The Natural: Charboneau's career played like fictional Hobbs

Joe Charboneau sees a little bit of himself in the iconic baseball film “ The Natural.”

Outside of the obvious, which is that the former Cleveland Indians outfielder actually appeared in a few scenes of the 1984 film that finished tied for No. 8 in The Associated Press Top 25 favorite sports movies poll.

Movie line: “They would've said, ‘There goes Roy Hobbs, the best there ever was in this game,’” Robert Redford's character, Roy Hobbs, lamented of his shortened career.

Cue Charboneau, the 1980 AL Rookie of the Year.

In many ways, Charboneau’s career played out much like the script for the film: Slugger gets stabbed before his major league debut (Hobbs was shot). One memorable season. Injuries curtail career. Fade to the credits — he’s enjoying the game (not in a wheat field playing catch, but as the hitting coach at Notre Dame College in Ohio ).

“Isn't it funny how life parallels itself?” the 64-year-old Charboneau said in a phone interview. "Maybe I was meant to almost be in that movie.”

Movie line: “All right, Hobbs, knock the cover off the ball,” manager Pop Fisher hollered.

The charismatic Charboneau arrived on the scene as that promising prospect who was the life of the party. His off-the-field tales were epic — opened beer bottles with his forearm or his eye socket (only once or twice, he clarified). Fixed a broken nose with pliers. Stitched up a cut with fishing line.

His exploits on the field were storied, too, for a player nicknamed “Super Joe.” In 1979, Charboneau batted .352 with 21 homers for Cleveland's Double-A affiliate Chattanooga.

On deck, the big leagues.

During spring training in 1980, he accompanied the Indians to Mexico City for an exhibition game.

He never even saw the stabbing coming.

Sound familiar?

Movie...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/The-Natural-Charboneau-s-career-played-like-15223953.php