"When you least expect it. Isn't that how the story goes? It [was] hard imagining Chuck Cary as a key to Yankee pitching hopes for 1990. There was no hoopla when he was signed in January 1989, and nobody cared when he was called up in May. But after an impressive start and a string of strong performances, Cary turned himself into a prominent figure for this season. The 30-year-old left-hander has indeed been a find for the Yankees.
'I was given a shot, and I've taken full advantage of it,' says Cary, who not only expects to make the 1990 staff but to be a major contributor. 'Nothing can compare to playing for this team, in this city, and in this Stadium.'
It may too early to call him a diamond in the rough, but if the Yankees are to succeed, a lot will depend on Chuck Cary."
-The New York Yankees Official 1990 Yearbook
"Chuck began the 1989 season with the Clippers and was recalled on May 9. At the time of his recall he was 0-0 with no saves in nine relief appearances with a 1.84 ERA (14.2 IP, 3 ER). He made seven appearances (all in relief) in May and was 0-0 with no saves with a 1.64 ERA (11 IP, 2 ER), allowing just four hits in the month.
He made his Yankee debut on May 13 at California, allowing one run on one hit (a Bill Schroeder homer) over 2.1 innings. After that Chuck allowed just one run on three hits through the rest of the month.
Chuck made three appearances in June, two in relief and one start. On June 5 in New York against Baltimore he allowed a grand slam to Steve Finley, the first hit he allowed to a left-handed hitter as a Yankee. On June 14 in Baltimore, Chuck made his first major league start, allowing no runs and two hits over five innings. On June 22 he was placed on the 21-day disabled list, retroactive to June 15, with a sprained lower back and did not pitch again until after the break. At the time of his injury he was 0-0 with no saves in 11 appearances (one start) with a 2.84 ERA (25.1 IP, 8 ER).
During his rehabilitation Chuck pitched twice for Columbus (8.2 IP, 5 ER). He was reinstated on July 11 and started on July 15 against Kansas City, pitching seven innings and allowing one earned run on two hits and left the game with score 1-1 (the Yankees lost 7-1).
On July 23 at Texas, Chuck pitched masterpiece until things fell apart in the last of the ninth inning. After allowing a first-inning single to Scott Fletcher, he carried a 1-hitter into the ninth inning. With two out Fletcher doubled, driving in a run, and Chuck exited the game having allowed two hits and was not involved in the decision with the Yankees losing 5-4 in 10 innings. In his first three starts Chuck was 0-0 with a 1.31 ERA (20.2 IP, 3 ER).
He was the winning pitcher on July 29 against Toronto, pitching a complete game in a 7-2 Yankee win. The win was Chuck's first since September 30, 1987 when he beat the Astros as a member of the Braves and it was his first AL win since beating the A's on September 5, 1986 as a member of the Tigers.
Chuck won again on August 3, again throwing a complete game, a 5-hitter, in an 8-1 Yankee win against Minnesota; he had a shutout until the ninth inning when Greg Gagne hit a home run. On August 8 against Cleveland, Chuck struck out a career high 10 batters. He ended the season on a winning note at Baltimore, allowing two hits and no runs over seven innings and again striking out 10 as the Yankees shut out the Orioles 2-0.
In 11 starts in 1989, Chuck posted a 4-3 record with a 3.25 ERA (74.2 IP, 27 ER) and the Yankees went 6-5 when he started. He pitched into the seventh in seven of those starts. He won four games, two more than in his major league career entering the season. In his four wins he had a 1.19 ERA, in his four losses he had an 8.15 ERA and in his four no-decisions he had a 2.42 ERA. He made 11 relief appearances and was 0-1 with no saves and a 3.28 ERA (24.2 IP, 9 ER); the Yankees were 0-11 when he pitched in relief.
Overall, Chuck allowed 13 home runs, three in his first 41 innings and ten over his last 58.1 innings. He had a .209 batting average against, best on the team and 72 points better than the club average of .281. Chuck was 1-0 with a 3.10 ERA and a .194 batting average against in day games, 3-4 with a 3.33 ERA and a .215 batting against in night games. He struck out 79 and walked 29, an average of 7.2 strikeouts and 2.6 walks per nine innings.
Chuck signed a contract for the 1990 season.
He was was originally a 7th round selection of the Detroit Tigers in the June 1981 free agent draft. He began his pro career at class-A Macon, going 5-5 with a 2.59 ERA in 13 starts. With AA Birmingham in 1982, Chuck tossed 166 innings and fanned 125 while setting personal marks with eight wins and 14 losses.
Chuck split 1983 between Birmingham and AAA Evansville. He started all 17 of his games at Birmingham and relieved in 14 of 15 at Evansville. [With Birmingham for all of 1984] he started 20 of 22 games and tied for the Southern League lead for fielding percentage by a pitcher (1.000).
In 1985, Chuck was AAA Nashville's leader in appearances (48) and saves (8). He made his major league debut on August 22 at Oakland, earning his first save by fanning two A's in one inning and preserving a 5-3 Tiger win.
Chuck opened the 1986 season with Detroit. He was optioned to Nashville on June 16, recalled on September 2 and collected his first major league win on September 5 at Oakland. He allowed just one earned run in his five eight appearances covering 12.1 innings. Chuck was traded with pitcher Randy O'Neal to the Atlanta Braves for outfielders Terry Harper and Freddy Tiburcio in January of 1987.
He spent most of his first season in the Atlanta organization with the AAA Richmond Braves, leading the club in strikeouts with 127 and allowing just 104 hits in 105.2 innings pitched. Chuck was recalled by Atlanta on September 1 and made his National League debut on September 2, tossing an inning of hitless relief while fanning two Pirates. He collected his first NL save on September 22, tossing four scoreless frames against Houston (2 H, 3 K)- Chuck's longest outing with the Braves. He recorded his first NL victory on September 30, hurling 1.1 hitless innings of relief as the Braves topped the Astros 3-1.
He struck out 15 in 16.2 innings of work in 13 games for Atlanta. He was 1-for-3 in save situations, first batters Chuck faced hit .385 (5-for-13) against him, and six of seven inherited runners scored.
Chuck opened the 1988 season with Richmond and was 0-0 with a 1.42 ERA in five games before being sent to Bradenton on injury rehabilitation from July 29-August 17. He finished the season with Atlanta, appearing in seven games (0-0, 6.48). Chuck played winter ball in the 1988-89 off-season with Caguas in the Puerto Rican league. He was signed as a free agent by Yankee VP George Bradley in January of 1989.
Chuck graduated from California High School in San Ramon, CA, attended the University of California at Berkeley and resides in San Ramon."
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
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