Charles Nagy
Encyclopedia
Charles Harrison Nagy (born May 5, 1967) is an American
former Major League Baseball
All-Star right-handed pitcher
who played for 14 seasons in the major leagues from to , mostly with the Cleveland Indians
, and currently serves as the pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
. He is of Hungarian ancestry. As a young boy, he lived for a few years in St. Petersburg, Florida
, where he played Little League and was coached by his uncle, Sanford Harrison. Nagy attended Roger Ludlowe High School
in Fairfield, Connecticut
, where he starred in baseball and football.
Nagy attended the University of Connecticut
. Playing for the Huskies, he ranked second and eighth all-time for strikeouts in a single season (113, 81) and fifth for his career (194). His single-season marks for the Huskies (entering the 2011 season) include tied for third in complete games (8), tied for sixth in saves (4), and 17th in innings pitched (86.1). He was the first Huskies player drafted in the first round and the first to be named the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year, which he won twice (for the 1987 and 1988 seasons).
Nagy was a member of the Team USA Baseball
that competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
, South Korea
as a demonstration sport
. Nagy made 19 appearances for Team USA, going 3-1 with a 1.05 ERA and a team-leading six saves. He appeared in two games in the Olympics, pitching 2.0 innings and earning a save. Team USA defeated defending champion Japan
to win the tournament and win individual gold medal
s, however, since baseball was a demonstration sport, the medals did not count in the respective nations' medal totals.
during the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft
amateur draft. He was second of three first round picks selected, sandwiched between SS
Mark Lewis and pitcher Jeff Mutis
. Being a successful college pitcher, Nagy skipped several levels and was assigned to the Kinston Indians
, the Cleveland "High A" affiliate in the Carolina League
. He obviously over matched batters, racking up a 8-4 record and 1.51 earned run average (ERA)
with 99 strikeouts in 95.1 innings over 13 starts. He was quickly promoted to Canton-Akron Indians
, the Double-A affiliate in the Eastern League
. Nagy finish with a 4-5 record and a 3.35 ERA in 15 starts. After the season, Baseball America
rated him as the #27 prospect.
Nagy returned to the so-called "little Indians" for the start of the 1990 season, where he went 13-8 with a 2.52 ERA in 23 starts. He was soon called up to Cleveland, a hapless club that would finish 4th in AL East (77-85) and was in desperate need of starting pitching. He made his big league debut on June 29, 1990, a 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He would end with a 2-4 record and a 5.91 ERA in 9 starts. In 1991, he finished 10-15 with a 4.13 ERA, which was enough to help him finish tied for eighth in the American League Rookie of the Year Award for 1991. On August 8, 1992, he threw a complete game one-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles
, with just two walks
and giving up a single in the seventh.
On May 15, 1993, Nagy left a game against the Milwaukee Brewers
with a shoulder injury after pitching to just two batters. He was a miserable 2-6 at that point and undergo surgery for a torn labrum on June 29, shutting him down for the 1993 season. He rebounded in 1994
with a respectable 10-8 record with a 3.45 ERA during the strike-shortened season.
The "magical" 1995 season
, Nagy led the staff with a 16-6 and a 4.55 ERA, as the Indians returned to the World Series for the first time since 1954. He pitched well in the division and league championship series, giving up two earned runs in 15 innings, but surrendered five earned runs in seven innings in game 3 of the 1995 World Series
. The next year, 1996, was arguably his best season, ended 17-5 and a 3.41 ERA, and he finished fourth in the Cy Young Award
voting.
In the 1997 World Series
, Nagy was the game 3 starter. He gave up 5 earned runs in 6, before it turned into a softball game with a final score of 14-11. In game 7, after a blown save by closer Jose Mesa
, manager Mike Hargrove was forced to bring in Nagy, the starter with the team's most wins during the regular season (15), in the 10th inning to try to mop up. In the bottom of the 11th inning, Nagy gave up a bases loaded single to Edgar Renteria
that appeared to graze off his outstretched glove to end the game and the series, pinning Nagy with the loss.
During this period from 1995 through 1999, Nagy was the workhorse of the Tribe pitching staff, amassing 15 or more wins each season, a feat only matched by Greg Maddux
. However, Nagy was placed on the disabled list (DL)
on May 16, 2000, snapping a streak of 192 consecutive starts dating back to October 3, 1993. On May 19, 2000, he underwent arthroscopic
surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. He returned to make three starts in September, but was shut down after three losses and persistent pain. He would get just more wins from 2001 through 2003.
