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Charlie Gray
Charles A. Gray (June 1864 – June 1, 1900) was an American baseball pitcher. He pitched five games in Major League Baseball, four of them as a starting pitcher. Early lifeGray was born in 1864 in Indianapolis. The first record of his playing organized baseball is in 1889 when he played for Danville of the Illinois–Indiana League.[1] He also played for Youngstown of the Ohio State League in 1889.[2] CareerOn April 23, 1890, Gray made his debut in Major League Baseball as a relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the National League. He was the winning pitcher in that game and was described as "a freak" by the Sporting Life.[2] He was billed as the team's pitcher "of six fingers and six toed fame."[2] Gray made his debut at a time when the rosters of major league teams were depleted due to the formation of the Players' League.[1] After his debut as a relief pitcher, Gray appeared in four games as a starter. On May 24, 1890, Gray gave up 11 bases on balls and was charged with four wild pitches.[1] He pitched a total of 31 innings, giving up 35 hits and 24 bases on balls and compiling a 1-4 win-loss record and a 7.55 earned run average (ERA).[3] His .200 winning percentage was better than the club as a whole, as the 1890 Pittsburgh Alleghenys compiled a 23–113–2 record (.169 winning percentage).[4] Gray was released by the Alleghenys in early July 1890.[5] He tried out with the New York Giants but did not make the club. He played the remainder of the 1890 season with Ottawa of the Illinois–Iowa League.[1] In 1895, he held an advertising job with The Sporting News. At the time, he cited being "known as the six-fingered pitcher" as his main claim to fame.[2] He later worked as a bricklayer in Indianapolis.[2] He died from pneumonia in 1900 in Indianapolis.[6] References
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