Ed Charles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ed Charles |
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Charles with the New York Mets
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| Third baseman | |||
| Born: April 29, 1933 Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. |
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| Died: March 15, 2018 (aged 84) East Elmhurst, Queens, New York, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 11, 1962, for the Kansas City Athletics | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 1969, for the New York Mets | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .263 | ||
| Home runs | 86 | ||
| Runs batted in | 421 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Edwin Douglas Charles (born April 29, 1933 – died March 15, 2018) was an American professional baseball player. He played as a third baseman in Major League Baseball. Ed Charles was a right-handed hitter. He played for the Kansas City Athletics from 1962 to 1967. Later, he joined the New York Mets from 1967 to 1969. He was known for his smooth play at third base.
Contents
Playing Baseball
Early Career
Ed Charles first signed with the Boston Braves in 1952. He spent eight seasons playing in the Braves' minor league teams. During this time, he even wrote poetry about his experiences in baseball.
Because another famous player, Eddie Mathews, played third base for the Braves, Charles was traded. In 1962, he moved to the Kansas City Athletics. This trade helped him get his chance in the major leagues.
Kansas City Athletics
In his first year with the Kansas City Athletics in 1962, Charles played really well. He had a batting average of .288. He also hit 17 home runs and had 74 runs batted in (RBIs). He even stole 20 bases! These numbers were his best for a single season. He was also named to the Topps All-Star Rookie Roster.
Charles continued to play steadily for the Athletics. In 1963, he hit .267 with 15 home runs and a career-high 79 RBIs. In 1964, his batting average was .241, but he still hit 16 home runs. In 1965 and 1966, his batting average improved, but he hit fewer home runs. This was partly because the team's owner moved the fences back at their stadium.
New York Mets and the "Miracle Mets"
On May 10, 1967, Charles was traded to the New York Mets. He became the oldest regular player on his new team. In 1968, he led the Mets in home runs with 15.
In 1969, Ed Charles was part of the famous Miracle Mets team. This team surprised everyone by winning the World Series. The Mets had not been very good in their first few years. But in 1969, they made an amazing comeback. They were 10 games behind the Chicago Cubs in August. However, they kept winning and clinched their division on September 24. In that game, Charles hit his final Major League home run.
Charles played in four of the five World Series games. The Mets defeated the strong Baltimore Orioles. After losing the first game, the Mets won the next four. Charles scored the winning run in Game Two. He was 36 years old, making him the oldest player on the "Miracle Mets."
After the World Series, Charles was released by the Mets. His nickname was "The Glider." This name came from his smooth play at third base and his graceful running. In his career, he batted .263 with 86 home runs and 421 RBIs in 1005 games.
After Baseball
After his playing career, Ed Charles continued to be involved in baseball. He worked as a scout for the Mets. He also coached for the Kingsport Mets, a minor league team. Outside of baseball, he worked with young people in group homes in The Bronx.
Ed Charles passed away on March 15, 2018, at the age of 84. He had served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was buried in Leavenworth, Kansas.
