Chick King
Encyclopedia
Charles Gilbert "Chick" King (born November 10, 1930) was a Major League Baseball
outfielder
who played for the Detroit Tigers
(1954–1956), Chicago Cubs
(1958–1959), and St. Louis Cardinals
(1959).
Born in Paris, Tennessee
, King was the youngest of seven sons. He played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track at Grove High School. He obtained the nickname "Chick" as a boy. Years later, he told a reporter, "I don't know how I got it, but I was young. And it has been with me ever since." As a senior, he was named to the All-American high school football team. In August 1950, King appeared in the All-American high school football game and ran 91 yards for a touchdown on the opening play of the second half. He initially signed to attend the University of Georgia
, but he was ruled ineligible by the Southeastern Conference
after an investigation of "scholarship inducements." He opted instead to attend Memphis State College
where he was a star football player in 1950. He also competed in basketball, baseball and track at Memphis State.
In April 1951, he signed with the Detroit Tigers
to play professional baseball. Memphis State football coach Ralph Hately complained at the time, "It's a terrible condition when guys can come on your campus and lure your athletes away from their college educations. It isn't fair for major league clubs to pull a stunt like this."
King played in Detroit's farm system from 1951 to 1954. In late August 1954, he was playing for the Buffalo Bisons
, the International League
team affiliated with the Detroit Tigers
when two Detroit outfielders, Bill Tuttle
and Al Kaline
were injured. King was called up to the Tigers and made his Major League Baseball debut on August 27, 1954. Following his debut against the New York Yankees
, The Sporting News called King "a towering 190-pounder" and a "swift outfielder" who had stolen 31 bases for Buffalo. He appeared in 25 games for the Tigers between 1954 and 1956.
In February 1957, the Tigers traded King and an unnamed player to be named later to the Milwaukee Braves in exchange for Jack Dittmer
. King was immediately assigned to the Braves' American Association
farm club in Wichita, Kansas
. He remained in the minor leagues for the 1957 season and was sent from Wichita to the Cubs' farm club in Fort Worth, Texas
in December 1957.
King briefly returned to the majors, appearing in eight games for the Chicago Cubs
in 1958. He spent most of the 1958 season with the minor league team in Fort Worth, Texas
. In May 1959, he was traded by the Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals
in exchange for Irv Noren
. He played in only five games for the Cardinals, appearing in his last major league game on May 30, 1959.
Over his five seasons in Major League Baseball, King played in 45 games, 29 as an outfielder
and the rest as a pinch hitter
. He had a career batting average of .237 and an on base percentage of .306.
King continued to play minor league baseball until 1961.
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who played for 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...
(1954–1956), 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...
(1958–1959), and 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...
(1959).
Born in Paris, Tennessee
Paris, Tennessee
Paris is a city in Henry County, Tennessee, United States, west of Nashville, on a fork of the West Sandy River. In 1900, 2,018 people lived in Paris, Tennessee; in 1910, 3,881; and in 1940, 6,395. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 9,763. It is the county seat of Henry...
, King was the youngest of seven sons. He played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track at Grove High School. He obtained the nickname "Chick" as a boy. Years later, he told a reporter, "I don't know how I got it, but I was young. And it has been with me ever since." As a senior, he was named to the All-American high school football team. In August 1950, King appeared in the All-American high school football game and ran 91 yards for a touchdown on the opening play of the second half. He initially signed to attend the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, but he was ruled ineligible by the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
after an investigation of "scholarship inducements." He opted instead to attend Memphis State College
University of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
where he was a star football player in 1950. He also competed in basketball, baseball and track at Memphis State.
In April 1951, he signed with 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...
to play professional baseball. Memphis State football coach Ralph Hately complained at the time, "It's a terrible condition when guys can come on your campus and lure your athletes away from their college educations. It isn't fair for major league clubs to pull a stunt like this."
King played in Detroit's farm system from 1951 to 1954. In late August 1954, he was playing for the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
, the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
team affiliated with 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...
when two Detroit outfielders, Bill Tuttle
Bill Tuttle
William Robert Tuttle was a center fielder for three teams during his Major League Baseball career; the Detroit Tigers from 1952 to 1957, the Kansas City Athletics from 1958 to 1961, and the Minnesota Twins from 1961 to 1963...
and Al Kaline
Al Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
were injured. King was called up to the Tigers and made his Major League Baseball debut on August 27, 1954. Following his debut against the 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...
, The Sporting News called King "a towering 190-pounder" and a "swift outfielder" who had stolen 31 bases for Buffalo. He appeared in 25 games for the Tigers between 1954 and 1956.
In February 1957, the Tigers traded King and an unnamed player to be named later to the Milwaukee Braves in exchange for Jack Dittmer
Jack Dittmer
John Douglas "Jack" Dittmer is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played six seasons in the majors, from until , for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves and Detroit Tigers....
. King was immediately assigned to the Braves' American Association
American Association
American Association may refer to one of the following professional baseball leagues:* American Association , active from 1882 to 1891* American Association , active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997...
farm club in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
. He remained in the minor leagues for the 1957 season and was sent from Wichita to the Cubs' farm club in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
in December 1957.
King briefly returned to the majors, appearing in eight games for 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...
in 1958. He spent most of the 1958 season with the minor league team in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. In May 1959, he was traded by the Cubs 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...
in exchange for Irv Noren
Irv Noren
Irving Arnold Noren is a retired American professional baseball and basketball player. He played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1950-1960. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers...
. He played in only five games for the Cardinals, appearing in his last major league game on May 30, 1959.
Over his five seasons in Major League Baseball, King played in 45 games, 29 as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and the rest as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. He had a career batting average of .237 and an on base percentage of .306.
King continued to play minor league baseball until 1961.