Bubba Church

Emory Nicholas "Bubba" Church (September 12, 1924 – September 17, 2001) was an American professional baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies (1950–52), Cincinnati Reds / Redlegs (1952–53), and Chicago Cubs (1953–55).

A native of Birmingham, Alabama,[1] Church posted a 36–37 record, with 274 strikeouts, and a 3.37 earned run average (ERA), in 999+2⁄3 innings pitched, over the course of his six-season big league career.

During his rookie season, Church was playing a key role for the famed 1950 "Whiz Kids" Phillies in their fight for a pennant.

Church enjoyed his most productive season in 1951, when he collected career-highs in victories (15), strikeouts (104), shutouts (4) and innings (246), including a one-hitter over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Prior to Church's professional baseball career, he served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II serving in the China Burma India Theater.