Charlie Spikes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charlie Spikes |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: January 23, 1951 Bogalusa, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: September 1, 1972, for the New York Yankees | |||
| NPB: April 4, 1981, for the Chunichi Dragons | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: October 5, 1980, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| NPB: June 28, 1981, for the Chunichi Dragons | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .246 | ||
| Home runs | 65 | ||
| Runs batted in | 256 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .122 | ||
| Home runs | 1 | ||
| Runs batted in | 6 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Leslie Charles Spikes (born January 23, 1951) is a former American baseball player. He was an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Charlie played from 1972 to 1980 for several teams. These teams included the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and Atlanta Braves. He also played a short time in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons in 1981. People often called him "the Bogalusa Bomber" during his playing days.
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Charlie Spikes' Early Career
Charlie Spikes started his professional baseball journey after high school. The New York Yankees picked him in the first round of the 1969 Major League Baseball Draft. This was a big deal, as it meant he was one of the top young players chosen that year.
Making His MLB Debut
Charlie made his first appearance in Major League Baseball with the Yankees in 1972. It's a dream for many young players to reach the big leagues. Soon after, in November 1972, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. This trade involved several players moving between the Yankees and the Indians.
Playing for the Cleveland Indians
Charlie Spikes spent his most successful years with the Cleveland Indians. He played for them from 1973 through the 1977 season.
His Best Season in Baseball
His best year came in 1974 while playing for the Indians. That season, he had a batting average of .271. He also hit 22 home runs and brought in 80 runs. These numbers show he was a strong hitter and an important part of his team's offense.
Later Career and Retirement
After his time with the Indians, Charlie Spikes moved to other teams. In December 1977, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers. He played for the Tigers in 1978.
Moving to the Atlanta Braves
Later, he joined the Atlanta Braves, playing for them in 1979 and 1980. His career in Major League Baseball ended after the 1980 season.
Playing in Japan
In 1981, Charlie Spikes had a brief experience playing baseball in Japan. He played 26 games for the Chunichi Dragons. After this, he retired from professional baseball.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet, or SABR Biography Project
