{{Short description|American baseball player and businessman (1893–1982)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Charlie Wheatley |position=Pitcher |image= |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date|1893|6|27}} |birth_place=Rosedale, Kansas, US |death_date={{death date and age|1982|12|10|1893|6|27}} |death_place=Tulsa, Oklahoma, US |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=September 6 |debutyear=1912 |debutteam= Detroit Tigers |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=October 6 |finalyear=1912 |finalteam= Detroit Tigers |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Win–loss record |stat1value=1–4 |stat2label=Earned run average |stat2value=6.17 |stat3label=Strikeouts |stat3value=14 |teams= * Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|1912}}) }} '''Charles D. Wheatley''' (June 27, 1893 – December 10, 1982) was an American professional baseball pitcher and businessman. He played for the Detroit Tigers of the American League in 1912. Wheatley played baseball as a semi-professional and in the minor leagues into the 1930s.
During his baseball career, Wheatley began to pursue his business interests. Wheatley founded his own valve manufacturing company and earned at least 21 patents on his designs. He sold the company to Tesoro Petroleum for $10.5 million in 1972 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|10500000|1972}}}} in current dollar terms).
==Early life== Wheatley was born in Rosedale, Kansas, on June 27, 1893. He was the seventh child of nine born to Francis and Fanny Wheatley. Wheatley's parents were from England, where they married and had their first four children, before they immigrated to the United States and settled in Rosedale prior to Charles' birth. The family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, before 1910. Francis Wheatley worked as a machinist, and he taught the trade to his sons.<ref name=sabr>{{Cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/charlie-wheatley/|title=Charlie Wheatley|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|first=Bill|last=Carle|accessdate=June 9, 2021}}</ref>
==Baseball career== After the seventh grade, Wheatley dropped out of school to pursue a career in baseball.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79076347/businessman-charles-wheatley-dies/ |newspaper=The Kansas City Star|title=Businessman Charles Wheatley dies |via=Newspapers.com |date=December 12, 1982 |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref><ref name=millionaire>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79076691/former-baseball-star-a-millionaire-at-78/ |newspaper=The Kansas City Times|title=Former Baseball Star A Millionaire at 78 |via=Newspapers.com|date=April 4, 1972 |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref> He played in semi-professional baseball leagues in Kansas City in 1910, and made his professional baseball debut with the Abilene Reds of the Class D Central Kansas League.<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/653617995/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22%20rosedale&match=1 |title=16 Aug 1910, 6|work=The Kansas City Star|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=August 16, 1910 |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref> In 1911, he pitched for the Great Bend Millers in the Class D Kansas State League<ref name=sabr/> and the Auburn Athletics of the Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/653675759/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22%20springfield&match=1 |title=14 Sep 1912, 9|work=The Kansas City Star|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=September 14, 1912 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> while continuing to play in semi-professional baseball as well.<ref name=sabr/>
Wheatley began the 1912 season with the St. Joseph Drummers of the Class A Western League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/559320780/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22&match=1 |title=30 Jan 1912, 8|work=St. Joseph News-Press|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=January 30, 1912 |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref> He struggled with St. Joseph, and was released by the team in May. He signed with the Springfield Reapers of the Class B Central League, and had better results.<ref name=sabr/> While Wheatley pitched for Springfield, Bobby Lowe scouted him for the Detroit Tigers of the American League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/653675759/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22&match=1 |title=14 Sep 1912, 9|work=The Kansas City Star|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=September 14, 1912 |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref> Lowe recommended Wheatley to Hughie Jennings, the manager of the Tigers, and the Tigers purchased Wheatley from Springfield for $3,500 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|3500|1912}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref name=sabr/> Wheatley made his major league debut with the Tigers on September 6, 1912, and played his final game on October 6, 1912. He started five games for the Tigers, completing two of them. He had a 1–4 win–loss record with a 6.17 earned run average in 35 innings pitched. He allowed 45 hits and 17 walks, while striking out 14 batters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1912.shtml|title=1912 Detroit Tigers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> Wheatley, at 19 years old, was the eighth-youngest player in the league that season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1912-other-leaders.shtml|title=1912 American League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> During the game of September 27, Wheatley threw five wild pitches, setting an American League record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/210686121/?terms=%22charlie%20wheatley%22%20tigers%20-abby&match=1 |title=4 Aug 1987|page=9|work=The Times Herald|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=August 4, 1987 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> He later attributed his wildness with experimenting with the emery ball.<ref name=sabr/>
The Tigers signed Wheatley for the 1913 season,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/653711460/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22%20patent&match=1 |title=18 Feb 1913, 8|work=The Kansas City Times|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=February 18, 1913 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> but he developed troubles with his throwing arm, and the Tigers sent him to the Providence Grays of the Class AA International League. He struggled with Providence, and they returned him to Detroit, who next farmed Wheatley to the Sioux City Packers of the Western League. He tried out for the Tigers again in spring training in 1914,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/243145099/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22%20montgomery&match=1 |title=16 Jan 1914|page=1|work=The Manhattan Mercury|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=January 16, 1914 |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref> but did not make the team. He began the 1914 season with Sioux City,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/284569423/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22&match=1 |title=21 Feb 1914, 6|work=The Times Recorder|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=February 21, 1914 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> before being released in May. He obtained a tryout with the Kansas City Blues of the American Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/77187515/?terms=%22charley%20wheatley%22&match=1 |title=16 May 1914|page=7|work=The Wichita Beacon|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=May 16, 1914 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> He finished the 1914 season with the Montgomery Rebels of the Southern Association.