| Norm Charlton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1963-01-06)January 6, 1963 (age 62) Fort Polk, Louisiana, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 19, 1988, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 7, 2001, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 51–54 |
| Earned run average | 3.71 |
| Strikeouts | 808 |
| Saves | 97 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Norman Wood Charlton III (born January 6, 1963), nicknamed "the Sheriff", is an American former professionalbaseballrelief pitcher who played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theCincinnati Reds,Seattle Mariners,Philadelphia Phillies,Baltimore Orioles,Atlanta Braves, andTampa Bay Devil Rays.
Charlton was born inFort Polk, Louisiana, and graduated fromJames Madison High School inSan Antonio, Texas. He attendedRice University inHouston, Texas, playing for coach David Hall. He set several newOwls records in the sport, including a career ERA of 2.25 and an 11-win season.[1]
TheMontreal Expos drafted Charlton with the 28th overall selection in the first round of the1984 MLB draft.[2][3]
Charlton was best known as being part of the infamous"Nasty Boys" relief pitching corps for the1990 Reds team that won theWorld Series.Randy Myers andRob Dibble were the other two members.[4] The relievers were known for their clutch, shutdown performances, particularly during the playoff run; their blazingfastballs; and their bruisingbeanballs. In 1990, Charlton also plowed overLos Angeles Dodgers catcherMike Scioscia to score a run in a nationally televised Sunday night game. Among the relievers, Charlton was known as "The Genius", due to studies at Rice.[5][6] In 1992, Charlton, the Reds' last remaining effective Nasty Boy, was named to theAll-Star Game and had a career-high 26 saves.[7][3]
Charlton had three stints with theSeattle Mariners that included some team success. After Reds manager Lou Piniella left for Seattle, Cincinnati traded Charlton to the Mariners forKevin Mitchell.[8][7] The1993 Mariners were the first team in franchise history to finish with a winning record. Charlton had 18 saves but his season ended in August due to a torn ligament in his throwing elbow. Mariners broadcasterDave Niehaus nicknamed him "The Sheriff".[9][7]After missing the 1994 season, Charlton signed with thePhiladelphia Phillies, who released him in July 1995. The Mariners re-signed him and he returned to the closer role during the1995 "Refuse to Lose" team that was the first Mariner team to reach theplayoffs.[10][11] Charlton was a lefty specialist for the 2001 team that won an MLB-record 116 games, contributing to abullpen that also featured closerKazuhiro Sasaki,Jeff Nelson, and fellow leftyArthur Rhodes.[12]
Charlton began working for theSeattle Mariners in 2003 as a special assignment coach. In 2004 he was ascout, later returning to the special assignment role.[13] On October 22, 2007, the Mariners named Charlton as theirbullpen coach. After one season, his contract, along with those of the remainder of the 2008 coaching staff, was not renewed following the hire ofDon Wakamatsu as the club's manager in November 2008.[14]
Charlton is married.[13]
Charlton graduated fromRice University in 1986 with a degree in political science. He had enough credits to have also majored in religion or physical education. Charlton's father was also a Rice alumnus,walking on to theuniversity's track and field team, and later worked in the university's physical education department.[1]
