Chuck Essegian – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Chuck Essegian made his mark in baseball history during his six-year Major League run from 1958 to 1963. Before that, he played football at Stanford University, but he switched gears and became a professional baseball player, earning a reputation for clutch hitting, especially as a pinch-hitter.

He jumped around quite a bit, suiting up for six different teams: the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Athletics, and Cleveland Indians.

Essegian’s biggest moment came in the 1959 World Series when he hit two pinch-hit home runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Chicago White Sox, setting a record that lasted for years. That incredible feat helped push the Dodgers to their first championship since moving to Los Angeles.

He wrapped up his career with a .255 batting average, 47 home runs, and 150 RBIs in 404 games. Not too shabby for a guy who bounced around the league.

Essegian’s story goes beyond just those World Series heroics. He lived the life of a journeyman player in a time when roster moves felt constant and opportunities were often scarce.

After he retired in 1963, Essegian switched directions and eventually practiced law in Los Angeles for thirty years. That kind of career change really shows how athletes back then sometimes took unexpected paths after baseball.

Early Life and Education

Chuck Essegian was born on August 9, 1931, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Charles Abraham Essegian Sr. and his wife. When Chuck was five, his family packed up and moved to Los Angeles.

He grew into a standout athlete at Fairfax High School and earned a scholarship to Stanford University.

Family Background and Childhood in Boston and Los Angeles

Charles Abraham Essegian Jr. grew up as one of five children. His dad worked as a mail carrier, doing what he could to support the family.

The move from Boston to Los Angeles, when Chuck was just five, turned out to be a big deal for his future in sports. That West Coast weather? It gave him more chances to play outside and develop as an athlete.

Settling in Los Angeles, the Essegian kids had to get used to new surroundings. California’s sports culture definitely influenced Chuck and helped shape his athletic journey.

Athletic Achievements at Fairfax High School

At Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, Chuck wasted no time making a name for himself as a dual-sport athlete. He stood out in both baseball and football.

He earned All-City selection honors in both sports, which really highlighted his athletic versatility. That kind of recognition doesn’t come easy.

His high school success drew attention from college recruiters all over the country. Clearly, his natural talent set him up for bigger things in college.

Stanford University Sports Career

Plenty of colleges wanted him, but Essegian chose Stanford University for both academics and athletics. He worked toward a biology degree while playing football and baseball.

On the football field, Essegian started at linebacker for three years. He picked up All Pacific Coast Conference honors twice for his defensive play.

The Cardinal won the conference championship in 1951. That sent them to the 1952 Rose Bowl against Illinois.

Stanford led 7-6 at halftime, but Illinois ran away with it in the second half, crushing them 40-7. Essegian later joked about the Pacific Conference’s Rose Bowl struggles, calling it “a funny thing.”

He became only the second major leaguer to play in both a Rose Bowl and World Series. Jackie Jensen did it first, playing for California in 1949 before joining the Yankees.

During his senior baseball season, Essegian set an intercollegiate record with 13 home runs. That power hinted at what he could do as a pro.

After he graduated with his biology degree, Essegian picked baseball over football, figuring it would pay better. In 1953, he signed with Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League and started his professional baseball journey.

Path to Professional Baseball

Chuck Essegian’s move from college athletics to professional baseball started with a few key decisions that shaped his career. He signed with Sacramento in 1953, then found success with Schenectady before finally cracking the major leagues.

Minor League Start with Sacramento and Schenectady

After Stanford, Essegian chose baseball over football, thinking it would be more lucrative. He signed with Sacramento in 1953, kicking off his pro career.

In the minors, Essegian showed off his power-hitting skills right away. He smacked 31 home runs in 1954, then followed with 27 in 1955 and 28 in 1956.

He bounced around between teams each season, mostly out West. That kind of movement was pretty normal for young players trying to get more playing time and move up.

His breakout year came in 1957 with Schenectady in the Eastern League. Essegian hit .355 with 20 home runs in just 80 games. That performance caught the eye of big-league scouts and set up his shot with Philadelphia.

Drafts, Free Agency, and Minor League Success

Essegian didn’t get drafted in the traditional sense. He signed as a free agent with Philadelphia in 1957 after that standout season in Schenectady.

His college career also boosted his profile. At Stanford, Essegian set a senior-year record with 13 home runs. That showed he could compete at a high level.

Between 1953 and 1957, Essegian sharpened his skills in the minor leagues. He learned to handle different pitching styles and ballparks all over the West Coast.

