Charlie Heard

Charles Heard

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.

• Debut July 14, 1890
• Final Game August 30, 1890
• Born January 30, 1872 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died February 20, 1945 in Philadelphia, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Charlie Heard was 18 when the majors leagues split into three leagues. That led to a need for more players in all three leagues. The Pittsburgh Alleghenies of the National League lost their three top pitchers from 1889 to the 1890 Pittsburgh Burghers of the Players League, so they were in need of pitching talent. In addition to the three top pitchers, Allegheny prospect Al Maul also went to the Burghers and became successful there.

Charlie Heard was 18 in 1890, and given 44 innings to pitch. He did not do well, but the Alleghenies were a team that won only 23 games and lost 113. The team ERA was 5.97, and there were several pitchers given a chance with the Alleghenies who had worse ERA's than Heard's 8.39.

That said, he was pretty terrible. Even though his ERA was 8.39, he also gave up oodles of unearned runs, for a total of 65 runs allowed in 44 innings. Between the hits and the walks and he surrendered (and adding in hit-by-pitch), there were 109 baserunners in his 44 innings.

"JULY 14.— . . . Pitcher Heard, recently of Milwaukee, was in the box for the visitors, and he deserved a better fate. His support was terrible—not so much in the number as in the character of the errors." - Sporting Life, July 19, 1890, about Charlie Heard's major league debut