Original Miami Marlins outfielder Chuck Carr has passed away

We all remember the firsts, those players who were the original players on our favorite team. That is especially the case for a team such as the Miami Marlins who are about to head into their third decade of existence. The likes of Charlie Hough, Orestes Destrade, and Jeff Conine are still fresh in our memories.

That relative newness makes any tragedies surrounding those players hit even harder. Chuck Carr, the Marlins original center fielder, passed away over the weekend after a battle with cancer. He was 55 years old.

Remembering original Miami Marlins outfielder Chuck Carr

A ninth round pick by the Reds in the 1986 MLB Draft, Carr was released less than a year later. He was scooped up by the Mariners, who traded him to the Mets for a minor leaguer. Carr broke into the majors with the Mets in 1990, getting brief looks for two seasons before being traded to the Cardinals for another minor league arm. He received another brief look in the majors before being selected by the Marlins with the 14th pick of the 1993 Expansion Draft.

Carr had a breakout campaign during that 1993 season. He led the National League with 58 steals (and was caught a league leading 22 times) while posting a .267/.327/.330 batting line in his 613 plate appearances. He may not have had much power, but he was essentially the typical leadoff man of his time.

That would be one of the high points for Carr. He lasted just two more years with the Marlins before being sent to the Brewers. Injuries ruined his first season in Milwaukee, then a heated argument with manager Phil Garner the following season ended his time with the Brewers. Carr swung at a 2-0 pitch after being given the take sign, popping up. When confronted by Garner, Carr reportedly said “That ain’t Chuckie’s game. Chuckie hacks on 2 and 0.” That contest on May 16, 1997 was his last one with the Brewers as he was released immediately afterward.

Carr resurfaced with the Astros to finish out the season, posting a career best 99 OPS+. Despite not being known as a power threat, his last major league plate appearance resulted in a homer against John Smoltz in Game Three of the 1997 NLDS.

Although he never returned to the majors, Carr continue to play. He spent time in the CPBL, Atlantic League, Italian Baseball League, and the Arizona-Mexico League before hanging up his cleats. Carr is a part of CPBL history, having hit the 3000th homer in league history during his 36 game stint in Taiwan in 1998, one of just three homers he hit on the year.

Former Miami Marlins outfielder Chuck Carr passed away at 55 years old. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family at this time.