Charles Henry "Chinski" Root[1][2] (March 17, 1899 – November 5, 1970) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the St. Louis Browns and the Chicago Cubs between 1923 and 1941.

Root had numerous jobs, such as driver of a grocery wagon, working in a box factory, and being a pattern-maker at the Armco mill.

Carl Weilman of the St. Louis Browns noticed his play (in which he led them to the Southern Ohio industrial league championship) and signed him to a contract.

Root pitched in relief for the final inning against the Detroit Tigers, striking out one while allowing no hits.

[4] Root made his first career start on July 4 for the second game of a double-header against the Chicago White Sox.

He lasted two innings while allowing two runs on five hits with one strikeout, receiving the loss as the White Sox prevailed 3–1.

[5] Root was traded after the 1923 season by manager George Sisler along Cedric Durst, Rasty Wright, and Josh Billings to the Los Angeles Angels in the Pacific Coast League for George Lyons and Tony Rego.

Root pitched a complete game while allowing one run on seven hits while having seven strikeouts and five walks as the Cubs rolled over the Cardinals 10–1.

Root's baseball nickname, "Chinski," was bestowed by his longtime teammate and manager, Charlie Grimm.

17 (for which he would wear for the remaining years of his career) returned to form in 1935, going 15–8 with a 3.08 ERA in 38 games and 2011⁄3 innings pitched.

On September 28, the Cubs played the Pittsburgh Pirates for possession of first place in the standings, trailing by half a game.

In six postseason starts spread out over nine years, Root pitched a total of 222⁄3 innings while allowing 26 hits, 18 runs with 15 strikeouts and six walks while losing three of the decisions and winning none.

He also provided a sound presence on the defensive side, recording a .976 fielding percentage, which was 15 points higher than the league average at that position.

[12] As quoted by Baseball Legends: The Charlie Root Story, by Joseph E. Bennett, Jan. 1995 Knight Templar magazine "Root was one of the fiercest competitors the game ever knew... his cigar-chomping, no-nonsense visage was one of the most intimidating tools in his baseball arsenal."

Root also had a long post-playing career as a manager in minor league baseball and pitching coach, serving in the latter role for the Cubs (1951–53; 1960) and Milwaukee Braves (1956–57).

Root, who had a Diamond-R Ranch of 1,000 acres in Paicines, California, became a cattle rancher who liked hunting and fishing.