It’s a sad day for baseball fans, as one of the fastest players of the 1990s just passed away.
Chuck Carr, who played with the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins (then the Florida Marlins), Milwaukee Brewers, and the Houston Astros, died on Sunday.
The Marlins posted a heartfelt message on their social media channels.
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) November 14, 2022
Carr, as the Marlins said in their post, was one of the original members of the Florida Marlins, an expansion team in MLB looking to take its first steps in 1993.
The beginnings are not always smooth, especially for a new franchise playing its first season in MLB against some giant organizations.
The Marlins went 64-98 that year, and Carr was part of that roster.
Fans loved Carr, a plus defensive outfielder with speed to burn.
In fact, that 1993 campaign represented the first time in his career he had the opportunity to play every day, and he stole 58 bases, a career-high.
He led the National League in thefts that year.
Speed To Burn
In 507 MLB games, Carr hit .254/.316/.332 with 13 home runs and 144 stolen bases.
He had his best years with the Marlins, but left the organization after the 1995 season to go to the Brewers.
He had one of the funniest responses to a difficult situation that cost him his job with the Astros in 1997.
With a 2-0 count, he decided to ignore his manager’s instructions to bunt, took a swing, and popped out.
“That ain’t Chuckie’s game. Chuckie hacks on 2-0,” he replied to his skipper, and was released shortly after.
He didn’t have much power, but he could sure turn a single into a double, and a double into a triple.
Marlins fans, the ones who have been following the team from the very beginning, will surely remember “Chuckie” with a smile on their faces.
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