Charlie Gray | |
---|---|
![]() Gray in
Sporting Life, 1890 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: June 1864 Indianapolis, Indiana, US | |
Died: June 1, 1900 Indianapolis, Indiana, US | (aged 36)|
Batted: Unknown Threw: Unknown | |
MLB debut | |
April 23, 1890, for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys | |
Last MLB appearance | |
June 23, 1890, for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 1–4 |
Earned run average | 7.55 |
Strikeouts | 10 |
Teams | |
Charles A. Gray (June 1864 – June 1, 1900) was an American baseball pitcher. He pitched five games in Major League Baseball, four of them as a starting pitcher.
Gray was born in 1864 in Indianapolis. The first record of his playing organized baseball is in 1889 when he played for Danville of the Illinois–Indiana League. [1] He also played for Youngstown of the Ohio State League in 1889. [2]
On April 23, 1890, Gray made his debut in Major League Baseball as a relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the National League. He was the winning pitcher in that game and was described as "a freak" by the Sporting Life. [2] He was billed as the team's pitcher "of six fingers and six toed fame." [2]
Gray made his debut at a time when the rosters of major league teams were depleted due to the formation of the Players' League. [1] After his debut as a relief pitcher, Gray appeared in four games as a starter. On May 24, 1890, Gray gave up 11 bases on balls and was charged with four wild pitches. [1] He pitched a total of 31 innings, giving up 35 hits and 24 bases on balls and compiling a 1-4 win-loss record and a 7.55 earned run average (ERA). [3] His .200 winning percentage was better than the club as a whole, as the 1890 Pittsburgh Alleghenys compiled a 23–113–2 record (.169 winning percentage). [4]
Gray was released by the Alleghenys in early July 1890. [5] He tried out with the New York Giants but did not make the club. He played the remainder of the 1890 season with Ottawa of the Illinois–Iowa League. [1]
In 1895, he held an advertising job with The Sporting News. At the time, he cited being "known as the six-fingered pitcher" as his main claim to fame. [2] He later worked as a bricklayer in Indianapolis. [2] He died from pneumonia in 1900 in Indianapolis. [6]