Charlie Haeger

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Charlie Haeger

|image = Charlie_Haeger_01.JPG

|caption = Haeger with the San Diego Padres

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{birth date|1983|9|19}}

|birth_place = Livonia, Michigan, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|2020|10|3|1983|9|19}}

|death_place = Grand Canyon, Arizona, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 10

|debutyear = 2006

|debutteam = Chicago White Sox

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=June 24

|finalyear=2010

|finalteam=Los Angeles Dodgers

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 2–7

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 6.40

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 69

|teams =

Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|2006}}–{{mlby|2007}})
San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2008}})
Los Angeles Dodgers ({{mlby|2009}}–{{mlby|2010}})

}}

Charles Wallis Haeger (September 19, 1983{{spnd}}October 3, 2020) was an American professional baseball player. He was one of the few knuckleball pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB) during his career.[http://yawkeywayreport.com/source-former-knuckleballer-charlie-haeger-retires/ Former MLB knuckleballer Charlie Haeger retires] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012214538/http://yawkeywayreport.com/source-former-knuckleballer-charlie-haeger-retires/ |date=October 12, 2020 }}. Yawkey Way Report. Retrieved on September 10, 2014. He played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot at the Grand Canyon on October 3, 2020, shortly after the suspected murder of his ex-girlfriend.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2020/10/03/scottsdale-man-suspected-killing-ex-girlfriends-escaped-police/3608639001/|title=Former MLB player suspected of killing ex-girlfriend found dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound|work=AZ Central|date=October 3, 2020|access-date=October 3, 2020|first=Madeline|last=Ackley}}

Early life

Haeger attended Detroit Catholic Central High School in Redford, Michigan (now located in Novi).{{cite web |title=Former MLB pitcher with Detroit Catholic Central ties sought in woman's killing found dead |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/10/03/ex-major-league-baseball-player-sought-womans-killing/114215202/ |website=The Detroit News |access-date=October 5, 2020}} He was named to the All-Catholic team as a senior in 2001, after pitching to a 7–2 win–loss record with a 1.88 earned run average (ERA) and 101 strikeouts. He also batted .354 with 34 runs batted in (RBIs). He was the winning pitcher in the State Championship game as a sophomore.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/chicago-white-sox-2007-media-guide-c/page/90/mode/2up |title=Chicago White Sox 2007 Media Guide |publisher=Chicago White Sox |year=2007 |pages=91 |access-date=2025-01-31}}

Playing career

=Chicago White Sox=

The Chicago White Sox selected Haeger in the 25th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut with the AZL White Sox. He briefly retired to pursue a career in golf following the 2002 season, but returned in 2004.{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=David |title=Chicago White Sox: Charlie Haeger dead in alleged murder-suicide |url=https://calltothepen.com/2020/10/04/chicago-white-sox-charlie-haeger-dies-alleged-murder-suicide/ |website=Calltothepen.com |date=October 4, 2020 |access-date=October 5, 2020}} While in the minor leagues, he learned how to throw a knuckleball.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/chicago-white-sox/tim-wakefield-charlie-haeger-and-knuckleball |title=On Tim Wakefield, Charlie Haeger and the knuckleball | RSN |publisher=Nbcsports.com |date=February 20, 2012 |access-date=October 6, 2020}}

Haeger made his major league debut May 10, 2006, in a start against the Los Angeles Angels. He suffered the loss after allowing six runs on five hits in 4{{fraction|1|3}} innings. Haeger appeared in seven games for the White Sox, with a record of 1–1.{{cite web |last1=Gregor |first1=Scot |title=Ex-White Sox pitcher Haeger, sought in woman's killing, found dead |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20201004/ex-white-sox-pitcher-haeger-sought-in-womans-killing-found-dead |website=Daily Herald |date=October 4, 2020 |access-date=October 5, 2020}} He spent most of the season with the Charlotte Knights, and was the starting pitcher in the International League All-Star game.{{cite web |title=Charlie Haeger Trades and Transactions |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=haegech01 |website=Baseball Almanac |access-date=October 5, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Charlie Haeger |url=https://www.milb.com/player/charlie-haeger-446624 |website=MILB |access-date=October 5, 2020}}

On July 22, 2007, White Sox pitcher Jon Garland started against Boston Red Sox knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield. Garland was relieved by Haeger in the fifth inning, marking the first time in recent years that two knuckleballers faced each other in the same game. Wakefield got the victory as the Red Sox won, 8–5.{{cite web|url=http://pressbox.mlb.com/pressbox/downloads/y2007/cws/players.pdf|title=Chicago White Sox 2007 Media Guide|access-date=July 12, 2007|publisher=MLB Advanced Media, L.P.|pages=[http://pressbox.mlb.com/pressbox/downloads/y2007/cws/players.pdf#page=50 pgs. 90–91]|archive-date=November 29, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129133316/http://pressbox.mlb.com/pressbox/downloads/y2007/cws/players.pdf|url-status=dead}}

