18
2012
Old Time Mets: The Glider – Ed Charles
An article by Barry Duchan
Ed Charles, the veteran third baseman with the heart of a winner and the soul of a poet was a leader on and off the field and a genuinely nice guy who was an integral part of the 1969 Miracle Mets. His championship ring was the culmination of an 18-year professional career. Charles’ name is sometimes forgotten because he didn’t make any highlight reel plays in the World Series, but those of us who still recall the team celebration and the appreciation the young Mets showed their veteran leader will only have good memories of Ed, who officially retired at the end of the 1969 season.
Charles started his professional career in the Braves’ organization in 1952. At the time, the Braves were one of the more aggressive teams in the signing of African-American players such as Sam Jethroe, Bill Bruton, Jim Pendleton, and of course, Hank Aaron. But unlike those players who soon surfaced as starting outfielders in the major leagues, Charles spent nearly 10 years in the Braves’ system without even a cup of coffee with the big club until he was traded to the lowly Kansas City A’s in December of 1962.
Many of Charles’ seasons were spent in places like Jacksonville, Florida and Louisville, Kentucky which had to be particularly rough at the time on a dark-skinned player. Also, having Eddie Mathews ahead of you had to be hard to overcome. Charles persisted, gaining a reputation as a poet who wrote about his minor league travails. Charles had many solid, if unspectacular minor league years until finally getting his opportunity with the Athletics for whom he played regularly in the big leagues at third base for five seasons. When a young third base prospect named Sal Bando looked like the real thing and Danny Cater was available to back him up, Charles was traded to the Mets in May of 1967 for outfielder Larry Elliot.
The perennially-losing Mets always seemed to need help at third base and Charles was brought in where he eventually supplanted Ken Boyer as the starter. Jerry Koosman soon gave Ed the nickname “The Glider” for his smooth gliding style at third base. It was odd that after more than 15 years of pro ball, Ed first picked up the nickname by which he’ll always be remembered.
Charles actually led the Mets in home runs with 15 in 1968 (a typical total for him), but the Mets’ grand plan had hot prospect Amos Otis ready to take over in 1969 and Charles was not even kept on the 40-man roster. Eventually, Charles was invited to spring training as a non-roster player, possibly to mentor Otis, or to fight for a position on the bench. It turned out Otis had little interest in playing third base and soon fell out of favor with Gil Hodges.
Charles won his way back on the roster and was at third base on opening day. Splitting time with rookie Wayne Garrett and minor league veteran Bobby Pfeil, Charles played in just 61 games and batted just .207 for the Mets in 1969, but he provided veteran leadership on and off the field and like most of the 1969 Mets, always made the most of his hits, made some memorable defensive plays and was far more valuable than the statistics might indicate. Mets’ fans felt extra-happy for him because he truly deserved to take home a World Championship ring after a long career in the minors and then with losing major league teams. He is fondly remembered.
About the Author: Barry Duchan
I've been following the Mets since 1962. Have to admit I was a Yankee fan as a kid, but I found it to be so much more interesting to see how a young team could build itself up rather than following a team where the season didn't really begin until October. I remember them all - Casey, Marv, ChooChoo, Don Bosch, The Stork, etc. As the years went on, I became more and more of a Mets fan, and a Yankee hater once Steinbrenner and Billy Martin entered the picture. After retiring, I relocated with my family from Long Island to Chapel Hill, NC in 2005. I spend a lot of my time now checking out all the various Mets blogs. Fortunately, I still get to watch almost all of the Mets games (except those that are blacked out here).
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
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Hi Barry, Thank you for you piece on Ed Charles. He was one of my favorite players when I was young. I had an assignment to write about a poet when I was in elementary school and I chose Ed Charles. I wrote to him at Shea and he wrote me a great letter back and enclosed several printed poems….he was just so gracious. I wish that I still had them today. Thank you again. LGM, Maryanne
Wonderful story, Barry. Thanks for the memories.
I went to the opening game at Shea in 1970 when the Mets got the WS rings. Ed Charles received one of the loudest ovations of all. It was great-but we lost.
Hi George,
Since we were both at that 1970 opener, did you get the feeling it might not to be our year when the go-ahead run scored on a two out single that Ron Swoboda short-hopped but tried to deek the umpire into thinking he caught it by raising his glove hoping to get the call?
Instead of just picking up the ball and throwing it back in, this type of antic was something we didn’t see in 1969. I knew right then and there that 1970 was going to be different.
Thanks Barry. Something nice to read in a flood of one bad Mets news item after another.
Just remember, never throw him a slider!
Barry, a great story, indeed, for all of us who remember the Glider.
I was also at the 1970 home opener and was stunned in disbelief when the rings were being presented and out of nowhere his name was announced and he suddenly ran out from the dugout, wearing a trench coat, waving to the fans. I can’t recall if he got the biggest ovation but it was sure up there with the others. Many of us had a tear in our eyes at the wonderful gesture of inviting him to participate in the ceremonies.
But I’m so glad you wrote it for another reasons. You mentioned how he was an integral part of the 1969 Mets. Last spring I mentioned the same thing as I joined the heated debate regarding sabermetrics. I emphasized how looking at cold statistical information would leave out how vital Ed Charles was to that 1969 team and was ridiculed by some for implying a part-time .207 hitter was vital for anything. Boy, was I put down.
It proves how much more important the human element is over stats, for those who ridiculed me would have cut Charles by mid-season. Gil Hodges, Johnny Murphy knew better. They knew how important the Glider was with his veteran leadership in which the kids looked up to and depended upon. He kept them from getting too many highs and too many lows and instead kept them on even keel. His influence and contribution in the clubhouse was way more important than what he was unable to do perform anymore on the field. And when he did play, he was the unofficial captain on the field as well.
Let that be an example of why a statistician has no place being a general manager. Stats have no heart.
BTW – a small slip but it was in 1968 that Charles was invited to spring training as a non-roster player, not 1969. Amos Otis had yet to come into the picture.
Yes, Joe, you’re right. It was ’68, not ’69 when Charles was left off the pre-season 40 man roster. I remembered Charles being left off one year and having to make the team in spring training and I guess I thought it was because Otis was the heir apparent. I knew Boyer was gone by ’68 and even after you pointed out my mistake, I had to look it up because I couldn’t fathom who the Mets expected to play third base in 1968 if not Charles. It turns out the 3rd basemen on the Mets’ 40 were Kevin Collins and ahem…Dick Kenworthy.
Ah Barry,
Kevin Collins, another blast from the past.
Charles came to the Mets in the middle of the 1967 season and he and Hal Rennif were both 1968 non-roster invitees. And in that, the year of the pitcher, Ed had one of his most productive seasons ever.
I remember after the Mets swept the Giants for the first time in 1969 how Ed was giving five to other players at home plate. Little things that remain in one’s memory. BTW – I was at the Friday game against the Giants and all three games the Mets swept L.A., including that thrilling 12 inning finale.
Please correct me if I’m wrong. I was at the game on September 24, 1969 when the Mets beat the Cardinals and clinched the NL Eastern Division. Gary Gentry started the game. They scored five runs in the bottom of the first. Ed Charles hit a HR driving in some of those runs. The Cubs won that afternoon. The Mets and Charles went after it from the start!
Hi 67,
Got me jealous there, however, the one advantage of watching it on tv instead was being able to see that clubhouse celebration which seemed to last forever, and then still see that followed by Kiner’s Korner with Tug McGraw and some others continuing the celebrating.
Got the game on CD and it’s a treasurer to listen to.