Chuck Churn
Encyclopedia
Clarence Nottingham Churn (born February 1, 1930 in Bridgetown, Virginia
, USA) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He pitched in 25 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates
, Cleveland Indians
and Los Angeles Dodgers
from 1957 to 1959.
Churn was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates
before the start of the 1949 season. His first callup to the major leagues was in the 1957 season. His major league debut was on April 18, 1957 against the Brooklyn Dodgers
, when he gave up two hits and two runs in one inning of work. That season, Churn pitched in five games for the Pirates, and ending the seasons with no decisions and a 4.32 earned run average
, having given up four runs in 8⅓ innings of work.
He was selected by the Boston Red Sox
from the Pirates in the 1957 Rule 5 draft
held on December 2. He was selected off waivers on March 26, 1958 by the Cleveland Indians
from the Red Sox. He pitched in six games for the Indians in the 1958 season, ending with no decisions and a 6.23 ERA in 8⅔ innings of work. In May 1958, he was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds
from the Indians.
The Los Angeles Dodgers
acquired Churn in a trade with the Reds on May 6, 1959 in exchange for Dick Hanlon. Churn's first career win in the major leagues came in a game on September 2, 1959, when the Dodgers beat the St. Louis Cardinals
9-6, with Churn pitching the final 4⅔ innings to get the win. Churn got his second win on September 11 in the first game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Churn came into the game in the eighth inning in relief of Sandy Koufax
with the Dodgers down 4-2. The Dodgers scored another run in the eighth and then scored two runs off of Elroy Face in the bottom of the ninth. Churn pitched 1⅔ scoreless innings to get the win. The loss was charged to Face, the only loss in a season in which he finished with an 18-1 record. The last regular season game of his career was on September 29 against the Milwaukee Braves
. Churn finished the 1959 season with a 3-2 record and one save to along with a 4.99 ERA in 14 appearances.
He pitched for the Dodgers in the first game of the 1959 World Series
, giving up two runs in a game the Dodgers lost to the Chicago White Sox
11-0. The Dodgers went on to win the series in six games.
Bridgetown, Virginia
Bridgetown is an unincorporated community in Northampton County, Virginia, United States.-References:*...
, USA) was a 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...
in 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...
. He pitched in 25 games for 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...
, 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 Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
from 1957 to 1959.
Churn was signed as an amateur free agent by 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...
before the start of the 1949 season. His first callup to the major leagues was in the 1957 season. His major league debut was on April 18, 1957 against the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, when he gave up two hits and two runs in one inning of work. That season, Churn pitched in five games for the Pirates, and ending the seasons with no decisions and a 4.32 earned run average
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...
, having given up four runs in 8⅓ innings of work.
He was selected by 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"...
from the Pirates in the 1957 Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
held on December 2. He was selected off waivers on March 26, 1958 by 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 the Red Sox. He pitched in six games for the Indians in the 1958 season, ending with no decisions and a 6.23 ERA in 8⅔ innings of work. In May 1958, he was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
from the Indians.
The Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
acquired Churn in a trade with the Reds on May 6, 1959 in exchange for Dick Hanlon. Churn's first career win in the major leagues came in a game on September 2, 1959, when the Dodgers beat the 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...
9-6, with Churn pitching the final 4⅔ innings to get the win. Churn got his second win on September 11 in the first game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Churn came into the game in the eighth inning in relief of Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
with the Dodgers down 4-2. The Dodgers scored another run in the eighth and then scored two runs off of Elroy Face in the bottom of the ninth. Churn pitched 1⅔ scoreless innings to get the win. The loss was charged to Face, the only loss in a season in which he finished with an 18-1 record. The last regular season game of his career was on September 29 against 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....
. Churn finished the 1959 season with a 3-2 record and one save to along with a 4.99 ERA in 14 appearances.
He pitched for the Dodgers in the first game of the 1959 World Series
1959 World Series
The 1959 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers beating the American League champion Chicago White Sox, four games to two. It was the first pennant for the White Sox in 40 years . They would have to wait until 2005 to win another championship...
, giving up two runs in a game the Dodgers lost to the 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...
11-0. The Dodgers went on to win the series in six games.