Charlie Peete
Encyclopedia
Charles Peete was an American
professional baseball
player. The reigning batting average
champion of the Triple-A American Association
who received a one-month, 23-game trial with the 1956
St. Louis Cardinals
of Major League Baseball
, Peete was projected by some as the leading candidate to be the Cardinals' 1957 starting center fielder
. But he was killed in a commercial airplane crash near the Caracas, Venezuela, airport while flying to his winter-league baseball team in late November of 1956; his wife, Nettie, and their three young children were also among the 25 victims of the crash.
Nicknamed "Mule," Peete stood 5 in 9 in (1.75 m) tall, weighed 190 pounds (86.2 kg), batted left-handed
and threw right-handed. The native of Franklin, Virginia
, began his professional career in the Negro leagues with the Indianapolis Clowns
and played semi-professional baseball in Canada
before signing with the unaffiliated Portsmouth, Virginia
, Merrimacks of the mid-level, Class B Piedmont League
in 1953; Peete was the first African-American to play in that league since the baseball color line
was broken in 1946. He batted .275 in 125 games played
and impressed the Cardinals, who drafted him into their organization that offseason and assigned him to their Lynchburg Cardinals farm team, also in the Piedmont League, for 1954. Peete batted .311 with 17 home runs and was named to the PL all-star team. He was promoted three levels to Triple-A for and batted .310 in a season split between the Cardinals' two top farm teams, the Rochester Red Wings
and Omaha Cardinals
. Then came his stellar campaign for the 1956 Omaha Cardinals, as he batted a league-best .350 with 16 home runs and 63 runs batted in in 116 games.
Called up to the Cardinals in July, Peete made his debut July 17 in a home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
. Pinch hitting
for veteran Hank Sauer
, he drew a base on balls
and stayed in the game to play center field, and later grounded into a double play
in a 4–2 Cardinal loss. Although he had some successes, Peete struggled at the Major League level, collecting only ten hits
in 52 at bats with two doubles
and two triples
. He was sent back to Omaha after his last MLB appearance, August 16, when he went hitless in three at bats against Lew Burdette
of the Milwaukee Braves
.
Despite the disappointing results from his midseason callup, Peete was projected as a prime candidate for the Redbirds' 1957 centerfielder job; incumbent Bobby Del Greco
had batted only .215 during 1956. Had Peete won the job, he would have been the Cardinals' first African-American regular starting player. To gain more experience, Peete decided to play winter baseball. After drawing his release from a Cuban
team because of a slow start, he joined the Valencia
club in the Venezuelan league. He was flying with his family to report to Valencia when the airliner in which they were passengers crashed into Avila Mountain, near Caracas, during a rainstorm — killing all aboard. Charlie Peete was 27 years of age.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. The reigning 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 :...
champion of the Triple-A American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
who received a one-month, 23-game trial with the 1956
1956 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 75th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 65th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 76-78 during the season and finished 4th in the National League.- Offseason :...
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...
of 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...
, Peete was projected by some as the leading candidate to be the Cardinals' 1957 starting center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
. But he was killed in a commercial airplane crash near the Caracas, Venezuela, airport while flying to his winter-league baseball team in late November of 1956; his wife, Nettie, and their three young children were also among the 25 victims of the crash.
Nicknamed "Mule," Peete stood 5 in 9 in (1.75 m) tall, weighed 190 pounds (86.2 kg), batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
and threw right-handed. The native of Franklin, Virginia
Franklin, Virginia
Franklin is an independent city in Virginia. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Franklin with Southampton county for statistical purposes. The population was 8,582 in 2010.-History:...
, began his professional career in the Negro leagues with the Indianapolis Clowns
Indianapolis Clowns
The Indianapolis Clowns were a professional baseball team in the Negro American League.- Founding :They began operation in Cincinnati in , and operated between Cincinnati and Indianapolis in 1944 and 1945 before officially moving in...
and played semi-professional baseball in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
before signing with the unaffiliated Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, Merrimacks of the mid-level, Class B Piedmont League
Piedmont League
The Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the Piedmont plateau region in the eastern United States.- Former :...
in 1953; Peete was the first African-American to play in that league since the baseball color line
Baseball color line
The color line in American baseball excluded players of black African descent from Organized Baseball, or the major leagues and affiliated minor leagues, until Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization for the 1946 season...
was broken in 1946. He batted .275 in 125 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
and impressed the Cardinals, who drafted him into their organization that offseason and assigned him to their Lynchburg Cardinals farm team, also in the Piedmont League, for 1954. Peete batted .311 with 17 home runs and was named to the PL all-star team. He was promoted three levels to Triple-A for and batted .310 in a season split between the Cardinals' two top farm teams, the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
and Omaha Cardinals
Omaha Cardinals
The Omaha Cardinals was the name of the minor league baseball club based in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, from 1947 through 1959. It played in the Class A Western League through 1954 and in the AAA American Association from 1955-59 as an affiliate of its major league namesake, the St...
. Then came his stellar campaign for the 1956 Omaha Cardinals, as he batted a league-best .350 with 16 home runs and 63 runs batted in in 116 games.
Called up to the Cardinals in July, Peete made his debut July 17 in a home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. Pinch hitting
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...
for veteran Hank Sauer
Hank Sauer
Henry John "Hank" Sauer was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1959, Sauer played for the Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs , St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants and San Francisco Giants...
, he drew a base on balls
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
and stayed in the game to play center field, and later grounded into a double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
in a 4–2 Cardinal loss. Although he had some successes, Peete struggled at the Major League level, collecting only ten hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 52 at bats with two doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and two triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. He was sent back to Omaha after his last MLB appearance, August 16, when he went hitless in three at bats against Lew Burdette
Lew Burdette
Selva Lewis Burdette, Jr. was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves...
of 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....
.
Despite the disappointing results from his midseason callup, Peete was projected as a prime candidate for the Redbirds' 1957 centerfielder job; incumbent Bobby Del Greco
Bobby Del Greco
Robert George Del Greco was an Outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago Cubs , New York Yankees , Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Athletics .Del Greco grew up in Pittsburgh's Hill District and was signed by the hometown Pirates...
had batted only .215 during 1956. Had Peete won the job, he would have been the Cardinals' first African-American regular starting player. To gain more experience, Peete decided to play winter baseball. After drawing his release from a Cuban
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
team because of a slow start, he joined the Valencia
Valencia, Venezuela
Valencia is the capital city of Carabobo State, and the third largest city of Venezuela.The city is an economic hub that contains Venezuela's top industries and manufacturing companies. The population of Valencia reached some 1.5 million in the year 2003, and it is expected to grow dramatically...
club in the Venezuelan league. He was flying with his family to report to Valencia when the airliner in which they were passengers crashed into Avila Mountain, near Caracas, during a rainstorm — killing all aboard. Charlie Peete was 27 years of age.