Charles Babcock Earle (March 31, 1884 – March 14, 1945) was a

Negro leagues The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Latin Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

"Rube Foster Back in Form" Chicago Broad Ax, Chicago, IL, Page 1, Column 5
/ref> and

manager Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includes the activities o ...

for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League.

Early life

An early mention of Charles Earle in the Meriden papers was his membership in the First Congregational Church of Meriden in 1895 "There was singing by a quartet of boys from the First Congregational Church (of Meriden)" which included Charles Earle (Age 11). Also, in July 1901, "J. W. Logan and the First Congregational Sunday school boys, who camped out at Westbrook for two weeks, have returned home" including Charles Earle. (Age 17) Meriden Morning Record, July 27, 1901 Charles Earle 1901

Meriden High School Academic and Athletic Career

Charles Babcock Earle had an outstanding academic and athletic career at MHS from 1901 to his graduation in 1904. He starred in football and baseball for each of his four years. He missed the 1902 football season because of

typhoid fever Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella'' serotype Typhi bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several ...

. As one reporter wrote on October 4, 1902 in the Meriden Daily Journal, "CHARLES EARLE GETTING BETTER. Many friends of Charles Earle, thought to be the "greatest halfback the MHS ever had," have visited him at the Meriden hospital this week and report that Earle is fast regaining his lost health and will soon be able to be out. At present he is able to sit in a chair. Earle has been very ill with

and at one time ''there was little hope for his ultimate recovery'' but he will probably not be well enough to get into the game this year. The "doughty little back" was taken ill during vacation and went to see a doctor. The physician told him that he would probably be quite ill and advised him to go to the hospital. The next day Earle started for the institution on foot and when he arrived there he went to bed. Up to a few days ago he had not left his bed since his sickness. He is a mere shadow of himself but that is to be expected after his prolonged illness. He has "many admirers" at the school and outside and they have kept him well supplied with flowers and reading matter. "He is grateful to his friends and says that he never knew he had so many before." and "It is doubtful if Earle's work of last year will ever again be repeated on the gridiron." Sensational runs the length of the field were common occurrences with him and a timely run has won more games for the High School than any time before Earle was on the team.Meriden Daily Journal, October 4, 1902] Academically, it was noted that Charles was excused from taking the freshman algebra final exam in June. (This meant he had at least an 85 average in his class work for the year).Meriden Morning Record, June 14, 1901 Also, although 40 students failed to advance to the next level, he was promoted from freshman to sophomore.Meriden Daily Journal, June 25, 1901 According to an article by John L. Sullivan in the "Morning Record," the class of 1904 voted Charles Earle the best athlete and the most popular student.Meriden Morning Record, October 28, 1967 Sportswriter Harry Daniels named Earle to his 1909 "All American Team" saying he "is the best hitter in baseball, a sure fielder.""The Base Ball Spirit In The East." Indianapolis Freeman, Indianapolis, Indiana, Saturday, December 25, 1909, Page 7, Columns 1 and 2
/ref> He appears to have played most seasons for the

Brooklyn Royal Giants The Brooklyn Royal Giants were a professional Negro league baseball team based in Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 1905 by John Wilson Connor (1875–1926), owner of the Brooklyn Royal Cafe, the team initially played against white semi-pro teams. ...

. During his career, he played with many popular players of the day, including Bill Monroe,

Home Run Johnson Grant U. "Home Run" Johnson (September 23, 1872 – September 4, 1963) was an American shortstop and second baseman in baseball's Negro leagues. In a career that spanned over 30 years, he played for many of the greatest teams of the deadball era ...

Al Robinson Albert "Al" Robinson (June 18, 1947 – January 24, 1974) was a boxer from Oakland, California who competed in the featherweight division (– 57 kg) during his career. Amateur career Robinson was the featherweight (125 pounds) silver ...

, Harry Buckner,

George Wright George Wright may refer to: Politics, law and government * George Wright (MP) (died 1557), MP for Bedford and Wallingford * George Wright (governor) (1779–1842), Canadian politician, lieutenant governor of Prince Edward Island * George Wright ...

Dick Wallace Richard Felix Wallace (July 22, 1882 – July 19, 1925) was an American baseball shortstop and manager in the Negro leagues. He played from 1903 to 1924 with several teams, including the Lincoln Giants and the St. Louis Giants. He was Captain of ...

Judy Gans Robert Edward "Judy" Gans (July 16, 1886 - February 13, 1949) was a Negro leagues outfielder, pitcher and manager for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League, and in its first few seasons. Gans played most of his se ...

String Bean Williams Andrew Williams (1873 – October 28, 1929), nicknamed "String Bean", was a Negro leagues pitcher and manager, playing for many teams, including the Indianapolis ABCs and the Brooklyn Royal Giants. At age 50 in 1923, Williams made his major leag ...

, Louis Santop,

Dizzy Dismukes William "Dizzy" Dismukes (March 15, 1890 – June 30, 1961) was an American pitcher and manager in Negro league baseball and during the pre-Negro league years. Career Dismukes was a right-handed submariner, who is considered by many historians t ...

, and

Bill Pettus William Thomas Pettus (August 13, 1884 – August 22, 1924) was an American baseball first baseman in the Cuban League and Negro leagues. He played from 1902 to 1921 with several teams. Career Pettus began playing baseball in 1902 for the Albuque ...

. Earle died at the age of 60 in

New York, New York New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Uni ...

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Earle, Charles Negro league baseball managers Lincoln Giants players Philadelphia Giants players Brooklyn Royal Giants players Bacharach Giants players People from Meriden, Connecticut 1884 births 1945 deaths 20th-century African-American people