Charlie Wagner | |||
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Pitcher | |||
Born: December 3, 1912 Reading, Pennsylvania |
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Died: August 31, 2006 (aged 93) Reading, Pennsylvania |
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MLB debut | |||
April 19, 1938, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
August 8, 1946, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Win–loss record | 32-23 | ||
Earned run average | 3.91 | ||
Strikeouts | 157 | ||
Teams | |||
Charles Thomas Wagner (December 3, 1912 – August 31, 2006) was an American right-handed pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Boston Red Sox (1938–42, 1946). Nicknamed "Broadway," he went on to a 50-year career as a scout and minor league instructor. His professional relationship with the Red Sox lasted a record 73 years.
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Wagner debuted with the Boston Red Sox on April 19, 1938. After being used in both starting and relief duties, he enjoyed his first full season as a starter in 1941. He was the second in a pitching rotation that included Dick Newsome, Mickey Harris and Lefty Grove. Wagner finished with a 12–8 record and three shutouts, and his 3.07 earned run average was the best on the Boston pitching staff and the third best in the American League, being surpassed only by Thornton Lee (2.37) and Al Benton (2.97), and over Marius Russo (3.09).
In 1942, Wagner compiled career-highs in victories (14, eight in AL), starts (26), complete games (17, seventh in AL), strikeouts (52), innings pitched (205 1⁄3), and had a 3.29 ERA. After the season, he left his team to serve in the Navy during World War II. Wagner returned to the Red Sox in 1946, along with teammates Ted Williams, Dom DiMaggio, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, Tex Hughson and Joe Dobson. He pitched his final game on August 8, 1946, ending with a 1–0 mark in 30 2⁄3 innings.