Former Major League All-Star Chuck Knoblauch was arrested Wednesday night in Houston, Texas on charges of assaulting his ex-wife, Cheri Knoblauch.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Chuck & Cheri Knoblauch Divorced in 2012
Cops say the former Twins and Yankees second baseman barged into Cheri’s house intoxicated while she was putting their child to sleep and starting beating her up. He hit and choked her in front of his own sister who happened to be there at the time, cops said. The couple divorced back in 2012 after getting married in 2011.
Knoblauch, a four-time All-Star and four-time World Series champ, was charged with assault on a family member and interfering with police duties.
According to the police report:
Knoblauch assaulted his wife, leaving a large bruise on her arm, a larger scratch on the left side of her face and a knot on her forehead.
Knoblauch’s wife, Cheri, told police her husband was upset she slept next to her child in another bedroom rather than next to him. He allegedly grabbed her and smashed her head against a wall before throwing a humidifier at her.
Cheri ran to her sister-in-law, who was at home with them, for help but that allegedly didn’t stop Knoblauch. Instead, he allegedly hit her in the arm and chest and continued screaming at her.
Knoblauch’s sister took Cheri back to her home, where they called police.
2. Knoblauch Was Also Accused of Assaulting His First Wife
This is not the first time Knoblauch has been arrested with charges for domestic abuse. His first wife, Stacey Stelmach whom he was married to through common-law marriage, called the police after the ex-baseball player assaulted her back in 2009 when she took away his keys to keep him from drunk driving. At the time, they were in the middle of getting divorced.
3. The Twins Revoked Knoblauch’s Induction Into the Team’s Hall of Fame
Knoblauch was a three-time All Star and had a wildly successful career with the Minnesota Twins before transferring to the New York Yankees. He retired in 2002 after 11 years in the major leagues. After his second offense, the Twins decided to revoke his induction into the team’s Hall of Fame scheduled for late August.
The Twins’ statement read:
In light of recent news reports surrounding Chuck Knoblauch, as well as direct communication with the former Twins second baseman, the Minnesota Twins have decided to cancel the team’s 2014 Hall of Fame induction ceremony scheduled for August 23 at Target Field. In January of this year, Knoblauch was elected by a 62-member committee consisting of local and national media, club officials, fans and past elected members, using rules similar to those necessary for election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
4. Knoblauch Has Admitted to Using Performance Enhancers
In the 2007 Mitchell report Knoblauch was 1 of 80 accused of using performance enhancement drugs during the era of steroids and later admitted to it.
5. Chuck & Cheri Knoblauch Have a Child Together
Cheri and Chuck had a girl, Charleigh together before getting divorced in 2012.