Bubba Church

Infobox MLB retired
name = Bubba Church
bgcolor1 =
textcolor1 =
bgcolor2 =
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width =
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position = Pitcher
birthdate = birth date|1924|9|12
Birmingham, Alabama
deathdate = death date and age|2001|9|17|1924|9|12
bats =Right
throws = Right
debutdate =April 30
debutyear =1950
debutteam =Philadelphia Phillies
finaldate =May 1
finalyear =1955
finalteam =Chicago Cubs
stat1label = Win-Loss
stat1value =36-37
stat2label =ERA
stat2value =4.10
stat3label =Strikeouts
stat3value =274
teams =
*Philadelphia Phillies (1950-1952)
*Cincinnati Reds (1952-1953)
*Chicago Cubs (1953-1955)
highlights =

Emory Nicholas "Bubba" Church (September 12 1924 - September 17 2001) was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Phillies (by|1950-by|1952), Cincinnati Reds (by|1952-by|1953) and Chicago Cubs (by|1953-by|1955). He was born in Birmingham, Alabama.

In a six-season career, Church posted a 36-37 record with 274 strikeouts and a 3.37 ERA in 999.2 innings pitched.

During his rookie season, Church was playing a key role for the famed 1950 "Whiz Kids" Phillies in their fight for a pennant. He was an important member of a very young pitching staff, teaming with Robin Roberts, Curt Simmons, Bob Miller, and the dependable reliever Jim Konstanty. However, Church was struck in the face by a line drive off the bat of Cincinnati's Ted Kluszewski. The ball was hit so hard that it caromed into right field on the fly. A week later, he was out on the mound again to face the hard-hitting Dodgers, but after the game his season was over. He finished 8-6 with an ERA and two shutouts in 142 innings.

Church enjoyed his most productive season in by|1951, when he collected career-highs in victories (15), strikeouts (104), shutouts (4) and innings (246), including a one-hitter over Pittsburgh. Early in the 1952 season, he was traded to the Reds. Church was 5-9 for Cincinnati, and 7-8 for the Reds and the Chicago Cubs in by|1953. Two and a half more seasons with the Cubs, pitching only occasionally because of arm problems, brought his big league career to an end in by|1955.

Church died at his home in Birmingham, Alabama, at age of 77.

External links

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/C/Church_Bubba.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.philadelphiaathletics.org/history/church.html Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society]
* [http://www.historicbaseball.com/players/c/church_bubba.html Historic Baseball]