Frank Charles

Franklin Scott Charles

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 210 lb.
• School California State University, Fullerton
• High School Montclair Prep High School
• Debut September 5, 2000
• Final Game October 1, 2000
• Born February 23, 1969 in Fontana, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Frank Charles reached the majors as a 31-year-old rookie, hitting .429 (3-for-7) in his cup of coffee with a double and 2 RBI for the 2000 Houston Astros. His only appearance in the field came on October 1st, his final major league game, when he started the game at catcher and played all nine innings in a 6-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, going 1 for 4. His other three appearances were as a pinch-hitter.

He played over a decade in the minors, from 1991 to 2004, including seven years in AAA. He was originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 17th round of the 1991 amateur draft and played in their system in 1991 and 1992, only reaching Class A. After being released, he spent 1993 in the independent leagues with the St. Paul Saints. He then signed with the Texas Rangers before the 1994 season and was invited to be a replacement player in spring training in 1995, when the strike was still unresolved and teams were making contingency plans to start the season without their major league players. He was kept on board when the strike was settled at the end of March and made it to AAA for the first time in 1996. He then changed organizations a number of times, with a second sting with the Giants, then the San Diego Padres, Houston and the Baltimore Orioles. After being released by the Boston Red Sox after 20 games for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2003, he played independent ball for the North Shore Spirit of the Northeast League for the remainder of that year and in 2004. One of the factors that gave him such a long career was that he could catch, but also play a number of other positions, including first base, third base and the outfield, making him a valuable bench player in a context were rosters are usually small. He was also a decent hitter, with a .261 average in 999 games in the affiliated minor leagues, and 70 homers. He reached double figures in homers twice, in 1995 and 1998.

He was a Cal State Fullerton at the same time as Phil Nevin.