In 1988, Charles Nagy was UConn's first Baseball All American since the Colin McLaughlin, Randy LaVigne duo in 1979. He was an Olympian that played in the Seoul as baseball was a demonstration sport. And he was UConn Baseball's first, first round draft pick..But how he got to Storrs ?? Well, Jim Penders tells the story that Nagy started at Cornell trying to play both baseball and football as he did in his time at Ludlowe High School in Fairfield. When Roberto Hernandez (yes the former MLB reliever) left UConn after one year, a scholarship opened up and Nagy came home to UConn to play baseball. Where he fared quite well.
In two seasons in Storrs, 194 career strikeouts, Tied for third in complete games, Two time Big East Pitcher of the Year and a Cape League Champion (Harwich) and Playoff MVP. There are stories (Coach Penders) where 30 pro scouts would cut branches in bushes behind the plate to get a radar gun to check in on Nagy. And it's been told that Charles Nagy was on the mound in the 1987 Big East Tournament at Muzzy Field in Bristol where Seton Hall slugger Mo Vaughn took Nagy deep over the tall trees in Right Field for a mammoth Home Run that help propel the Pirates to a Big East Crown...By the time he graduated, Nagy was 2nd in season K's w 118 and 5th in complete games. The 1988 Huskies hit just .252 as a Team after hitting .320 in the 1987 campaign. After Nagy was the 17th overall pick of the Cleveland Indians, Nagy helped USA Baseball win gold in Seoul at the 1988 Olympics where Baseball was a demonstration sport.
Two years into his Pro Ball Career, Charles Nagy was called up to the Majors...and starting with the 1991 season became a workhorse on the hill for the Indians. A 17-10 1992 that earned him an All Star spot. After tearing his labrum and missing most of 1993, 1994-1999 Nagy ate up innings and wins. At least 15 a year from 1995-99' where he made two more All Star Games and helped the Indians to the post season. A career 3-4 record with an ERA of 4.46 starting 14 games and making one appearance out of the bullpen. That was Game 7 in 1997 against the Florida Marlins. Where Edgar Renteria's series winning single in the 11th glanced off Nagy's glove into Centerfield. A 129-105 career record with a 4.51 ERA, Nagy is in the Indians Hall of Fame..
After a Major League Career, Nagy became a pitching coach. First the Indians Organization (Columbus AAA) before stints in Arizona and Anaheim. In fact he was fired in Arizona due to the fact he wouldn't encourage pitchers to throw at opposing batters. And Nagy hasn't forgotten his roots at UConn, donating $100,000 towards an Endowed Baseball Scholarship for Jim Penders Team. Raise a glass to Charles Nagy, perhaps known as a Cleveland Indian, but in Connecticut, Nagy is forever a Husky and UConn Legend...