Despite a solid spring training and not missing a turn in the spring rotation, Nagy started the 2001 season
on the disabled list, as the Indians felt he needed to build strength in his surgically repaired elbow. He did not come off of the DL on June 1.
Nagy's last season, 2003, was with the San Diego Padres
. He finished as the Tribe’s all-time strikeout leader (1,235), 10th in wins (129), and 11th in innings pitched (1,942.1).
In 2009, Nagy was named the pitching coach of the Cleveland Indians' AAA team, the Columbus Clippers
.
On October 26, 2010, Nagy was named pitching coach of the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
.
Nagy established an endowed baseball scholarship at UConn with a gift of $100,000.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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...
All-Star right-handed 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...
who played for 14 seasons in the major leagues from to , mostly with 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...
, and currently serves as the pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.
Early life and amateur career
Nagy was born on May 5, 1967, in Bridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
. He is of Hungarian ancestry. As a young boy, he lived for a few years in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, where he played Little League and was coached by his uncle, Sanford Harrison. Nagy attended Roger Ludlowe High School
Fairfield Ludlowe High School
Fairfield Ludlowe High School is a co-educational secondary school located in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States.-Origins:Fairfield Ludlowe High School opened in the fall of the 2003–2004 as a satellite campus of Fairfield High School...
in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
, where he starred in baseball and football.
Nagy attended the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
. Playing for the Huskies, he ranked second and eighth all-time for strikeouts in a single season (113, 81) and fifth for his career (194). His single-season marks for the Huskies (entering the 2011 season) include tied for third in complete games (8), tied for sixth in saves (4), and 17th in innings pitched (86.1). He was the first Huskies player drafted in the first round and the first to be named the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year, which he won twice (for the 1987 and 1988 seasons).
Nagy was a member of the Team USA Baseball
USA Baseball
USA Baseball was founded in , and is the governing body for amateur baseball in the United States of America. It is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and organizes the United States national baseball team...
that competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
as a demonstration sport
Baseball at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 1988 Summer Olympics was a demonstration sport for the seventh time. Eight teams competed in Seoul in the baseball tournament. The format used was the same as the tournament of four years earlier. Five teams that had competed in the 1984 tournament returned.-Preliminary round:There...
. Nagy made 19 appearances for Team USA, going 3-1 with a 1.05 ERA and a team-leading six saves. He appeared in two games in the Olympics, pitching 2.0 innings and earning a save. Team USA defeated defending champion Japan
Japan national baseball team
The Japan national baseball team is the national baseball team representing Japan in international competitions. They are one of the more successful baseball teams in the world, having won the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009...
to win the tournament and win individual gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s, however, since baseball was a demonstration sport, the medals did not count in the respective nations' medal totals.
Professional career
Nagy was taken in the first round as 17th overall pick by the Cleveland IndiansCleveland 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...
during the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft
1988 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1988 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
amateur draft. He was second of three first round picks selected, sandwiched between SS
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Mark Lewis and pitcher Jeff Mutis
Jeff Mutis
Jeff Mutis is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher.Mutis was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 34th round of the 1985 amateur draft, but did not sign. He was subsequently drafted by the Indians in the 1st round of the 1988 amateur draft...
. Being a successful college pitcher, Nagy skipped several levels and was assigned to the Kinston Indians
Kinston Indians
The Kinston Indians were a minor league baseball team of the Carolina League , and the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. They were located in Kinston, North Carolina, and were named for their parent club...
, the Cleveland "High A" affiliate in the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. He obviously over matched batters, racking up a 8-4 record and 1.51 earned run average (ERA)
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
with 99 strikeouts in 95.1 innings over 13 starts. He was quickly promoted to Canton-Akron Indians
Canton-Akron Indians
The Canton-Akron Indians are a defunct minor league baseball team. They played in the Eastern League at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium in Canton, Ohio from 1989 to 1996...
, the Double-A affiliate in the Eastern League
Eastern League
Eastern League may refer to:*Eastern League , a professional baseball minor league in the United States*International League, a baseball minor league known as the Eastern League from 1884 to 1912...
. Nagy finish with a 4-5 record and a 3.35 ERA in 15 starts. After the season, Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
rated him as the #27 prospect.
Nagy returned to the so-called "little Indians" for the start of the 1990 season, where he went 13-8 with a 2.52 ERA in 23 starts. He was soon called up to Cleveland, a hapless club that would finish 4th in AL East (77-85) and was in desperate need of starting pitching. He made his big league debut on June 29, 1990, a 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He would end with a 2-4 record and a 5.91 ERA in 9 starts. In 1991, he finished 10-15 with a 4.13 ERA, which was enough to help him finish tied for eighth in the American League Rookie of the Year Award for 1991. On August 8, 1992, he threw a complete game one-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, with just two walks
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 giving up a single in the seventh.
