Charlie Lau
Encyclopedia
Charles Richard Lau was an American
catcher
and hitting coach
in Major League Baseball
.
He was signed by the Detroit Tigers
as an amateur free agent. After spending three seasons with the organization (1956, 1958–1959) he was traded (with Don Lee) to the Milwaukee Braves
for Casey Wise
, Don Kaiser
, and Mike Roarke
. After the Baltimore Orioles
purchased him from the Braves in , he adopted a contact hitter's batting stance
(feet wide apart, bat held almost parallel to the ground). That season he had a .294 batting average
with six home run
s and thirty-seven runs batted in
.
After hitting .194 in 23 games, he was sold by the Orioles to the Kansas City Athletics
on July 1, 1963, hitting .294 in Kansas City and having a batting average of .272 in 92 games. On June 15, , he was traded back to the Orioles for Wes Stock. On May 31, 1967, he was purchased by the Braves, now located in Atlanta, and on November 27, 1967, he was released by the Braves.
Lau attributed the end of his career as a catcher in the majors to steroid injections he received to treat an injury to his throwing arm. These injections relieved the pain from the injury and he was counselled to return to the field before his injury fully healed. The permanent damage that resulted impaired his ability to throw out baserunners.
On April 28, 1961, Lau caught the second of Warren Spahn
's two career no-hitter
s.
, New York Yankees
and Chicago White Sox
. Contrary to popular belief, Lau did not emphasize releasing the top hand after making contact with the pitch and following through with only the lower hand on the bat. He did, however, suggest this measure to hitters who—for whatever reason—could not fully extend their arms during their swings.
Lau developed a list of "Absolutes" about hitting, which included:
A balanced, workable stance;
Rhythm and movement in the stance (as opposed to standing still);
A good weight shift from a firm rigid backside to a firm rigid frontside;
Striding with the front toe closed;
Having the bat in the launching position as soon as the front foot touches down;
Making the stride a positive, aggressive motion toward the pitcher;
A tension-free swing;
Hitting through the ball;
Hitting the ball where it is pitched, rather than trying to direct it.
Lau served as batting coach for the Royals from 1971 to 1978 (with the exception of the early part of the season when he was the team's minor league
hitting coach after his temporary ouster from the Royals' staff by then-skipper Jack McKeon
. He worked with Hal McRae
, Amos Otis
, Willie Wilson and George Brett
. After becoming the Chicago White Sox' hitting instructor, his pupils included Greg Luzinski, Carlton Fisk
, Steve Kemp
, Harold Baines
and Ron Kittle
.
While serving as the White Sox hitting coach, he died in Key Biscayne, Florida
at the age of 50 after a long bout with cancer
. Since his death, no White Sox player or coach (except Lau disciple Walt Hriniak
, the Chisox' hitting coach from 1989–1995) has worn his number 6 jersey, although it has not been officially retired. The baseball field at Romulus Senior High School
in his hometown is named the Charley Lau Baseball Field.
as himself. The title character (played by Jason Robards, Jr.) pays Lau to teach Matthew Broderick
's character how to hit.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and hitting coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in Major League Baseball
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...
.
He was signed by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
as an amateur free agent. After spending three seasons with the organization (1956, 1958–1959) he was traded (with Don Lee) to the Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Casey Wise
Casey Wise
Kendall Cole "Casey" Wise was an American college and professional baseball player who was a Major League Baseball infielder during parts of four seasons, between 1957 and 1960, with three different clubs: the Chicago Cubs, the Milwaukee Braves and the Detroit Tigers.The son of longtime MLB scout...
, Don Kaiser
Don Kaiser
Clyde Donald Kaiser is a retired American professional baseball player who was a pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs between 1955 and 1957....
, and Mike Roarke
Mike Roarke
Michael Thomas Roarke is a retired American catcher and coach in Major League Baseball. As a player he threw and batted right-handed, stood 6'2" tall and weighed 195 pounds ....
. After the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
purchased him from the Braves in , he adopted a contact hitter's batting stance
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
(feet wide apart, bat held almost parallel to the ground). That season he had a .294 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with six home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and thirty-seven runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
.
After hitting .194 in 23 games, he was sold by the Orioles to the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
on July 1, 1963, hitting .294 in Kansas City and having a batting average of .272 in 92 games. On June 15, , he was traded back to the Orioles for Wes Stock. On May 31, 1967, he was purchased by the Braves, now located in Atlanta, and on November 27, 1967, he was released by the Braves.
