Charlie Graham

Charlie Graham
Charlie Graham
	Catcher
	Born: April 24, 1878; Santa Clara, California, U.S.
	Died: August 29, 1948 (aged 70); San Francisco, California, U.S.
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
	April 14, 1906, for the Boston Americans
Last MLB appearance
	May 29, 1906, for the Boston Americans
MLB statistics
Batting average	.233
Home runs	1
Runs batted in	12
Teams
	Boston Americans (1906);

Charles Henry Graham (April 24, 1878 – August 29, 1948), known as "Uncle Charlie", was an American baseball catcher, manager and team owner. Listed at 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m), 190 lb., Graham batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Santa Clara, California.

Graham played and coached for Santa Clara College before entering Major League Baseball during the 1906 season with the Boston Americans. In one season career, he was a .233 hitter (21-for-90) with one home run and 12 RBI in 30 games, including 10 runs, one double, and one stolen base. Following his majors career, he played and coached in the minor leagues.

Charles Graham (far right) meets with Babe Ruth (Center), PCL President William McCarthy (2nd from Left), and fellow SF Seal owners Charles H. Strub (far Left) and George Putnam (2nd from Left) at Recreation Park

In 1918, Graham became manager and part owner of the PCL San Francisco Seals. He managed until 1921 and eventually took control of front office. Under his management the Seals moved to their own park, Seals Stadium, in 1931. The Seals won pennants in 1922, 1923, 1925, 1928, 1931, 1935 and 1946, to become one of the most successful teams in PCL history. Their rosters included several future major league stars, such as Earl Averill, Joe DiMaggio, Smead Jolley and Paul Waner, as well as Lefty O'Doul as the team's manager. In 1946 the Seals had a new co-owner, Paul Fagan, who eventually bought the team outright from Graham.

Graham died in San Francisco, California, at age 70. A dormitory at Santa Clara University is named in his honor. One of his sons, Robert A. Graham joined the Jesuits and became a leading authority on the Vatican's World War II history.

References

External links

Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Retrosheet