Charlie Cozart
From BR Bullpen
Charles Rhubin Cozart
- Bats Right, Throws Left
- Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.
- Debut April 17, 1945
- Final Game June 14, 1945
- Born October 17, 1919 in Lenoir, NC USA
- Died December 31, 2004 in Hudson, NC USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Left-hander Charlie Cozart spent five active seasons in professional baseball (1942-1946) with his first stop being the Landis Senators of the class D North Carolina State League. The 22 year old pitcher put together 8 wins with 7 losses along with a 5.13 ERA while appearing in 25 games and pitching 114 innings.
Charlie spent the next two seasons (1943-1944) with the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association with an 8-10 record in 1943 along with a 4.71 ERA. Cozart had his career year in 1944 when he won 18 and lost 13 with a 4.46 ERA, appearing in 33 games and pitching 216 innings, helping the Crackers to the Southern Association Pennant.
The left-hander was picked up by the Boston Braves in 1945 and made his National League debut on April 17, 1945. Cozart did not see much action but did go 1-0, appearing in five games and pitching just eight innings before the Braves traded him to the New York Yankees with cash for Elmer Singleton on August 9, 1945. This became the sum-total of Cozart's big league career.
Charlie finished out 1945 with the Rochester Red Wings of the International League going 4-6 in 13 games and then finished up the year with the Kansas City Blues of the American Association, going 2-0 in 4 outings. This gave him a 6-6 and a 4.73 ERA for the season. Charlie was with four different clubs in 1946, his last year in the minors, with an 8-10 record in 32 games. This gave him an overall minor league total of 48 wins and 46 losses, appearing in 142 games and pitching 708 innings.
After baseball Charlie joined up with law enforcement and was with the Caldwell County, North Carolina, Sheriff's Department until his retirement in the middle 1980's. Charles Rubin Cozart died on December 31, 2004 at a hospice in Hudson, NC. He was interred at Blue Ridge Memorial Park, Lenoir, NC.
- One source says he was a Native American (Cherokee).
- Through 2006, he is one of four major leaguers born in Lenoir.
