After completing high school, Estrada was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent on September 27, 1956. Prior to the start of the 1958 season, Estrada was sent from the Braves to the Baltimore Orioles in an unknown transaction.\n', '

Chuck made his major league debut with the Orioles two seasons later, on April 21, 1960, in front of a crowd of 9,377 at Memorial Stadium. Estrada came in relief for starting pitcher Steve Barber in the 5th inning, and pitched two innings of one-hit ball with five strikeouts. Estrada spent the beginning of the 1960 season coming in relief, but he later joined the young Orioles starting pitching rotation, which also featured Steve Barber, Milt Pappas, Jerry Walker and Jack Fisher. \n', '

Estrada\'s rookie season was perhaps the best season of his career. He pitched in a total of thirty-six games, and started twenty-five of them. He tied with Jim Perry for the American League lead with 18 wins that season. Only four other pitchers since 1900 had led their respective league without winning more than twenty games in the season. Estrada also was on top of the American League in hits allowed per nine innings, and finished with a twelve complete games, 144 strikeouts and a 3.58 earned run average. The All-Star Estrada finished second in the 1960 Rookie of the Year voting, falling distantly behind Orioles teammate Ron Hansen. He placed 12th in the American League Most Valuable Player Award voting, but he did win the year\'s TSN Pitcher of the Year Award. Estrada also was on the Topps All-Star Rookie Roster under the category of right-handed pitcher.\n', '

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