Charlie Root, Chicago Cubs Starting Pitcher RH. Charlie Root broke into professional baseball at age 21 back in 1921 with Terra Haute of the Illinois,Iowa, Indiana League Class B and within three years became as scouts said, we quote, “a can’t miss pitcher”. He broke into the majors with the St. Louis Browns in 1923 and was 0-4. Sent back to minors, he fashioned a 21-16 w/l record in 1924 and 25-13 record in 1925 along with a sterling 2.86 ERA in 52 games, 324 innings. Charlie Root signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1926 and had an 18-17 record, completed 21 of 32 starts plus 10 relief games in 271.1 innings. In 1927 he led all major league pitchers with 26 wins (26-15 w/l with a 3.76 ERA) and led the NL with 48 games and in innings pitched with 309, and was 2nd with 145 strikeouts. A noted fastball pitcher, Charlie Root also kept hitters off balance with a breaking ball that veered in on left-handed batters and out on right-handed hitters. He tried to toss first ball strikes and keep the ball low. In 1929 he was 2nd in the league with 272 innings, trailing Brooklyn’s Watty Clark with 279. In 1930 he led the NL with 4 shutouts, was third highest in strikeouts per 9 innings with 5.07 From 1928 thru 1934 he compiled win/loss records of 14-1 … 19-6 … 16-14 … 17-14 … 15-10 … 15-10 … 4-7 … and 15-8 Altogether Charlie Root helped the Cubs win 4 NL pennants. He was 0-1 in 13.1 innings in 1929 World Series … 0-1 in 4.1 innings in 1932 WS. In the 1932 World Series Charlie Root pitched the baseball that Babe Ruth hit – after pointing to the left-field bleachers - the fabled Call Shot. In the 1935 World Series Charlie Root was 0-1 in 5 innings and 0-0 in 3 innings in 1938. Note: The Chicago Cubs lost all 4 of those World Series. Charlie Root (Charles Chinski) pitched with the Chicago Cubs from 1926 thru 1941 – 16 years. His pitching stats include a 201-160 record with a 3.58 Era in 341 GS, 177 GC, 632 Games, 3,198.1 innings. Baseball Historian Page 4 Cubbies Blue |