He kept putting up big power numbers, proving he could handle pro pitching. Philadelphia took notice and brought him into their organization. Essegian finally made the Phillies’ roster in 1958 after five years working his way up.

Major League Career Overview

Chuck Essegian played six seasons in Major League Baseball from 1958 to 1963, appearing in 404 games and wearing six different uniforms. He started with the Philadelphia Phillies, then got traded to St. Louis and later the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he reached his peak as a World Series champ.

Debut and Tenure with Philadelphia Phillies

Essegian debuted in the majors on April 15, 1958, at age 26, playing left field for the Phillies in the opener against Cincinnati. He went two-for-four with two doubles, drove in a run, and scored twice in a 5-4 Phillies win.

But regular playing time didn’t come easy. The Phillies sent him down to Triple-A Miami so he could get more at-bats and work on his game.

He showed flashes of talent during his brief stint with Philadelphia. Still, the team decided to move on and traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals on December 3, 1958, for infielder Ruben Amaro Sr.

St. Louis Cardinals and Ruben Amaro Sr. Trade

Moving to St. Louis put Essegian under manager Solly Hemus, who’d played with him in Philadelphia. That connection looked promising for more playing time.

Things didn’t pan out, though. Essegian only got 40 plate appearances before the Cardinals decided to move him again. They clearly didn’t see him as a long-term fit.

On June 15, 1959, St. Louis traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers. They first sent him to Rochester, but the Dodgers trade turned out to be the turning point in his career.

Transition to the Dodgers and Other Teams

The Dodgers sent Essegian to Triple-A Spokane at first. Injuries to big names like Carl Furillo and Duke Snider opened the door for his call-up in early August 1959.

Essegian carved out a role as a pinch-hitter for manager Walter Alston. In just 46 at-bats, he hit .304 overall and .308 as a pinch-hitter. His timely hits helped the Dodgers clinch the 1959 World Series.

After his Dodgers run, Essegian played for a few more teams. The Baltimore Orioles picked him up in 1961, then he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics and Cleveland Indians. He finished up with Kansas City in 1963, ending his career with a .255 average, 47 home runs, and 150 RBIs over six MLB seasons.

1959 World Series and Pinch-Hit Home Run Legacy

Chuck Essegian made his name in the 1959 World Series by hitting two pinch-hit home runs against the Chicago White Sox. Those clutch swings helped the Dodgers win the championship and set a record that lasted 16 years.

Record-Setting Pinch-Hit Home Runs

Essegian became the first player to hit two pinch-hit home runs in a single World Series. Nobody matched that until Bernie Carbo did it in 1975 for the Red Sox.

It’s wild when you remember Essegian didn’t get much playing time during the 1959 season. He had just 46 at-bats with the Dodgers after coming up from Triple-A Spokane in August.

Key Statistics:

• Games: 2 pinch-hit appearances
• Home runs: 2
• Record: Most pinch-hit home runs in a World Series (tied in 1975)

Manager Walter Alston really liked Essegian’s power potential. “I wanted somebody who could hit the ball out of the park,” Alston said. “I like the way Essegian swings a bat.”

Key Appearances for the Dodgers

Essegian’s first World Series homer came in Game 2, with the Dodgers down 2-1 in the seventh. On a 3-and-1 pitch from Bob Shaw, he sent it over the left-center field wall.

That homer tied the game at 2-2 and sparked a rally. Jim Gilliam walked, and Charley Neal hit his second homer of the game, putting the Dodgers up 4-2.

Game 6 brought Essegian’s second big moment. With the Dodgers leading 8-3 in the ninth, he crushed Ray Moore’s first pitch into the left-field seats. That home run capped a 9-3 win and clinched the championship.

Chicago manager Al Lopez even admitted Essegian was tough to pitch to: “He hit three home runs against us in spring training. We still have to learn how to pitch to him.”

Notable Moments: Johnny Podres and Duke Snider

Essegian stepped in for pitcher Johnny Podres as a pinch-hitter in Game 2. The Dodgers faced two outs in the seventh inning and desperately needed a spark.

Alston decided to trust Essegian’s power at the plate. Essegian delivered right away, blasting a home run that flipped the game’s momentum.

In Game 6, Essegian pinch-hit for Duke Snider, one of the Dodgers’ biggest stars. Snider struggled with injuries that limited what he could do in the series.

Alston’s move showed real faith in Essegian’s ability to come through under pressure. Both moments really captured how role players can step up and change the course of a championship.

Essegian proved himself as a specialist, someone who could provide instant offense when the team needed it.

