Charlie Wagner (born December 3, 1912 in Reading, Pennsylvania) is a former pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Boston Red Sox (1938-1942, 1946). Wagner batted and threw right handed. He is nicknamed "Broadway". Wagner debuted on April 19, 1938. After being used in both starting and relief duties, he enjoyed his first full season as a starter in 1941. He was the second in a pitching rotation that included Dick Newsome, Mickey Harris and Lefty Grove. Wagner finished with a 12-8 record and three shutouts, and his 3.07 ERA, was the best of Boston pitching staff and the third best in the American League, being surpassed only by Thornton Lee (2.37) and Al Benton (2.97), and over Marius Russo (3.09).
In 1942, Wagner compiled career-highs in victories (14, eight in AL), games started (26), complete games (17, seventh in AL), strikeouts (52), innings pitched (205.1), and had a 3.29 ERA. After the season, he left his team to serve in the Army.
Wagner returned to the Red Sox in 1946, along with teammates Ted Williams, Dom DiMaggio, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, Tex Hughson and Joe Dobson. He pitched his final game on August 8, 1946, ending with a 1-0 mark in 30.2 innings.
In a six-season career, Wagner posted a 32-23 record with 157 strikeouts and a 3.91 ERA in 527.2 innings.
Following his retirement as a player, Wagner coached for Boston in the 1970 season, and currently works as a Special Assignment Instructor in the Red Sox minor league system. He is still consulted about Red Sox prospects.
Fact Wagner is not even the oldest living former Red Sox player. That honor belongs to Bill Werber (Born June 20, 1908), who played with the team as a third baseman from 1933-1936.
See also Oldest living MLB players
Sources Baseball Historian Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis Boston Red Sox Front Office Directory
