Tuesday, December 8, 2020

NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION- 1971 CHARLIE HOUGH

Fun card to add to the blog today, a "not so missing" 1971 card for long-time Major League pitcher Charlie Hough, who knuckle-balled his way through 25 seasons before retiring in 1994 at the age of 46:

Hough made his Big League debut during the 1970 season, appearing in eight games as a 22-year-old for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He didn't pick up a decision over that time, pitching to a 5.29 earned run average over 17 innings of work.
It wouldn't be until 1973 until he got some significant playing time, appearing in 37 games for L.A. and pitching well, to the tune of a 2.76 ERA while going 4-2 with five saves.
Overall, all the man would do in his Major League career is win 216 games (against 216 losses), toss 13 shutouts, save 61 games, and appear in 858 games, with 440 of them starts.
He spent the first half of his career as a reliever with the Dodgers before finding his groove as a starter with the Texas Rangers, topping 15 wins seven times between 1982 and 1988.
In 1987, at the age of 39, he led the Majors with 285.1 innings pitched, starting 40 games that year when he also set career-highs in wins (18) and strikeouts (223) for the Rangers, making his one and only All-Star game.

Just amazing...


 

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