=San Diego Padres=

On September 10, 2008, Haeger was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres. He made four appearances for the Padres, and was non-tendered following the season, making him a free agent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/local/hensley-not-offered-contract-by-padres/1848660/|title=Hensley Not Offered Contract by Padres|work=NBC San Diego|date=December 13, 2008|access-date=October 6, 2020}}

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

In January 2009, Haeger signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes, and pitched well enough in the first half of the season to earn a spot on the Pacific Coast League All-Star team.{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-5646408 |title=Charlie Haeger Selected to PCL All-Star Team |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date= |access-date=October 6, 2020 |archive-date=August 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822160113/http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090701&content_id=5646408&vkey=news_t342&fext=.jsp&sid=t342 |url-status=live }} The Dodgers called him up on August 12, and he made his team debut as the starting pitcher on August 17 against the St. Louis Cardinals. He appeared in six games for the Dodgers, three as a starter, and finished 1–1 with a 3.32 ERA.{{cite web |last1=Pasillas |first1=Clint |title=Former Dodgers Pitcher Charlie Haeger Found Dead After Apparent Suicide |url=https://www.dodgersnation.com/former-dodgers-pitcher-charlie-haeger-found-dead-after-apparent-suicide/2020/10/04/ |website=Dodgers Nation |date=October 4, 2020 |access-date=October 5, 2020}}

Haeger began the 2010 season as the 5th starter in the Dodgers rotation. He accumulated a 0–4 record and an 8.40 ERA in nine appearances, six of them starts, and was designated for assignment on June 25.{{cite web |last1=Hernandez |first1=Dylan |title=Charlie Haeger is designated for assignment and his Dodgers career may be over |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jun-25-la-sp-dodgers-fyi-20100626-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=June 25, 2010 |access-date=October 5, 2020}} After clearing waivers, he was reassigned to Albuquerque.{{cite web |title=Former Dodgers pitcher Charles Haeger found dead of self-inflicted gunshot after manhunt in murder case |url=https://abc7.com/charles-haeger-charlie-hager-former-dodgers-player-white-sox-pitcher/6748752/ |website=ABC7 |access-date=October 5, 2020 |archive-date=October 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009092328/https://abc7.com/charles-haeger-charlie-hager-former-dodgers-player-white-sox-pitcher/6748752/ |url-status=dead }} He made 10 starts for the Isotopes after his return, finishing 4–3 with a 5.70 ERA.

=Later career=

Haeger signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners in November 2010, and was given an invitation to spring training. He went 2–2 with a 7.74 ERA in 9 starts for the Tacoma Rainiers before he was released on July 15.{{cite web|last=Axisa|first=Mike|title=Mariners Release Charlie Haeger|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/07/mariners-release-charlie-haeger.html|work=MLBTradeRumors.com|date=July 16, 2011 |access-date=July 17, 2011}}

On July 23, 2011, Haeger signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.{{cite web|last=Polishuk|first=Mark|title=Red Sox Sign Charlie Haeger|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/07/red-sox-sign-charlie-haeger.html|work=MLBTradeRumors.com|date=July 24, 2011 |access-date=July 24, 2011}} He made eight starts for the AA Portland Sea Dogs, and was 4–1 with a 3.24 ERA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=2011 Portland Sea Dogs Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} He re-signed with the Red Sox after the season, but he suffered an elbow injury in a long-toss session during spring training. Haeger underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2012 season.{{Cite news |last=Cafardo |first=Nick |date=2012-02-05 |title=Toughest call of his career is on Varitek's plate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-5-charlie-haeger/164396959/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |work=The Boston Globe |page=D4 |via=Newspapers.com}} He returned to the Red Sox organization in 2013, pitching for the Pawtucket Red Sox.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-57493314 |title=Charlie Haeger named I.L. Pitcher of the Week |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=August 19, 2013 |access-date=October 6, 2020}}

Coaching

Haeger was a pitching coach for Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://yawkeywayreport.com/source-former-knuckleballer-charlie-haeger-retires/|title=Former Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger Retires, Again|work=Yawkey Way|date=September 10, 2014|access-date=October 4, 2020|first=Thomas|last=Joyce|archive-date=October 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012214538/http://yawkeywayreport.com/source-former-knuckleballer-charlie-haeger-retires/|url-status=dead}}

Haeger was a minor league pitching coordinator for the Tampa Bay Rays organization from 2016 to 2018 and was named as the pitching coach for the Chicago Cubs' AA minor-league team, the Tennessee Smokies in 2020 but never served in the role as the Minor League Baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/2113035/2020/10/03/former-cubs-minor-league-coach-charlie-haeger-dead-after-killing-suicide/|title=Former Cubs minor-league coach Charlie Haeger dead after apparent suicide|work=The Athletic|first=Jon|last=Greenberg|date=October 3, 2020|access-date=October 4, 2020}}

Death

On October 3, 2020, Haeger, 37, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on a trail along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. He was a suspect in the shooting death of his 34-year-old ex-girlfriend Danielle Breed the previous day in Scottsdale, Arizona.{{cite web|date=October 3, 2020|title=Ex-pitcher Haeger, sought in murder, found dead|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30031916|access-date=October 13, 2020|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}