April 24th, 2012 at 1:09 pm 
by Evan Bladh Every now and then, I take a look back at Dodger history and see if anything significant happened on the day. I may review box scores and sometimes a storyline develops. If I remember a particular game of certain feat from that series of numbers and names, then I have hit the jackpot. Today was one of those jackpot days. How often can you recognize an anniversary of a Charlie Hough home run? Well, I’ll tell you…Not often. I didn’t think he ever hit one. But on this day, 35 years ago, Hough did it. He knocked one out of Fulton County Stadium, the only homer in his 250 lifetime plate appearances.
It wasn’t the most significant of homers. Not a game winner. Nor was his an inside the parker or anything memorable. Fact was, it was hit in that Atlanta band box that used to be referred to as “the launching pad,” on a night when 8 other homers were hit. Hough’s home run was hit in the 9th inning of a Dodger blow out 16-6 win. The box score reminds us of how Fulton County Stadium was yesterday’s equivalent to Denver or the New Yankee Stadium. Chief Noc-A-Homa was definitely out of breath this particular evening, (Braves hit four out).
Charlie Hough started his baseball career playing for Lasorda in Ogden, UT in 1966. An 8th round pick out of high school in Miami, FL, he was signed to play third base. The 18 year old was a favorite of Tommy who recognized his excellent work ethic. Lasorda quickly realized that he was such a good hitting infielder, that he should be immediately converted into a knuckleballer. “One of the worst hitters to ever play the game,” said Lasorda, years later when asked about Hough’s offensive prowess. It was fitting that Hough would hit his first and only homer just 16 games into Lasorda’s Major League managerial career.
Charlie Hough is still remembered as one of the greatest kuckleballers of all time
Charlie faced some tough times as a Dodger pitcher, treated unfairly by an uneducated fan base in the late 70’s. He was essentially booed out of a Dodger uniform by 1980 when Al Campanis released him, much to the displeasure of Lasorda. I always felt that under different circumstances, he could have been that starting pitcher the Dodgers needed at the end of their rotation throughout the decade of the 80s. He was proof positive that the mob mentality of fans should never dictate a General Manager’s decision. Hough went on to win 169 games in his career after leaving the Dodgers leading the majors twice in games started and once in innings pitched. The man pitched 107 complete games. It was a travesty what happened to him and insane that he was released for virtually nothing.
Sad thing is, 19 years after being released as a pitcher, he was unfairly fired as pitching coach by Kevin Malone. Fortunately, Charlie has taken the high road and not held grudges against the organization.
Anyway, thirty-five years ago today, Charlie had that one shining offensive moment as he hit a towering home run to left field off near the tee pee off of Brad Johnson. Sure so did four other guys, with one being a grand slam by Ron Cey, (who was on his way to completing that magical April in ’77). But this night’s magic belonged to Charlie – a class act that deserved much better for his service as a Dodger.
Here is the box score from the game from BaseballReference.com
Posted in 
Fortunately, Charlie was brought back into the Dodger organization by Frank McCourt in 2007 as pitching coach for the High Single-A Inland Empire 66ers (now the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes), where he served until 2010. He is currently a senior adviser of player development for the Dodgers and is frequently seen around the Minor League fields at Camelback Ranch during spring training.
Of all the bad that Frank McCourt will be remembered for, one of the few things that he did right was to bring a lot of former Dodgers back into the Dodger organization in a variety of capacities, Charlie Hough being one of them.
Frank McCourt did MANY things right as owner of the Dodgers. He bought the Dodgers franchise and parking lot in 2004 for $400 million (almost all of which was borrowed from banks). He sold the Dodgers franchise in 2012 for $2 billion, and retained part ownership of the parking lot. So he made a profit of $1.6 billion.
He owned the Dodgers for eight baseball seasons (2004 thru 2011). His Dodger teams won National League West Division Championships in three of those eight seasons (2004, 2008, 2009).
Frank McCourt did another important thing that EVERY Dodger fan should appreciate greatly. He had all the 1962 seats torn out and installed brand new seats in the entire stadium. I think about Mr. McCourt every time I sit in one of those new seats at Dodger Stadium.
Frank McCourt was an excellent baseball owner. All of his intense critics are full of crap up to their eyeballs. Tom Van Howard
Great story, Ron. I don’t remember that particular game or Hough’s HR, but I do have very found memories of the 1977 Dodgers. During the early and mid seventies my interest in baseball waned a little. The great start that the Dodgers had that year (22-4) really got me back into the game and the Dodgers big time. For me the highlight of that season was going to Game 2 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium and watching the Dodgers hit 4 HR to beat the Yankees 6-1. Burt Hooten pitched a tremendous game that night getting a complete game victory. I could have gone to Game 6, but I didn’t go and after seeing what happened I was very glad I didn’t go. About 5 years ago at an autograph show I got Charlie Hough’s autograph along with Burt Hooton’s and Elias Sosa’s on the same ball. Thanks for bringing back found memories of a great Dodger team and a great Dodger season.
Evan, I just realized that you wrote this story and not Ron. Sorry for the mix up.
1977 was a great year. Unfortunately those World Series memories weren’t the greatest. I’m still convinced the better team lost in ’78 and ’78, but payback was sweet in ’81.
You’re right payback was sweet in ’81, but unfortunately I couldn’t get any tickets for that one.