Charlie Hough

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Charlie Hough
Pitcher
Born: January 5, 1948 (1948-01-05) (age 60)
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 12, 1970
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Final game
July 26, 1994
for the Florida Marlins
Career statistics
Win-Loss     216-216
Strikeouts     2362
ERA     3.75
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • All-Star (1986)
  • Twice led American League in games started (1984, 36; 1987, 40)
  • Led AL in innings pitched (1987, 285.1)
  • Led AL in complete games (1984, 17)
  • On June 16, 1986, Hough lost a no-hitter to the California Angels with just two outs to go in the ninth inning.[1]
  • In 1987 he became the oldest pitcher to lead the American League in starts and innings pitched.
  • Recorded the first win, pitch and strikeout in the Florida Marlins franchise history.
  • Was the pitcher that allowed the third home run that Reggie Jackson hit on three consecutive pitches in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the 1977 World Series.
  • Is the last major league pitcher with 40 starts in a season, a total he reached in 1987.
  • Texas Rangers All-Time Wins (139), Innings (2,308), Strikeouts (1,452), Games Started (313), Complete Games (98) and Batters Faced (9,736) Leader

Charles Oliver (Charlie) Hough (rhymes with "tough" or "rough") (born January 5, 1948 in Honolulu, Hawaii) is a former knuckleball pitcher in Major League Baseball.

Contents

[edit] Playing career

Hough was drafted out of Hialeah High School in the 8th round of the 1966 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. After pitching in the low minor leagues from 1967-1969 with the Ogden Dodgers, Santa Barbara Dodgers and Albuquerque Dodgers with limited success, Hough's career and forturnes changed dramatically when he learned how to throw a knuckleball in spring training in 1970, leading to a successful season with the Spokane Indians in AAA., where he led the Pacific Coast League in saves and posted a 1.95 ERA.

He made his major league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970 but did not join the Dodgers bullpen full-time until the 1973 season. He became a top reliever for the Dodgers from 1973 until he was sold to the Texas Rangers in 1980. With the Dodgers, he was one of the pitchers who served up one of the three home runs that New York Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson hit on three straight pitches in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series.

He was converted into a starting pitcher in Texas, where he pitched from 1980-1990, making his only All-Star team in 1986. He left Texas as the franchise leader in wins, strikeouts, complete games and losses. He was famous for his "dancing knuckleball" pitch that he threw around 80% of the time. Hough complemented his knuckleball with a fastball and slider. Hough additionally was well known for throwing a large number of complete games each season and led the league in 1984 with 17.

He pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 1991-1992, where, at 43 years old, he found himself pitching to 43 year old Carlton Fisk.

He joined the expansion Florida Marlins for the 1993 season and was the first starting pitcher in the team's history. He retired at age 46 after the 1994 season.

In a 25-season career, Hough posted a 216-216 record with 2362 strikeouts and a 3.75 ERA in 3801.1 innings pitched. His 216 wins is good for 78th on the all-time win list, tied with Wilbur Cooper.

[edit] Coaching career

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Glenn Gregson		 Los Angeles Dodgers Pitching Coach
1998-1999		 Succeeded by
Claude Osteen
Preceded by
Dave Wallace		 New York Mets Pitching Coach
2001 - 2002		 Succeeded by
Rick Waits


v • d • e
Florida Marlins 1993 Inaugural Season
9 C Benito Santiago • 39 1B Orestes Destrade • 8 2B Bret Barberie • 12 3B Dave Magadan • 22 SS Walt Weiss • RF Junior Felix • 2 CF Scott Pose • 19 LF/1B Jeff Conine • 49 P Charlie Hough • 26 IF Alex Arias • 55 C Steve Decker • IF Gus Polidor • 6 IF Rich Renteria • 10 3B Gary Sheffield • 16 OF Geronimo Berroa • 28 OF Greg Briley • OF Matías Carrillo • 29 OF Henry Cotto • 3 OF Carl Everett • 4 LF Monty Fariss • 52 C Mitch Lyden • 57 OF Terry McGriff • 13 C Bob Natal • OF 17 Darrell Whitmore • OF Nigel Wilson
77 SP Jack Armstrong • 46 SP Ryan Bowen • 11 SP Chris Hammond • 48 SP Pat Rapp • 27 RP Luis Aquino • RP Cris Carpenter • RP 41 Jim Corsi • RP 34 Bryan Harvey • 51 RP Trevor Hoffman • 40 RP John Johnstone • RP Joe Klink • 24 RP Richie Lewis • 57 RP Bob McClure • 31 RP Robb Nen • RP Rich Rodriguez • RP 54 Matt Turner • 35 RP David Weathers
Manager 15 Rene Lachemann
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