which would stand alone for 31 years until Elmer Valo tied the mark in 1949.
Collins still holds the MLB career record of eight triples with the bases loaded.
During the notorious 1919 World Series, tainted by the Black Sox Scandal, Collins went 4-for-16 at the plate for the White Sox. He was not among those implicated in the scandal.
In 1921, he was traded to the Red Sox, with whom he finished his career. He was fired after 55 games in 1931.
In the indictments of the key figures in the Black Sox scandal John F. Collins is named as the wronged party.
The indictment claims that by throwing the World Series the alleged conspirators defrauded him of $1,784 dollars. Collins died in Newton, Massachusetts, at age 69. "Shano" was a nickname given to him while on the White Sox, which is a play on the Gaelic equivalent of his name, Sean.