Charlie Lau
Born: 4/12/1933 in Romulus, MI, USA
Died: 3/18/1984 in Key Colony Beach, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1956-09-12 | Final Game: 1967-09-29
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Charles Richard Lau
Biography
Charlie Lau was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1956 until 1967. Born in 1933, Lau made his mark primarily as a position player in the Major Leagues, appearing in a total of 527 games. Throughout his playing career, he demonstrated a solid offensive skill set, finishing with a batting average of .255, accumulating 298 hits, 16 home runs, and 140 RBIs. Lau also showcased his speed on the basepaths with 3 stolen bases.
Lau played during an era characterized by significant changes in baseball, notably the evolution of offensive strategies and player development. Known for his keen understanding of hitting mechanics, he later gained recognition as a hitting coach, where he influenced future generations of players. His contributions to the game extended beyond his playing days, as he became a pivotal figure in the development of batting techniques that emphasized a more scientific approach to hitting, leaving a lasting legacy in the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 527 | 1170 | 105 | 298 | 63 | 9 | 16 | 140 | 3 | 109 | 150 | 0.255 | 0.318 | 0.365 | 0.683 | 261.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | DET | AL | 3 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.222 | 0.0 |
| 1958 | DET | AL | 30 | 68 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 0.147 | -296.9 |
| 1959 | DET | AL | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
| 1960 | ATL | NL | 21 | 53 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0.189 | -248.5 |
| 1961 | BAL | AL | 17 | 47 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.170 | 0.0 |
| 1961 | ATL | NL | 28 | 82 | 3 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 0.207 | 0.0 |
| 1962 | BAL | AL | 81 | 197 | 21 | 58 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 37 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 0.294 | 216.1 |
| 1963 | BAL | AL | 29 | 48 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.188 | 0.0 |
| 1963 | KC1 | AL | 62 | 187 | 15 | 55 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 1 | 14 | 17 | 0.294 | 0.0 |
| 1964 | BAL | AL | 62 | 158 | 16 | 41 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 27 | 0.259 | 118.6 |
| 1964 | KC1 | AL | 43 | 118 | 11 | 32 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 18 | 0.271 | 118.6 |
| 1965 | BAL | AL | 68 | 132 | 15 | 39 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 17 | 18 | 0.295 | 351.4 |
| 1966 | BAL | AL | 18 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0.500 | 0.0 |
| 1967 | ATL | NL | 52 | 45 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1967 | BAL | AL | 11 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 321 | 276 | 1608 | 104 | 21 | 17 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | DET | C | 3 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | DET | C | 27 | 19 | 120 | 10 | 2 | 3 |
| 1959 | DET | C | 2 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1960 | ML1 | C | 16 | 13 | 94 | 11 | 0 | 2 |
| 1961 | BAL | C | 17 | 13 | 90 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 1961 | ML1 | C | 25 | 24 | 114 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| 1962 | BAL | C | 56 | 40 | 269 | 15 | 1 | 1 |
| 1963 | BAL | C | 8 | 8 | 48 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 1963 | KC1 | C | 50 | 49 | 258 | 15 | 5 | 2 |
| 1964 | BAL | C | 47 | 42 | 243 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
| 1964 | KC1 | C | 35 | 32 | 179 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | BAL | C | 35 | 32 | 165 | 9 | 2 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 321 |