Charlie Deal was working as a fitter for an electric company and playing baseball for semipro clubs in the Pittsburgh area. He was spotted by a scout for the Philadelphia Phillies, who signed him and he was assigned to Lancaster of the Class B Tri-State League, where he was to receive only one-half the stipulated salary.

He protested and carried his case to the National Commission, which made him a free agent. He then joined the Bay City club in the Southern Michigan League. After a month he was sold to the Jackson club of the same league where he hit .370 and was purchased by the Detroit Tigers.

Deal made his major-league debut with the Tigers in July 1912. He was raved about as a fielder but did not hit well enough to stick with the Tigers. In June 1913, they released him to Providence of the International League. There he hit .312 and in September was acquired by the Boston Braves in the post-season draft.

In 1914 Deal would open the season as the Braves’ regular third baseman. However, he did not hit well and would be benched in favor of Red Smith, who the Braves had acquired from the Brooklyn Robins in August.

On the final day of the regular season, Smith broke his leg, and Charlie was pressed into service as the third sacker in the World Series against the Philadelphia Athletics. During the Series, he made only two hits in 16 times at bat, but by his daring base running the Braves did help score a decisive tally in the second game.

When he died in 1979, Charlie Deal was the last surviving member of the 1914 "Miracle" Braves.