Andy Hawkins
Encyclopedia
Melton Andrew "Andy" Hawkins (born January 21, 1960, in Waco, Texas
) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
.
A right-handed starter, Hawkins spent most of his career with the San Diego Padres
, and also played for the New York Yankees
and briefly for the Oakland Athletics
. He is currently the bullpen coach of the Texas Rangers
, having served as the interim pitching coach following the firing of previous pitching coach Mark Connor
during the 2008 season. Before being promoted as the interim coach, Hawkins was the pitching coach for the Oklahoma RedHawks
.
game. Hawkins earned a victory pitching in relief in Game 2 of the 1984 World Series
, which the Padres lost to Detroit
in five games. His best season was 1985, when he threw a career-high 228 2/3 innings, compiled an 18–8 record, (winning his first 10 starts) and finished with a 3.15 ERA. Hawkins is the only pitcher to win his first 10 starts since the advent of divisional play in Major League Baseball
which started in 1969. In 3 career starts at Fenway Park
, Hawkins managed a total of just one inning, giving up 18 earned runs in those starts.
for the Yankees against the Chicago White Sox
at Comiskey Park
but lost the game. Hawkins dominated the White Sox into the eighth inning, but after retiring the first two batters, Sammy Sosa
reached on a fielding error by Yankees third baseman Mike Blowers
. After Hawkins loaded the bases by walking the next two batters, Robin Ventura
lofted a fly ball to left field. Rookie Jim Leyritz
, fighting a blustery wind, had the ball glance off his glove for an error, allowing all three baserunners to score. The next batter, Ivan Calderón
, hit a fly ball to right field, which Jesse Barfield
lost in the sun and dropped for another error, allowing Ventura to score. The Yankees could not score in the ninth, giving Hawkins the loss despite not allowing a hit.
The 4–0 loss was the largest margin of a no-hitter loss in the 20th century, and Hawkins became the first Yankees pitcher to lose a no-hitter. On September 4, 1991 the Committee for Statistical Accuracy, appointed by Commissioner Fay Vincent
, changed the definition of a no-hitter to require that a pitcher throw at least nine full innings and a complete game. Since Hawkins played for the visiting team, the White Sox never batted in the ninth inning and Hawkins lost the credit for a no-hitter.
A high-priced free agent in the second year of a three-year deal, Hawkins struggled for a poor Yankees team in 1990. On May 8, with just one win and an ERA of 8.56, Hawkins was offered his outright release, which he accepted. But an injury that night to pitcher Mike Witt
changed his mind. Hawkins pitched much better in his next three starts, although he still had only a 1–4 record prior to the no-hitter.
In his next appearance, he faced the Minnesota Twins
at Yankee Stadium in the opening game of a doubleheader
. Hawkins pitched a shutout into the twelfth inning but wound up losing 2–0 – the last time a starting pitcher has pitched into the twelfth inning or later. In his following appearance, the Yankees lost a six-inning no-hitter to Mélido Pérez
and the White Sox.
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
) is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
.
A right-handed starter, Hawkins spent most of his career with the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, and also played for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and briefly for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. He is currently the bullpen coach of the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, having served as the interim pitching coach following the firing of previous pitching coach Mark Connor
Mark Connor
Mark Peter Connor is a former pitching coach for the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers. Before his coaching career, he was a minor league pitcher from 1971 through 1972 who batted and threw right-handed....
during the 2008 season. Before being promoted as the interim coach, Hawkins was the pitching coach for the Oklahoma RedHawks
Oklahoma RedHawks
The Oklahoma City RedHawks are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
.
Baseball career
He is known for being the first (and thus far, the only) San Diego Padres pitcher to win a World SeriesWorld Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
game. Hawkins earned a victory pitching in relief in Game 2 of the 1984 World Series
1984 World Series
The 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14, 1984. The American League champion Detroit Tigers played against the National League champion San Diego Padres, with the Tigers winning the series four games to one....
