Charlie Hudson
Encyclopedia
Charles Hudson is a former left-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher who played from 1972 to 1975 for the St. Louis Cardinals
, Texas Rangers
and California Angels. He was 6'3" tall and he weighed 185 pounds. He attended Tupelo High School
in Tupelo, Oklahoma
.
Hudson was originally drafted by the New York Mets
in the 10th round of the 1967 draft
. He had quite a bit of success as a starter in the minors, for example going a combined 20-9 with a 2.10 ERA in his first two minor league seasons. He was also used as a reliever at times in the minors, and he saw success in that role as well.
Before ever playing in a Major League uniform with the Mets, Hudson was traded with Jim Bibby
, Rich Folkers
and Art Shamsky
to the St. Louis Cardinals
for Jim Beauchamp
, Chuck Taylor
, Harry Parker, and Chip Coulter
on October 18, 1971.
He spent less than a year in the Cardinals minor league system before making his big league debut on May 21, 1972 against the Chicago Cubs
at the age of 22. Although he walked a batter in his first game, Hudson did not surrender a single hit or allow a single run in two innings pitched
. The success he witnessed in his first game did not carry over to the rest of the season though, as he finished with a 5.11 ERA in 12 relief appearances.
On February 1, 1973, he was traded with a player to be named later to the Rangers for a player to be named later. The Cardinals' player to be named later ended up being Mike Nagy, while the Rangers' player to be named later ended up being Mike Thompson
. He developed the knuckleball
in 1973, and it became his key pitch.
Hudson appeared in 25 games in 1973, starting four of them. He posted an ERA of 4.62 and he struck out 34 batters in 62 1/3 innings of work.
On April 24, 1974, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians
for Ted Ford
. He never appeared in the Majors in an Indians uniform though, and he was sent to the Angels on September 12, 1974 for Bill Gilbreth
.
He appeared in three games for the Angels in 1975, starting one of them. He posted a record of 0-1. In five and two thirds innings of work that year, Hudson surrendered six earned runs for a 9.53 ERA. He played his final big league game on July 10, 1975.
Overall, Hudson went 5-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 40 games, five of which he started. In 80 1/3 innings of work, he surrendered 76 hits, walked 42 and struck out 38.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher who played from 1972 to 1975 for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
and California Angels. He was 6'3" tall and he weighed 185 pounds. He attended Tupelo High School
Tupelo High School (Oklahoma)
Tupelo High School is a high school located in Tupelo, Oklahoma. It currently has 77 students and serves grades 9-12. Notable alumni include Charlie Hudson, a one-time major league baseball player.-References:**...
in Tupelo, Oklahoma
Tupelo, Oklahoma
Tupelo is a city in Coal County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 377 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tupelo is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
.
Hudson was originally drafted by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in the 10th round of the 1967 draft
1967 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1967 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The June draft was filled with talented prospects who would go on to pro careers...
. He had quite a bit of success as a starter in the minors, for example going a combined 20-9 with a 2.10 ERA in his first two minor league seasons. He was also used as a reliever at times in the minors, and he saw success in that role as well.
Before ever playing in a Major League uniform with the Mets, Hudson was traded with Jim Bibby
Jim Bibby
James Blair Bibby was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 12-year baseball career, he pitched from 1972-1984 with the St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, and Pittsburgh Pirates, with whom he was a member of its 1979 World Series Champions...
, Rich Folkers
Rich Folkers
Richard Nevin Folkers is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to for the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers....
and Art Shamsky
Art Shamsky
Arthur Louis Shamsky is a former Major League Baseball player. He played right field, left field, and first base from to for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and Oakland Athletics. In he was the manager of the Modi'in Miracle of the Israel Baseball League.-Early life:Shamsky...
to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for Jim Beauchamp
Jim Beauchamp
James Edward Beauchamp was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played from to for the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Colt .45s/Astros, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Mets. He attended Grove High School in Grove, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University...
, Chuck Taylor
Chuck Taylor (baseball)
Charles Gilbert "Chuck" Taylor is a former right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played from 1969 to 1976 for the St...
, Harry Parker, and Chip Coulter
Chip Coulter
Thomas Lee "Chip" Coulter is a former switch hitting, right-handed throwing Major League Baseball second baseman who played in 1969 for the St...
on October 18, 1971.
He spent less than a year in the Cardinals minor league system before making his big league debut on May 21, 1972 against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
at the age of 22. Although he walked a batter in his first game, Hudson did not surrender a single hit or allow a single run in two innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. The success he witnessed in his first game did not carry over to the rest of the season though, as he finished with a 5.11 ERA in 12 relief appearances.
On February 1, 1973, he was traded with a player to be named later to the Rangers for a player to be named later. The Cardinals' player to be named later ended up being Mike Nagy, while the Rangers' player to be named later ended up being Mike Thompson
Mike Thompson (1970s pitcher)
Michael Wayne Thompson is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played in the big leagues in 1971 and from 1973 to 1975 for the Washington Senators, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves...
. He developed the knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
in 1973, and it became his key pitch.
Hudson appeared in 25 games in 1973, starting four of them. He posted an ERA of 4.62 and he struck out 34 batters in 62 1/3 innings of work.
On April 24, 1974, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for Ted Ford
Ted Ford
Theodore Henry Ford is a former right-handed Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers from 1970 to 1973....
. He never appeared in the Majors in an Indians uniform though, and he was sent to the Angels on September 12, 1974 for Bill Gilbreth
Bill Gilbreth
William Freeman Gilbreth is a retired professional baseball player who played three seasons for the Detroit Tigers and California Angels of Major League Baseball.-References:...
.
He appeared in three games for the Angels in 1975, starting one of them. He posted a record of 0-1. In five and two thirds innings of work that year, Hudson surrendered six earned runs for a 9.53 ERA. He played his final big league game on July 10, 1975.
Overall, Hudson went 5-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 40 games, five of which he started. In 80 1/3 innings of work, he surrendered 76 hits, walked 42 and struck out 38.
Other information
- The last home run Hudson ever surrendered was to Hall of Famer Frank RobinsonFrank RobinsonFrank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
. - He wore three uniform numbers in his career: 30 in 1972, 14 in 1973 and 41 in 1975.
- At last check, he lived in Coalgate, OklahomaCoalgate, OklahomaCoalgate is a city in and the county seat of Coal County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,005 at the 2000 census.Morris W. Turner , a businessman and the mayor of Lubbock, Texas, from 1972–1974, was born in Coalgate.-Geography:...
.