Life After Major League Baseball

Chuck Essegian wrapped up his six-season MLB career and then dived into new ventures in entertainment and law. He spent a short time working in Hollywood’s film industry before heading to law school, eventually building a successful three-decade legal career in Los Angeles.

Playing in Japan and International Experience

After he left Major League Baseball in 1963, Essegian looked for chances to keep playing overseas. Still, there’s not much detailed info out there about his international baseball experience.

That transition period after his MLB days marked a big shift in his focus. Instead of chasing more playing time abroad, he decided to move on and try something new.

Essegian had played for six different teams in just six seasons. That constant movement probably made him want more stability in his next career.

Career in Hollywood and Law

Essegian started out after baseball as a production trainee at a motion picture studio in Hollywood. That entry-level job gave him a close-up look at how the entertainment industry worked.

Hollywood didn’t turn out to be his long-term path. After his stint in film, Essegian chose to go back to school and earned a law degree.

He built a legal career that lasted 30 years in Los Angeles, which is no small feat. Essegian showed he could adapt and succeed, even in tough professional environments.

His law practice gave him the stability he never really found during his baseball career. Those three decades in law made him a respected part of the Los Angeles legal community.

Community Involvement and Retirement

After retiring from legal practice, Essegian stayed close to the baseball community by joining alumni activities. He kept in touch with former teammates and took part in baseball-related events.

The former Stanford linebacker also received updates from Phillies Alumni, including their official newsletter After The Game. That helped him stay in the loop about old friends and team news.

Essegian retired from his law practice six years before the most recent reports, closing out his second successful career. Now, he’s had time to look back on both his athletic and professional accomplishments.

He’s spent his post-retirement years in the Los Angeles area, where he built his legal career and kept up the community relationships he formed over decades.

Legacy, Honors, and Personal Insights

Chuck Essegian made his mark in baseball history with his rare dual-sport success at Stanford University and his clutch World Series pinch-hitting. His connection with Jackie Jensen created a two-player club that bridged college football’s biggest stage and baseball’s championship series.

Unique Dual-Sport Achievements

Essegian’s athletic legacy goes way beyond just baseball. At Stanford, he started three years as a linebacker and earned All Pacific Coast Conference honors twice. He even played in the 1952 Rose Bowl, where Stanford took on Illinois.

The Cardinal led 7-6 at halftime but ended up losing 40-7 to the Illini. Essegian later said, “It’s a funny thing. I think the records will show that the Pacific Conference holds an edge over the Big Ten in regular-season completion. We always did well against them. But that Rose Bowl is different. They push us around something terrible.”

He shined in baseball at Stanford too, smashing an intercollegiate record with 13 home runs his senior year. That power at the plate hinted at the pinch-hitting heroics he’d later show in the majors.

Essegian graduated from Stanford with a biology degree. He picked baseball over football for his pro career, figuring it’d pay better.

Impact on Teammates and Baseball History

Essegian made his biggest mark on baseball in the 1959 World Series. He became just the seventh player in Series history to hit a pinch-hit home run in Game 2 against the Chicago White Sox.

He hit another pinch-hit homer in Game 6, helping the Dodgers clinch the championship. That gave him the World Series record for most pinch-hit home runs in one series, a mark Bernie Carbo later matched in 1975.

Manager Walter Alston praised Essegian’s clutch swing: “We were a run behind, there were two out, and it was getting late. I wanted somebody who could hit the ball out of the park. I like the way Essegian swings a bat. He doesn’t hit very often but I thought he might hit one out.”

White Sox manager Al Lopez admitted Essegian always posed a threat: “We knew him well. He hit three home runs against us in spring training. We still have to learn how to pitch to him because he’s hit a home run in just about every game he played against us.”

Relationship with Jackie Jensen

Essegian had a unique bond with Jackie Jensen. Together, they formed an exclusive two-player club—athletes who competed in both a Rose Bowl and a World Series.

Jensen starred for the University of California in the 1949 Rose Bowl. Later, he played for the New York Yankees in the 1950 World Series.

He stepped in as a pinch-hitter in Game 3 against Philadelphia, so he became the first player to pull off this rare double. Essegian followed in his footsteps when he played in Stanford’s 1952 Rose Bowl and then helped the Dodgers win the 1959 World Series.

This connection was more than just a quirky stat. Both guys really embodied the multi-sport athlete ideal of their era.

They excelled at the highest levels in college football and professional baseball. Their shared experience just shines a light on the kind of athletic versatility you saw in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Honestly, their relationship showed off the crossover appeal and wide-ranging skills that defined their generation. It’s hard not to admire what they pulled off.