Lau attributed the end of his career as a catcher in the majors to steroid injections he received to treat an injury to his throwing arm. These injections relieved the pain from the injury and he was counselled to return to the field before his injury fully healed. The permanent damage that resulted impaired his ability to throw out baserunners.
On April 28, 1961, Lau caught the second of Warren Spahn
Warren Spahn
Warren Edward Spahn was an American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career in the National League. He won 20 games each in 13 seasons, including a 23-7 record when he was age 42...
's two career no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s.
Lau as a hitting coach
After his playing career ended, Lau became a hitting coach for the Orioles, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. Contrary to popular belief, Lau did not emphasize releasing the top hand after making contact with the pitch and following through with only the lower hand on the bat. He did, however, suggest this measure to hitters who—for whatever reason—could not fully extend their arms during their swings.
Lau developed a list of "Absolutes" about hitting, which included:
A balanced, workable stance;
Rhythm and movement in the stance (as opposed to standing still);
A good weight shift from a firm rigid backside to a firm rigid frontside;
Striding with the front toe closed;
Having the bat in the launching position as soon as the front foot touches down;
Making the stride a positive, aggressive motion toward the pitcher;
A tension-free swing;
Hitting through the ball;
Hitting the ball where it is pitched, rather than trying to direct it.
Lau served as batting coach for the Royals from 1971 to 1978 (with the exception of the early part of the season when he was the team's minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
hitting coach after his temporary ouster from the Royals' staff by then-skipper Jack McKeon
Jack McKeon
John Aloysius McKeon , nicknamed Trader Jack, is a former Major League Baseball manager. In 2003, he won a World Series with the Florida Marlins...
. He worked with Hal McRae
Hal McRae
Harold Abraham McRae is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals . Utilized as a designated hitter for most of his career, McRae batted and threw right-handed...
, Amos Otis
Amos Otis
Amos Joseph Otis is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets , Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates . He batted and threw right-handed....
, Willie Wilson and George Brett
George Brett (baseball)
George Howard Brett , nicknamed "Mullet", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history, and 15th...
. After becoming the Chicago White Sox' hitting instructor, his pupils included Greg Luzinski, Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
, Steve Kemp
Steve Kemp
Steven F. Kemp is a former Major League Baseball outfielder from 1977 to 1986 and 1988. He is of Armenian heritage.-Professional career:...
, Harold Baines
Harold Baines
Harold Douglas Baines is a former right fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for five American League teams from 1980 to 2001. He is best known for his three stints with the Chicago White Sox, the team on which he now serves as coach...
and Ron Kittle
Ron Kittle
Ronald Dale Kittle is a former left fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who was known mostly for his home run power, being named the 1983 AL Rookie of the Year...
.
While serving as the White Sox hitting coach, he died in Key Biscayne, Florida
Key Biscayne, Florida
Key Biscayne is a village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States on the island of Key Biscayne. The population was 10,507 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,324....
at the age of 50 after a long bout with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. Since his death, no White Sox player or coach (except Lau disciple Walt Hriniak
Walt Hriniak
Walter John Hriniak is a former catcher in American Major League Baseball who — despite a very brief MLB playing career and a batting average of only .253 — became one of the most prominent batting coaches in the game during the last two decades of the 20th century...
, the Chisox' hitting coach from 1989–1995) has worn his number 6 jersey, although it has not been officially retired. The baseball field at Romulus Senior High School
Romulus Senior High School
Romulus Senior High School or Romulus High School is the public high school in the city of Romulus, Michigan . Located at 9650 South Wayne Road, just north of Interstate 94, it is right around the corner from Romulus Middle School.The school's mascot is the Eagle, and the school colors are maroon...
in his hometown is named the Charley Lau Baseball Field.
Off the field
Lau also appeared in the film Max Dugan ReturnsMax Dugan Returns
Max Dugan Returns is a 1983 American comedy-drama film starring Jason Robards as the titular Max Dugan, Marsha Mason as his daughter Nora, Donald Sutherland, Kiefer Sutherland, and Matthew Broderick as grandson Michael...
as himself. The title character (played by Jason Robards, Jr.) pays Lau to teach Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
's character how to hit.