Charley O'Leary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charley O'Leary |
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O'Leary with the Detroit Tigers
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| Shortstop | |||
| Born: October 15, 1875 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Died: January 6, 1941 (aged 65) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 14, 1904, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 1934, for the St. Louis Browns | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .226 | ||
| Home runs | 3 | ||
| Runs batted in | 213 | ||
| Teams | |||
As a player
As a coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Charles Timothy O'Leary (born October 15, 1875 – died January 6, 1941) was an American professional baseball player. He was a shortstop for eleven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals, and St. Louis Browns.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Start
Charley O'Leary was born in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Irish immigrants. He was one of 16 children in his family.
When he was 16, Charley worked for a clothing company. He also played baseball on the company's semi-pro team. In 1900, he was working as a messenger. He was sent to the ballpark of the Chicago White Stockings. Their shortstop was hurt that day. Someone who knew Charley recommended him, and he was asked to play right away!
Charley was good at playing in the middle of the field. He was also a tough hitter. The owner of the White Stockings, Charles Comiskey, noticed his skills. Charley reportedly signed a short deal with the team. But his arm was broken by a fast pitch from a famous pitcher named Rube Waddell.
Playing in the Major Leagues
Charley O'Leary first played in the major leagues on April 14, 1904. This was with the Detroit Tigers. He was their main shortstop from 1904 to 1907. After that, he became a backup player and could play different positions.
In the off-season, Charley and his teammate Germany Schaefer had a funny act. They performed in vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a type of live entertainment with different acts. Their act was so popular that it might have inspired two movies! These were They Learned About Women (1930) and Take Me Out to the Ballgame (1949). The second movie starred famous actors Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra.
Charley was not known for being a strong hitter. His career batting average was .226.
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Coaching and Records
After playing his last game in 1913 with the St. Louis Cardinals, Charley became a player-manager. He managed teams in smaller leagues for several years.
In 1920, his good friend Miller Huggins offered him a coaching job. Huggins was the manager of the New York Yankees. Charley coached with the Yankees for 10 years. During this time, the Yankees won six league championships. They also won two World Series titles! This included the amazing 1927 Yankees team.
One time, in 1920, Charley was in a car accident. He was riding with famous baseball player Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth lost control of the car. Charley was thrown from the car but only had minor injuries.
After the Yankees, Charley coached for the Chicago Cubs. He also coached for the St. Louis Browns.
On September 30, 1934, Charley O'Leary made history. He was almost 59 years old. The Browns brought him back to play in one game. He came in as a pinch-hitter (a player who bats instead of another). He got a hit and then scored a run! This made him the oldest player in Major League Baseball to get a hit and score a run. He is also the second-oldest player to ever play in a game.
Charley passed away in Chicago on January 6, 1941, from an illness. He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
His Real Birth Date
For many years, Charley O'Leary said he was born in 1882. But in 2010, a researcher found his real birth year. It was 1875. This was found in the 1880 census and his World War I draft record. This discovery showed he was much older when he played his last game. It made him the second-oldest player to appear in a Major League Baseball game, after Satchel Paige.
See also
- List of oldest Major League Baseball players
- 1909 Detroit Tigers season
- List of St. Louis Cardinals coaches
