1990 Greater Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
Category: Softball
Charles Cotton was born in Akron, Ohio and raised in Flint, Michigan. Charles started pitching softball, the team he was pitching for Millers, won the League Championship and the Regional Tournament in 1940. He was considered the league’s leading pitcher. During his amateur league career, Cotton was selected to three All Star Teams.
During his career he hurled 11 no-hitters and led his team in strikeouts for a number of years. Cotton was noted for taunting opposing batters with, “I don’t know what you’re coming to bat for,” and then proceeded to strike them out. He pitched a no-hitter against Owosso All-Star Team and had three no-hitters in 1949.
In 1943, Charles won 11 straight games and in 1946 he pitched five shut outs in 13 games. He pitched on five league championship teams (1940, 42, 44, 46, 47). In 1944 he shut-out the league’s all-star team. Cotton was the league’s leading pitcher in six different years.
After moving to Hanover, Pa., he was instrumental in bringing softball back to the area. Cotton was one of the best pitchers in the Hanover, Pa. league. He later pitched for other teams. Now called King Cotton, he pitched a no-hitter for DWI, a 6-0 shut out, recording 11 strikeouts. He pitched in Canada and toured the U.S.A.
Cotton was honored in 1978 with his name Charles “King” Cotton being added to a permanent memorial to MASA sport greats, McKeesport Amateur Sports Association
