Charlie Puleo: Italian / American New Jersey Born 1980's Mets Pitcher (1981-1982)

Charles Michael Puleo was born on February 7, 1955, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. The local boy went to Bloomfield High School and then attended nearby Seton Hall University.

Seton Hall University: In that time, he was a teammate of MLB catcher Rick Cerone. where he was a teammate of MLB catcher Rick Cerone.

Puleo attended Seaton Hall from 1974-1977. He pitched on two Seton Hall teams that went to the College World Series 1974 & 1975. In his time there he pitched 46 games making 36 starts with a 27-7 record & a 3.23 ERA while striking out 172 batters.

The six-foot, right hander was signed by the expansion Toronto Blue Jays as an amateur free agent in 1978. 

In 1979 he threw a no hitter at A ball Dunedin in the Florida State League where he went 10-10 with a 4.46 ERA. 

In 1981 he was sent to the New York Mets organization in a trade for Mark Bomback. At AAA Tidewater he was 12-9 with a 3.46 ERA getting a September call up to the Mets staff four games. 

Mets Career: Puleo made his MLB debut on September 16th, 1981, entering the game in the 3rd inning in relief of Greg Harris. Puleo helped the Mets to a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies pitching two scoreless innings. 

He would make four September appearances for the last place club. On September 30th, he got his first MLB start going eight innings striking out six, while allowing just one earned run to the Chicago Cubs at Shea Stadium. He got no decision as the Mets won the game in the 9th inning, when Lee Mazzilli singled home John Stearns giving Neil Allen the win.

1982: Puleo started the year making five appearances in relief. On April 17th he earned his first win, coming in relief of Craig Swan in a 1-1 tie with the Expos. He earned the win as the Mets scored on Mookie Wilson's sac fly.

On April 24th he made his first start of the year, pitching into the seventh inning, shutting out Ray Burris & the Expos in a 1-0 classic at Montreal. In his next start he gave six runs to the Padres to fall to 2-2.

In May, he won three straight decisions. On May 7th Charlie pitched eight innings against the San Francisco Giants allowing just two runs with six strikeouts, beating Bill Laskey.

On May 11th, he pitched his only complete game of the year, a four-hit shutout over the San Diego Padres at Shea Stadium.  On May 31st, he won his third straight game, striking out a season ten batters, pitching into the 7th inning, in a 10-4 win over the Braves at Shea Stadium.

On June 24th, he pitched into the 9th inning, allowing just one run to the Expos, while striking out eight batters, to get the win over Bill Gullickson. 

He began July with a pair of losses, including giving up a season high eight runs to the Phillies on Independance Day, although only four were earned. On July 15th, he beat the reigning World Champion Dodgers 5-2 in Los Angeles.

After allowing five runs in two starts in August, he had two no decisions but gave up three or more runs both times. On August 23rd he made a relief appearance against the Astros. He made one more start but didn't get past the 2nd inning as he allowed six runs to the Braves. Four of them came after he made a 1st inning error on a Rafael Ramirez ground ball.

He then finished the year out of the bullpen, where he finished off five of his six appearances.

Puleo finished up the season at 9-9 with a 4.47 ERA. He had 98 strike outs & 90 walks in 172 innings in 36 appearances making 24 starts. Puleo went beyond the 7th inning ten times. He led all NL pitchers turning five double plays.

Trivia: That winter he became the answer to a Mets trivia question, when on December 16, 1982, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds along with Lloyd McClendon for the return of Tom Seaver. 

Post Mets Career: Puleo would pitch in Cincinnati for two seasons. In 1983 he went 6-12 with a 4.89 ERA being used mostly as a starter. He made just five appearances the next season.

In 1985 he had his contract bought by the Atlanta Braves and would pitch there for four seasons. After making just five appearances in 1986 he returned to go 6-8 with a 4.23 ERA in 1987 making 16 starts in 35 appearances. 

In 1988 he made 53 appearances, all in relief except for three spot starts. He was in the Braves bullpen behind Bruce Sutter where he had one save & finished off 17 games. After just 15 appearances in 1989 he was released that November.

Career Stats: In his eight-year career he finished up going 29-39 with two saves & a 4.25 ERA. He struck out 387 & walked 319 in 633 innings pitched in 180 appearances, finishing off 32 games & making 76 starts. 

Trivia: Puleo has the rare distinction of being the only pitcher other than Don Sutton to allow a
HR to Nolan Ryan. 

Retirement: After his pitching days, he was a gym teacher & baseball coach in Blount County Tennessee from 2000-2011. The baseball Field where he coached & help revive was named for him.

He recently worked on a sports radio show in Louisville, Tennessee.

Quotes- Charlie Puleo: "This is very nice, a great honor, a very humbling occasion".

Family: Charlie & his wife had four daughters. His
daughter Angela Puleo was a college basketball star, at Vanderbilt University. Charlie resigned from coaching baseball to help follow his daughter's career. 

In 2010-2011 she averaged 5.0 points per game & 1.6 rebounds in 19.9 minutes of play time. She later became a Regional V.P. at Jackson Financial Services in Georgia.