Joe Charboneau

From BR Bullpen

Joseph Charboneau

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 205 lb.
• School West Valley College
• Debut April 11, 1980
• Final Game June 1, 1982
• Born June 17, 1955 in Belvidere, IL USA

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[edit] Biographical Information

Joe Charboneau hit 23 home runs for the Cleveland Indians in 1980 and won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. However, the next season (1981) he hit only .210 with 4 homers, and his major league career was over by 1982.

In his short major league career, he developed an image as a colorful character. One of his famous tricks was to open beer bottles using his eye sockets! Many fans were sad to see him leave the majors. In spite of his short career, he was named to "The Top 100 Greatest Indians Roster", as created by the Cleveland Indians in 2001.

Charboneau had a small role in the 1984 movie The Natural, playing a teammate of Roy Hobbs.

He was the hitting coach for the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League when the team went on a monstrous losing streak at the end of the 2004 season. Manager Steve Maddock quit after suffering 15 consecutive losses and Charboneau replaced him. The team lost its last five games under him, to finish the year on a 0-20 skid. It was the only managerial experience of Charboneau's career.

As of 2008 he worked for the recreation department in North Ridgeville, OH.

"..baseball is full of peaks and valleys. When you're hurt, it's even valleyer." - Joe Charboneau

[edit] Notable Achievements

• 1980 AL Rookie of the Year Award
• 1980 Topps All-Star Rookie Team
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1980)

[edit] Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record

[edit] Related Sites