Chuck Stobbs
Encyclopedia
Charles Klein Stobbs was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Boston Red Sox
(1947–51), Chicago White Sox
(1952), Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins
(1953–58 and 1959–61) and St. Louis Cardinals
(1958).
He led the American League
in Walks per 9 Innings Pitched (2.03) in 1956 and led the American League in Losses (20) and Earned Runs Allowed (126) in .
Stobbs is remembered in the history books as the pitcher who served up a titanic home run to Mickey Mantle
in 1953. The ball traveled an estimated 565 feet and flew entirely out of Griffith Stadium
(Washington).
, spent his early years in Springfield, Ohio
and Vero Beach, Florida
. As a teenager his family moved to Norfolk, Virginia
, where his father took a coaching job at Granby High School
.
His father, Bill Stobbs
, played professional football.
In high school, Stobbs excelled in three sports: football, basketball and baseball. He led the Granby High School football team to three consecutive state championships and was a three-time all-state quarterback. Stobbs was an all-American in baseball and a two-time all-state basketball player.
In 1957, Washington Post sports columnist Bob Addie wrote that Stobbs was "one of the greatest athletes ever to come out of Virginia."
Stobbs turned down several college scholarships to play with the Boston Red Sox, who offered him a $35,000 signing bonus. Stobbs was only 18 years old when he pitched in his first big-league game.
Stobbs always considered himself better at football or basketball than baseball. In 2002, following his induction into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
, Stobbs said: "My biggest ambition was playing college football and going to the Rose Bowl. I regret sometimes even now not going to school and finding out if I could have played football."
.
In 1971, Stobbs moved to Florida and worked at a baseball academy operated by the Kansas City Royals
. He was a minor-league pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians
from 1980-1984.
In 1991, Stobbs had a granddaughter Heather.
Stobbs died after a seven year battle with throat cancer.
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1947–51), Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1952), Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1953–58 and 1959–61) 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...
(1958).
He led the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in Walks per 9 Innings Pitched (2.03) in 1956 and led the American League in Losses (20) and Earned Runs Allowed (126) in .
Stobbs is remembered in the history books as the pitcher who served up a titanic home run to Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
in 1953. The ball traveled an estimated 565 feet and flew entirely out of Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium was a sports stadium that stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965, between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street, and between W Street and Florida Avenue, NW. An earlier wooden baseball park had been built on the same site in 1891...
(Washington).
Biography
Stobbs, a native of West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, spent his early years in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
and Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 16,939. It is the county seat of Indian River County...
. As a teenager his family moved to Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, where his father took a coaching job at Granby High School
Granby High School
Granby High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in Norfolk, Virginia. The high school is part of the Norfolk Public Schools system. It is the only high school in the school division that offers an International Baccalaureate program...
.
His father, Bill Stobbs
Bill Stobbs
Thomas William Stobbs, Jr. was a professional American football player for the National Football League's Detroit Tigers. He attended high school in Wheeling, West Virginia. He attended Washington & Jefferson College....
, played professional football.
In high school, Stobbs excelled in three sports: football, basketball and baseball. He led the Granby High School football team to three consecutive state championships and was a three-time all-state quarterback. Stobbs was an all-American in baseball and a two-time all-state basketball player.
In 1957, Washington Post sports columnist Bob Addie wrote that Stobbs was "one of the greatest athletes ever to come out of Virginia."
Stobbs turned down several college scholarships to play with the Boston Red Sox, who offered him a $35,000 signing bonus. Stobbs was only 18 years old when he pitched in his first big-league game.
Stobbs always considered himself better at football or basketball than baseball. In 2002, following his induction into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a sports hall of fame located in Portsmouth, Virginia. Founded in 1972, it moved to its current location in 2005...
, Stobbs said: "My biggest ambition was playing college football and going to the Rose Bowl. I regret sometimes even now not going to school and finding out if I could have played football."
After the Major Leagues
After leaving professional baseball, Stobbs spent a brief time as an insurance salesman and a coach at George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
.
In 1971, Stobbs moved to Florida and worked at a baseball academy operated by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. He was a minor-league pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
from 1980-1984.
In 1991, Stobbs had a granddaughter Heather.
Stobbs died after a seven year battle with throat cancer.
External links
- Chuck Stobbs at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- Baseball Library