, which the Padres lost to Detroit
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in five games. His best season was 1985, when he threw a career-high 228 2/3 innings, compiled an 18–8 record, (winning his first 10 starts) and finished with a 3.15 ERA. Hawkins is the only pitcher to win his first 10 starts since the advent of divisional play in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
which started in 1969. In 3 career starts at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
, Hawkins managed a total of just one inning, giving up 18 earned runs in those starts.
No-hitter
On July 1, 1990, Hawkins pitched a no-hitterNo-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
for the Yankees against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
at Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
but lost the game. Hawkins dominated the White Sox into the eighth inning, but after retiring the first two batters, Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa
Samuel Peralta "Sammy" Sosa is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder. Sosa played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career which spanned from 1989-2007....
reached on a fielding error by Yankees third baseman Mike Blowers
Mike Blowers
Michael Roy Blowers is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and first baseman. He is an alumnus of Bethel High School in Spanaway, Washington, Tacoma Community College and the University of Washington...
. After Hawkins loaded the bases by walking the next two batters, Robin Ventura
Robin Ventura
Robin Mark Ventura is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox. He is a former professional baseball player, a third baseman who played for four major league teams, most notably for the Chicago White Sox...
lofted a fly ball to left field. Rookie Jim Leyritz
Jim Leyritz
James Joseph Leyritz is a former catcher and infielder in Major League Baseball.-Early years:Leyritz attended Turpin High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, Middle Georgia Jr...
, fighting a blustery wind, had the ball glance off his glove for an error, allowing all three baserunners to score. The next batter, Ivan Calderón
Ivan Calderón (baseball player)
Iván Calderón Pérez , born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball player from 1984 to 1993, and was named an All-Star in 1991. He was murdered in a bar in Loiza, Puerto Rico. Shot seven times in the back and head, he died instantly...
, hit a fly ball to right field, which Jesse Barfield
Jesse Barfield
Jesse Lee Barfield is a former Major League Baseball right fielder who played for the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed. He lived in Tenafly, a suburb of New York City.Barfield was well known for his powerful, accurate throwing arm...
lost in the sun and dropped for another error, allowing Ventura to score. The Yankees could not score in the ninth, giving Hawkins the loss despite not allowing a hit.
The 4–0 loss was the largest margin of a no-hitter loss in the 20th century, and Hawkins became the first Yankees pitcher to lose a no-hitter. On September 4, 1991 the Committee for Statistical Accuracy, appointed by Commissioner Fay Vincent
Fay Vincent
Francis Thomas "Fay" Vincent, Jr. is a former entertainment lawyer and sports executive who served as the eighth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from September 13, 1989 to September 7, 1992.-Early life and career:...
, changed the definition of a no-hitter to require that a pitcher throw at least nine full innings and a complete game. Since Hawkins played for the visiting team, the White Sox never batted in the ninth inning and Hawkins lost the credit for a no-hitter.
A high-priced free agent in the second year of a three-year deal, Hawkins struggled for a poor Yankees team in 1990. On May 8, with just one win and an ERA of 8.56, Hawkins was offered his outright release, which he accepted. But an injury that night to pitcher Mike Witt
Mike Witt
Michael Atwater "Mike" Witt is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.At just twenty years of age, Witt made his major league debut with the California Angels in 1981. Standing 6 feet, 7 inches tall and possessing a great curveball as well as a good fastball, Witt's breakout season came in...
changed his mind. Hawkins pitched much better in his next three starts, although he still had only a 1–4 record prior to the no-hitter.
In his next appearance, he faced the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
at Yankee Stadium in the opening game of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
. Hawkins pitched a shutout into the twelfth inning but wound up losing 2–0 – the last time a starting pitcher has pitched into the twelfth inning or later. In his following appearance, the Yankees lost a six-inning no-hitter to Mélido Pérez
Melido Pérez
Mélido Turpen Gross Pérez , is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher from through for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees. He made his major league debut for the Kansas City Royals on September 4, 1987. In that game, Pérez pitched seven innings of shutout...
and the White Sox.