Charlie Cozart
Encyclopedia
Charles Rhubin Cozart was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
who appeared in five games, all in relief, for the Boston Braves
in 1945. The 25-year-old rookie
left-hander was a native of Lenoir, North Carolina
.
Cozart is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major league
s during World War II
. He made his major league debut on April 17, 1945 (Opening Day) against the New York Giants
at Braves Field
. Three days later he gained his first and only big league win in a 6-5 road victory over the Philadelphia Phillies
at Shibe Park. His last appearance for the Braves was on June 4, and then he was traded to the New York Yankees
organization almost two months later.
In a total of 8 innings pitched
he was 1-0 with 1 game finished
. He was very ineffective overall, as he allowed 25 baserunners (10 hits
and 15 walks) for an extremely high WHIP
of 3.125. The 9 earned runs he gave up saddled him with a final ERA
of 10.12. He proved to be a good fielder during his short time at the major league level, however, recording 7 assists
without committing an error
.
Cozart eventually returned to his native Caldwell County, North Carolina
and became a deputy sheriff
there. Cozart died at the age of 85 in Hudson, North Carolina
.
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...
who appeared in five games, all in relief, for the Boston 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....
in 1945. The 25-year-old rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
left-hander was a native of Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains...
.
Cozart is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major league
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...
s during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He made his major league debut on April 17, 1945 (Opening Day) against the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
at Braves Field
Braves Field
Braves Field was a baseball park that formerly stood on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. The stadium was home to the Boston Braves National League franchise from 1915–1952, when the team moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
. Three days later he gained his first and only big league win in a 6-5 road victory over the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
at Shibe Park. His last appearance for the Braves was on June 4, and then he was traded to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
organization almost two months later.
In a total of 8 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
he was 1-0 with 1 game finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
. He was very ineffective overall, as he allowed 25 baserunners (10 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....
and 15 walks) for an extremely high WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
of 3.125. The 9 earned runs he gave up saddled him with a final 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...
of 10.12. He proved to be a good fielder during his short time at the major league level, however, recording 7 assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
without committing an error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
.
Cozart eventually returned to his native Caldwell County, North Carolina
Caldwell County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 77,415 people, 30,768 households, and 22,399 families residing in the county. The population density was 164 people per square mile . There were 33,430 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile...
and became a deputy sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
there. Cozart died at the age of 85 in Hudson, North Carolina
Hudson, North Carolina
Hudson is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,078 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area....
.