Chuck Churn facts for kids

Clarence Nottingham "Chuck" Churn (born February 1, 1930 – died October 21, 2017) was an American professional baseball player. He was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). Chuck played in 25 games for three teams: the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He played from 1957 to 1959. Chuck was from Bridgetown, Virginia. He threw and batted with his right hand. He was 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and weighed 205 pounds (93 kg).

Chuck's Early Baseball Days

Chuck Churn started his baseball journey when the Pirates signed him in 1949. He spent seven years playing in the minor leagues. He also spent one year serving in the military.

Finally, in 1957, Chuck joined the Pittsburgh Pirates' pitching team. His first game was on April 18, 1957, against the Brooklyn Dodgers. He pitched one inning and gave up two hits and two runs. Chuck played in five games for the Pirates. He then went back to the minor leagues in May. He didn't get any wins or losses, and his earned run average (ERA) was 4.32.

Later that year, the Boston Red Sox chose Chuck. But the Red Sox put him on waivers during spring training. This meant other teams could claim him. The Cleveland Indians picked him up on March 26, 1958.

Chuck pitched in six games for the Indians, all as a relief pitcher. He didn't get any wins or losses. His ERA was 6.23. In May, the Cincinnati Redlegs bought him. He was sent to the Triple-A Seattle Rainiers for the rest of the season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers got Chuck in a trade with the Reds on May 6, 1959. He was called up from the Triple-A Spokane Indians in August.

Chuck's Big Role in 1959

Chuck Churn played a very important part in the 1959 season for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He didn't allow any runs in his first three games with the Dodgers.

On September 2, 1959, Chuck got his first-ever win in the major leagues. The Dodgers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9–6. Chuck pitched 4 and 2/3 innings and only gave up one run.

He got his second win on September 11 against his old team, the Pirates. Chuck came into the game when the Dodgers were losing 4–2. The Dodgers scored runs and won 5–4. Chuck pitched 2/3 of an inning without giving up any runs.

The Dodgers were in a close pennant race that year. This meant they were fighting hard to win their league. Chuck's wins in September were very valuable. He also got his only MLB save on September 19 against the San Francisco Giants.

On the last day of the season, September 27, 1959, the Dodgers and the Milwaukee Braves were tied. They had to play a special tie-breaker series to decide who would win the league.

Chuck played in Game 2 of this series on September 29. He came into the game when the Braves were ahead. He helped stop the Braves from scoring more runs. The Dodgers then made an amazing comeback in the ninth inning. They tied the game and won in extra innings. This win made them the National League champions! They were going to the 1959 World Series.

Chuck finished the 1959 season with 3 wins and 2 losses. He also had one save and a 4.99 ERA. He pitched in Game 1 of the 1959 World Series. The Dodgers lost that game, but they went on to win the World Series in six games! It was Chuck's only World Series appearance.

The 1959 season was Chuck's last in the major leagues. He ended his career with 3 wins, 2 losses, and one save. He had 32 strikeouts in 47 and 2/3 innings pitched.

After his time in the majors, Chuck continued to play in the minor leagues until 1962. He then became a coach and manager for the Houston Astros' minor league teams until 1967.

Chuck Churn, who was nicknamed "Slim," passed away in Lady Lake, Florida on October 21, 2017. He was 87 years old.