This summer, Charlie Hesseltine of the Meriden Expos is playing out the final chapter of his twilight journey. The all-Meriden southpaw has been pitching winning ball for the same Expos franchise (Record-Journal, Procare, Merchants) since 2003.
Hesseltine came out of Maloney High School as the real deal. He achieved All-State honors in 2002 and 2003 and became the only player from Connecticut taken in the entire 2003 MLB Draft. While the Texas Rangers picked Hesseltine in the 42nd round, Charlie decided to enroll at Pensacola Junior College and develop his skillset year-round in Florida.
Then life threw a nasty curveball. During the first few weeks of the 2004 season, Hesseltine tore his ulnar collateral ligament. He underwent successful Tommy John surgery on his elbow by the famous surgeon, Dr. James Andrews. This kind of setback ends careers before they start, but not Charlie.
He came home in the summer of 2005 and rejoined Meriden. What began as rehab turned into one of the most dominating GHTBL careers in recent decades. When he attained full health again, Hesseltine signed to pitch in the Atlantic League. His pro-run included four teams in three years, ending with the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2008.
However, the GHTBL became his true home. Hesseltine’s been the ace, manager, and general manager of the Expos. He’s won three Season Titles and three Playoff Championships. Since 2015, he leads all twilight pitchers in several categories with 410 innings, 33 complete games, 11 shutouts and 437 strikeouts. His durability and reliability has been matched by few.
By day, Hesseltine is a union carpenter and has worked as a pitching instructor at Home Run USA in Cheshire. He and his wife Karla reside in Hamden, with their son Charles (Little Charlie), who has witnessed his dad toe the rubber many times. Now 41 years old, Hesseltine has relayed to league officials that 2026 will be his last summer on the mound; one final season representing Meriden baseball.
So here’s to Chuck’s farewell tour. He went from prospect, to professional, to local legend. He chose to stay in the game, and it looked like he would never stop. The sheer amount of pitches he has thrown seems to defy biological norms. Yet, despite pain and injury, his time on the mound has been built on hardnose pitching, loyalty to team and inspiring longevity.
Tip your cap, Twilight League. One of the great ones is taking his final lap.