- Oscar Charleston
-
Oscar Charleston 
Center fielder Born: October 14, 1896
Indianapolis, IndianaDied: October 6, 1954 (aged 57)
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaBats: Left Throws: Left Professional debut Negro league baseball: 1915, Indianapolis ABCs Last professional appearance 1941, Philadelphia Stars statistics Batting average .353 Slugging percentage .576 Teams - Indianapolis ABCs (1915–18, 1920, 1922–23)
- Lincoln Stars (1916)
- Chicago American Giants (1919)
- St. Louis Giants (1921)
- Harrisburg Giants (1924-1927)
- Hilldale Club (1928–29)
- Homestead Grays (1930–31)
- Pittsburgh Crawfords (1932–37)
- Toledo Crawfords (1939)
- Indianapolis Crawfords (1940)
- Philadelphia Stars (1941)
Career highlights and awards - 3× All-Star selection (1933, 1934, 1935)
Member of the National 
Baseball Hall of Fame Inducted 1976 Oscar McKinley Charleston (October 14, 1896 - October 5, 1954) was an American center fielder and manager in baseball's Negro leagues from 1915 to 1945.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Charleston joined the Army at 15 and served in the Philippines. After returning to the United States, he immediately began his baseball career with the Indianapolis ABC's in 1915. He served as a player and/or manager for the ABCs, Chicago American Giants, Lincoln Stars, St. Louis Giants, Harrisburg Giants, Philadelphia Hilldales, Homestead Grays, and Pittsburgh Crawfords.
An intense, focused, and intelligent man, Charleston was among the most renowned players of his time, a tremendous power and contact hitter and one of the finest defensive center fielders of all-time. His career batting average was .348,[1] and he regularly finished among league leaders in both home runs and stolen bases. He was also known for his combative nature, getting into many brawls, including at least one memorable fight with an array of Cuban soldiers.
In 1932, Charleston became player-manager of the Pittsburgh Crawfords and presided over what some baseball historians consider the best Negro league team ever. His roster included Hall of Famers Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, and Judy Johnson. The team went 99-36, and Charleston himself batted .363.
In addition to his tremendous play in the Negro leagues, Charleston excelled in exhibition play against all-white major league teams, batting .318 with 11 home runs in 53 games. Contemporary observers compared his play to that of Tris Speaker and Babe Ruth.[2] Some baseball historians consider him one of the greatest players in history.[3] He died at age 57 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Charleston was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976. In 1999, he was ranked #67 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, one of five players so honored who played all or most of their careers in pre-1947 black leagues. He was also nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Baseball writer Bill James, in his The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, ranked Charleston as the fourth-best player of all-time.
External links
- Oscar Charleston at the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Oscar Charleston at NegroLeagueBaseball.com
- Oscar Charleston at Negro League Players Association
References
- ^ Lawrence D. Hogan, Shades of Glory, p. 385.
- ^ The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract 2001, p.189, (ISBN 0-684-80697-5)
- ^ The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract 2001, p.189, (ISBN 0-684-80697-5)
Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1976 BBWAA Vote Bob Lemon (78.61%) • Robin Roberts (86.86%)Veterans Committee Negro League Committee Oscar CharlestonJ. G. Taylor Spink Award Tom Meany • Shirley PovichOutfielders inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame Aaron • Ashburn • Averill • Bell • Brock • Brown • Burkett • Carey • Charleston • Clarke • Clemente • Cobb • Combs • Crawford • Cuyler • Dawson • Delahanty • DiMaggio • Doby • Duffy • Flick • Goslin • Gwynn • Hafey • Hamilton • Heilmann • Henderson • Hill • Hooper • Irvin • Jackson • Kaline • Keeler • Kelley • Kelly • Kiner • Klein • Mantle • Manush • Mays • McCarthy • Medwick • Musial • O'Rourke • Ott • Puckett • J. Rice • S. Rice • Robinson • Roush • Ruth • Simmons • Slaughter • Snider • Speaker • Stargell • Stearnes • Thompson • Torriente • L. Waner • P. Waner • Wheat • B. Williams • T. Williams • Wilson • Winfield • Yastrzemski • YoungsCategories:- 1896 births
- 1954 deaths
- African American baseball players
- African American baseball managers
- African American baseball coaches
- Major League Baseball coaches
- National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees
- Negro league baseball players
- Negro league baseball managers
- Indianapolis ABCs players
- Chicago American Giants players
- St. Louis Giants players
- Harrisburg Giants players
- Homestead Grays players
- Indianapolis Clowns players
- People from Indianapolis, Indiana
- Baseball players from Indiana
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