Senior Directory (SD): What was your childhood like growing up in the Pittsburgh area?

Charlie Batch (CB): Actually it was great! I grew up in Homestead, born and raised, and all my family were born and raised there. So to be able to grow up there and see steel mills all around, and seeing all of that while growing up, but for me it was just trying to play as many sports as possible. My mom did a phenomenal job of making sure that we had everything that we needed, to be able to go out there and be kids.

SD: Who was your role model growing up?

CB: Actually my role model growing up was my mother - she was mother, my father and my hero. Seeing some of the struggles she had, she never complained about anything while working two jobs to provide for me and my two other siblings, it was really impressive.

SD: What has kept you in Pittsburgh all these years?

CB: (Laughs) Well I cant say all these years, I did leave when I was 17 and went to Eastern Michigan, and then was drafted by the Detroit Lions and spent close to 10 years in Detroit. And then I came back home, and at that point I wasn’t sure how long I was going to be in Pittsburgh, and then 1 year turns into 2 years, and 2 turns into 5 and now I’ve been here 13 years. When you get a chance to not only do something you’ve dreamed about doing, which is playing for the Steelers, and then having the opportunity to be around your family while doing it, that truly is a blessing. 

Interview by Peter Gietl and Alex Milzer with Senior Directory, LLC