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1914 Montgomery Rebels Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> In 1916, Wheatley pitched for the Evansville Evas<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/37332633/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22%20signed%20team&match=1 |title=27 Mar 1916|page=10|work=The Indianapolis News|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=March 27, 1916 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> and the Muskegon Reds of the Central League.<ref name=married/> He played for the South Bend Benders of the Central League in 1917.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/465105379/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22%20%22south%20bend%22&match=1 |title=25 May 1917, 4|work=South Bend News-Times|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=May 25, 1917 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> He played in the American Association for Kansas City and the Milwaukee Brewers in 1918.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/37158899/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22%20milwaukee%20brewers&match=1 |title=22 Jul 1918|page=7|work=Warren Times Mirror|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=July 22, 1918 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
Wheatley continued to pitch into the 1930s for independent, semi-professional, and minor league baseball teams.<ref name=sabr/> He declined a contract offer from the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League in August 1926, because he believed that he could earn more money outside of the major leagues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/654308483/?terms=wheatley&match=1 |title=19 Aug 1926, 8|work=The Kansas City Times|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=August 19, 1926 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> In 1933, he pitched in a semi-professional game against his 17-year-old nephew, Richard.<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/656796776/?terms=wheatley&match=1 |title=20 May 1933, 16|work=The Kansas City Times|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=May 20, 1933 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
==Business career== Wheatley joined with his brothers in founding the Wheatley Brothers Machine Company in 1916.<ref name=sabr/> He opened a store in Kansas City that sold Philco radios in 1927,<ref name=millionaire/> and owned a {{frac|1|25}} share of an oil well in the Texas Panhandle.<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/655419846/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22&match=1 |title=7 Jun 1927, 18|work=The Kansas City Times|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=June 7, 1927 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
Wheatley moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the 1940s to work for the Frank Wheatley Company.<ref name=obit/> He was also a salesman for Goodyear.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/649790834/?terms=%22charley%20wheatley%22&match=1 |title=6 Dec 1950, 42|work=The Kansas City Star|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=December 6, 1950 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> He founded the Charles Wheatley Valve Company in 1954,<ref name=obit/> which had its headquarters in Tulsa and a manufacturing plant in Caney, Kansas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77477229/obituary-for-charles-wheat-ley-aged-89/ |title=Obituary for Charles Wheat-ley (Aged 89) |newspaper=The Daily Oklahoman|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 10, 2021 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> Wheatley invented varieties of ball valves, check valves, and gate valves,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/445957666/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22%20%22check%20valve%22&match=1 |title=5 Mar 1972, 23|work=Casper Star-Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=March 5, 1972 |accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref> and earned patents on at least 21 of his designs.<ref name=obit/>
In 1972, Wheatley sold the company to Tesoro Petroleum for $10.5 million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|10500000|1972}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref name=obit/> The company was purchased by Dresser Industries in 1992, which split the pump division into Wheatley Gaso Inc. and the valve division into Wheatley Valve Operations. Halliburton purchased Dresser Industries, and Wheatley Valve Operations continued as a subsidiary until it was closed in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tulsaworld.com/archive/wheatley-valve-closing/article_1e5ae43c-2075-59b8-b601-12934365b8ba.html|title=Wheatley Valve closing|first=Becky|last=Tiernan|work=Tulsa World|date=February 9, 1999|accessdate=June 6, 2021}}</ref> Wheatley Gaso remains in operation.<ref name=sabr/>
==Personal life== Wheatley married Cora Beecher Patterson in October 1916.<ref name=sabr/><ref name=married>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/397794932/?terms=%22charles%20wheatley%22%20muskegon&match=1 |title=7 Oct 1916, 10|work=Dayton Daily News|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=October 7, 1916 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> She died in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79083425/obituary-for-charles-wheatley-aged-82/ |title=Obituary for Mrs. Charles Wheatley (Aged 82)|work=The Kansas City Star|page=10 |via=Newspapers.com |date=September 8, 1975 |accessdate=June 7, 2021}}</ref> Wheatley remarried before his death.<ref name=obit/>
Wheatley received three honorary degrees in engineering from the University of Tulsa. He was a personal friend of President Harry S. Truman, and advised Truman during his decision to run for the presidency.<ref name=obit/>
Wheatley died in Tulsa on December 10, 1982. He is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa.<ref name=obit/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|br=w/wheatch01|brm=wheatl000cha}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wheatley, Charlie}} Category:1893 births Category:1982 deaths Category:Detroit Tigers players Category:Abilene Reds players Category:Auburn Athletics players Category:St. Joseph Drummers players Category:Springfield Reapers players Category:Providence Grays (minor league) players Category:Sioux City Packers players Category:Montgomery Rebels players Category:Evansville Evas players Category:Muskegon Reds players Category:South Bend Benders players Category:Peoria Distillers players Category:Kansas City Blues (baseball) players Category:Milwaukee Brewers (minor league) players Category:Baseball players from Kansas City, Kansas Category:20th-century American sportsmen