Charles Richard Bates (born October 7, 1945) is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher.

He graduated from McArthur (OH) High School now Vinton County High School and was signed by the Kansas City Athletics as an undrafted free agent before the 1964 season.

[1] Bates' major league tenure consisted of one relief appearance for the expansion Pilots, against the Oakland Athletics (April 27, 1969 at Sick's Stadium).

[2] Bates allowed six baserunners (three hits, three walks) and five earned runs along with three strikeouts in 1+2⁄3 innings, and ended up with a 27.00 ERA.

This biographical article relating to an American baseball pitcher born in the 1940s is a stub.