While serving as the White Sox hitting coach, he died in 1984 in Key Colony Beach, Florida at the age of 50 after a long bout with cancer. Since his death, no White Sox player or coach (except Lau disciple Walt Hriniak, the Chisox' hitting coach from 1989 to 1995) has worn his number 6 jersey, although it has not been officially retired. The baseball field at Romulus Senior High School in his hometown and where he attended high school is named the Charley Lau Baseball Field.