Charlie Maxwell
Born: 4/8/1927 in Lawton, MI, USA
Died: 12/27/2024 in Paw Paw, MI, USA
MLB Debut: 1950-09-20 | Final Game: 1964-04-26
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Charles Richard Maxwell
Biography
Charlie Maxwell was a notable American professional baseball player, who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1950 to 1964. Born in 1927, he played primarily as a position player and appeared in 1,133 games throughout his career. Maxwell showcased his offensive capabilities with a batting average of .264, accumulating 856 hits, 148 home runs, and 532 RBIs. His versatility and consistent performance earned him two All-Star selections during his career, highlighting his status as one of the prominent players of his time.
Competing in an era marked by the transition from the deadball period to the more power-focused approach of the 1960s, Maxwell's ability to hit for both power and average made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for. He was known for his reliable presence at the plate and his ability to drive in runs, evidenced by his 532 RBIs. Additionally, Maxwell demonstrated speed on the base paths, finishing his career with 18 stolen bases. His contributions to the game and his solid performance across multiple seasons solidified his legacy in the history of baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1133 | 3245 | 478 | 856 | 110 | 26 | 148 | 532 | 18 | 484 | 545 | 0.264 | 0.360 | 0.451 | 0.811 | 9709.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | BOS | AL | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1951 | BOS | AL | 49 | 80 | 8 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 18 | 0.188 | -275.7 |
| 1952 | BOS | AL | 8 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 0.067 | 0.0 |
| 1954 | BOS | AL | 74 | 104 | 9 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 21 | 0.250 | -204.8 |
| 1955 | BAL | AL | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | DET | AL | 55 | 109 | 19 | 29 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 20 | 0.266 | 0.0 |
| 1956 | DET | AL | 141 | 500 | 96 | 163 | 14 | 3 | 28 | 87 | 1 | 79 | 74 | 0.326 | 3294.5 |
| 1957 | DET | AL | 138 | 492 | 75 | 136 | 23 | 3 | 24 | 82 | 3 | 76 | 84 | 0.276 | 2169.0 |
| 1958 | DET | AL | 131 | 397 | 56 | 108 | 14 | 4 | 13 | 65 | 6 | 64 | 54 | 0.272 | 982.7 |
| 1959 | DET | AL | 145 | 518 | 81 | 130 | 12 | 2 | 31 | 95 | 0 | 81 | 91 | 0.251 | 1720.1 |
| 1960 | DET | AL | 134 | 482 | 70 | 114 | 16 | 5 | 24 | 81 | 5 | 58 | 75 | 0.237 | 718.6 |
| 1961 | DET | AL | 79 | 131 | 11 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 20 | 24 | 0.229 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | CHW | AL | 69 | 206 | 30 | 61 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 43 | 0 | 34 | 32 | 0.296 | 945.9 |
| 1962 | DET | AL | 30 | 67 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 0.194 | 945.9 |
| 1963 | CHW | AL | 71 | 130 | 17 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 31 | 27 | 0.231 | 271.4 |
| 1964 | CHW | AL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 43 | 28 | 289 | 18 | 4 | 30 |
| OF | 834 | 775 | 1665 | 44 | 21 | 5 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | BOS | OF | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951 | BOS | OF | 13 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1952 | BOS | 1B | 3 | 0 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1952 | BOS | OF | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1954 | BOS | OF | 27 | 18 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | DET | 1B | 2 | 1 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | DET | OF | 26 | 22 | 55 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1956 | DET | OF | 136 | 132 | 281 | 12 | 4 | 1 |
| 1957 | DET | OF | 137 | 133 | 317 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 1958 | DET | 1B | 14 | 10 | 89 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| 1958 | DET | OF | 114 | 104 | 201 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 1959 | DET | OF | 136 | 136 | 285 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| 1960 | DET | OF | 120 | 118 | 254 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | DET | OF | 25 | 22 | 53 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1962 | CHA | 1B | 6 | 5 | 47 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 1962 | CHA | OF | 56 | 52 | 100 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1962 | DET | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | DET | OF | 15 | 15 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | CHA | 1B | 17 | 12 | 107 | 5 | 0 | 14 |
| 1963 | CHA | OF | 24 | 23 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 43 |
| Left Field | 781 |
| Center Field | 4 |
| Right Field | 56 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo | MI | 1945 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 28th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1957 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 5.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1956 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 23th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |