Giants Former Pitcher/Mascot Committed to Asylum

Charlie Faust was one of the more interesting characters in the history of baseball. Given how he came to become a mascot/pitcher for the New York Giants, it is not a surprise that he was committed to an insane asylum on this day in 1914.

The early days of baseball were filled with a variety of characters who may not have seen a ballpark these days. Whether due to psychosis, questionable mental capacity, or other assorted mental conditions, these players would likely have never had the chance to become ballplayers. The game would have missed out on same all time grates, and some even better tales.

One of those players who likely would never have seen the field was New York Giants pitcher Charlie Faust. He was likely delusional at best, and completely insane at worst. On this day in 1914, determined to join back up with the Giants, Faust was committed to the Western Hospital for the Insane in Lakewood, Washington.

The story of how Faust came to join the Giants is one of the odder ones in baseball history. He traveled to Saint Louis in July, 1911, determined to find manager John McGraw. Upon finding him, Faust told McGraw that a fortune teller told him that, if he pitched for the Giants, the team would win the pennant that year. McGraw was a very superstitious being, and allowed Faust to have a tryout. Despite not possessing anything close to any athletic ability, he was brought on the team and given a uniform.

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As soon as Faust joined the team, the Giants went on a winning streak. Although McGraw did not let him actually play in a game with the season on the line, the Giants went on a 40-13 run to end the season, taking the pennant by 7.5 games. Faust was finally allowed to play after the pennant was clinched, giving up a run on two hits in his two innings of work. He also took a turn at bat, where, interestingly enough, he was one of only three pitchers ever to get a hit in his only plate appearance. For good measure, Faust also stole two bases after his hit. Maybe, just maybe, he had a bit more athletic ability than McGraw had believed.

Although he broke camp with the Giants at the start of the following season, he again was not allowed to play. In fact, he was not even given a uniform, but kept as an unofficial mascot. Finally, tired of Faust’s insistence that he be allowed to play, McGraw released him. After starting the year 54-11 with Faust, the Giants struggled down the stretch, although they managed to win the National League pennant again.

Faust had not given up on his playing career. He had moved to California, and then headed to Seattle. In 1914, two years after being released, he was determined to join the Giants once again. As such, he set off on foot, reaching Portland, Oregon before being sent to a mental hospital on this day. He was diagnosed with dementia, and, on June 18, 1915, died in the Western Hospital for the Insane of tuberculosis.

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Charlie Faust may have been delusional, but no one could argue the success the New York Giants had with him on the team. Maybe that fortune teller had some insight into the future after all.