On May 15, 1993, Nagy left a game against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
with a shoulder injury after pitching to just two batters. He was a miserable 2-6 at that point and undergo surgery for a torn labrum on June 29, shutting him down for the 1993 season. He rebounded in 1994
1994 Cleveland Indians season
-Offseason:* November 2, 1993: Heathcliff Slocumb was traded by the Indians to the Philadelphia Phillies for Ruben Amaro, Jr..* December 2, 1993: Dennis Martínez was signed as a free agent by the Indians....
with a respectable 10-8 record with a 3.45 ERA during the strike-shortened season.
The "magical" 1995 season
1995 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was the Major League Baseball season that led to the Indians returning to the World Series for the first time since . In a season that started late by 18 games - giving it just a 144 games - the Indians finished in first place in the American League Central Division...
, Nagy led the staff with a 16-6 and a 4.55 ERA, as the Indians returned to the World Series for the first time since 1954. He pitched well in the division and league championship series, giving up two earned runs in 15 innings, but surrendered five earned runs in seven innings in game 3 of the 1995 World Series
1995 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 21, 1995 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta ace Greg Maddux pitched a two-hit complete game victory in his first World Series appearance ....
. The next year, 1996, was arguably his best season, ended 17-5 and a 3.41 ERA, and he finished fourth in the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
voting.
In the 1997 World Series
1997 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 18, 1997 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, FloridaThe first World Series game in the state of Florida, Game 1 featured a youngster and a veteran facing each other on the mound...
, Nagy was the game 3 starter. He gave up 5 earned runs in 6, before it turned into a softball game with a final score of 14-11. In game 7, after a blown save by closer Jose Mesa
José Mesa
José Ramón Nova Mesa [MAY-sah] is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. His nickname was "Joe Table," the literal translation of his name in the English language....
, manager Mike Hargrove was forced to bring in Nagy, the starter with the team's most wins during the regular season (15), in the 10th inning to try to mop up. In the bottom of the 11th inning, Nagy gave up a bases loaded single to Edgar Renteria
Edgar Rentería
Edgar Enrique Rentería Herazo , nicknamed "The Barranquilla Baby," is a Colombian professional baseball shortstop. He throws and bats right-handed. Previously, he has played for the Florida Marlins, the St...
that appeared to graze off his outstretched glove to end the game and the series, pinning Nagy with the loss.
During this period from 1995 through 1999, Nagy was the workhorse of the Tribe pitching staff, amassing 15 or more wins each season, a feat only matched by Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan Maddux , nicknamed "Mad Dog" and "The Professor", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
. However, Nagy was placed on the disabled list (DL)
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
on May 16, 2000, snapping a streak of 192 consecutive starts dating back to October 3, 1993. On May 19, 2000, he underwent arthroscopic
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage of the interior of a joint is performed using an arthroscope, a type of endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision...
surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. He returned to make three starts in September, but was shut down after three losses and persistent pain. He would get just more wins from 2001 through 2003.
Despite a solid spring training and not missing a turn in the spring rotation, Nagy started the 2001 season
2001 Cleveland Indians season
-Offseason:* December 28, 2000: Fausto Carmona was signed by the Indians as an amateur free agent.* January 9, 2001: Juan González was signed as a free agent by the Indians.-Regular season:...
on the disabled list, as the Indians felt he needed to build strength in his surgically repaired elbow. He did not come off of the DL on June 1.
Nagy's last season, 2003, was with the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. He finished as the Tribe’s all-time strikeout leader (1,235), 10th in wins (129), and 11th in innings pitched (1,942.1).
Post-playing career
He was inducted in the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in , and the Cleveland Indians Team Hall of Fame on August 11, 2007.In 2009, Nagy was named the pitching coach of the Cleveland Indians' AAA team, the Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
.
On October 26, 2010, Nagy was named pitching coach of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.
Personal life
Nagy and his wife, Jacquelyn "Jackie", have two daughters, Makaela and Lily. They live outside of San Diego in Rancho Santa Fe, CARancho Santa Fe, California
Rancho Santa Fe known locally as ″The Ranch″, is one of the most exclusive and affluent communities in Southern California. It is also a census-designated place in San Diego County, California and an unincorporated bedroom community of San Diego County...
.
Nagy established an endowed baseball scholarship at UConn with a gift of $100,000.