Hank Small (baseball)
Encyclopedia
George Henry Small was a first baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played briefly for the Atlanta Braves
during the season. Listed at 6' 3", 205 lb., Small batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia
.
, where he hit 48 career home run
s from 1972 through 1975 to set a USC record that stood for more than three decades until Justin Smoak
hit 62 in 2008. In the nine-year period leading to his first season, USC hit 42 home runs. Small hit six more than that the next four years himself.
In 1972 Small hit for a .379 batting average
with four home runs as a freshman, then slumped to .282 with eight homers as a sophomore in 1973. After aluminium bats were allowed in 1974, he raised his average to .360 and belted a USC record 17 home runs in his junior season, garnering a second-team All-America
n selection.
In April 1974, USC hosted an exhibition game at Sarge Frye Field between the New York Yankees
and New York Mets
. Prior to the game, a home run hitting contest included Thurman Munson
of the Yankees, Duffy Dyer
of the Mets and Small, who won with a decisive home run over the left field fence.
Then, as a senior in 1975, Small batted .390 and broke his record with 19 home runs. Besides Small, the USC team featured future major league players as Garry Hancock
, Greg Keatley
, Ed Lynch and Jim Pankovits
. USC finished second at the College World Series
that year, and he earned first-team All-America honors. USC lost the championship game to University of Texas
, 5–1, with Small’s homer accounting for the only run.
by the Atlanta Braves. He was assigned to Class-A Greenwood Braves
but advanced quickly through the minor league system, gaining promotions to Double-A Savannah
(1976-'77) and Triple-A Richmond
(1977-'78). In 1978 he led the International League
with 25 home runs and 101 runs batted in, while hitting a .289 average and making the All-Star team. He earned a late-season call-up to the majors and played in one game for Atlanta on September 27. He went hitless in four at-bats in his only big-league game.
Small hit .220 with six home runs and 35 RBI for Rochester in 1979, his last professional season. In five minor league seasons, he posted a collective average of .267 (480-for-1954) in 514 games, including 53 homers and 237 RBI while scoring
170 times.
Following his baseball career, Small worked in the insurance industry for a long time and later worked for a groundskeeping company that maintained baseball diamonds.
Small died at age 56 as a result of a fall, while moving into his new home in Griffin, Georgia
.
(433), eight in slugging percentage (.626), ninth in hits (245), and tenth in batting average (.354) and for singles
(156).
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
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...
who played briefly for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
during the season. Listed at 6' 3", 205 lb., Small batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
College career
Small attended University of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, where he hit 48 career home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s from 1972 through 1975 to set a USC record that stood for more than three decades until Justin Smoak
Justin Smoak
Justin Kyle Smoak is an American Major League Baseball first baseman for the Seattle Mariners.-High school career:...
hit 62 in 2008. In the nine-year period leading to his first season, USC hit 42 home runs. Small hit six more than that the next four years himself.
In 1972 Small hit for a .379 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with four home runs as a freshman, then slumped to .282 with eight homers as a sophomore in 1973. After aluminium bats were allowed in 1974, he raised his average to .360 and belted a USC record 17 home runs in his junior season, garnering a second-team All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n selection.
In April 1974, USC hosted an exhibition game at Sarge Frye Field between 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 New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. Prior to the game, a home run hitting contest included Thurman Munson
Thurman Munson
Thurman Lee Munson was an American Major League Baseball catcher. He played his entire 11-year career for the New York Yankees...
of the Yankees, Duffy Dyer
Duffy Dyer
Donald Robert "Duffy" Dyer is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the New York Mets , Pittsburgh Pirates , Montreal Expos , and Detroit Tigers .-Playing career:Dyer played alongside Sal Bando and Rick Monday as a member of...
of the Mets and Small, who won with a decisive home run over the left field fence.
Then, as a senior in 1975, Small batted .390 and broke his record with 19 home runs. Besides Small, the USC team featured future major league players as Garry Hancock
Garry Hancock
Ronald Garry Hancock is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Draft:He was born in in Tampa, Florida. Upon graduation from Brandon High School in Brandon, Florida, Hancock was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 22nd round of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft, but chose instead to play...
, Greg Keatley
Greg Keatley
Gregory Steven Keatley is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for one season. He played in two games for the Kansas City Royals during the 1981 Kansas City Royals season.-External links:...
, Ed Lynch and Jim Pankovits
Jim Pankovits
James Franklin Pankovits was a Major League Baseball player with the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox from to . Pankovits was used primarily as a pinch hitter and occasional second baseman. In one instance, he even caught an inning of a game . In his career, he hit .250 with 9 home runs and 55...
. USC finished second at the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
that year, and he earned first-team All-America honors. USC lost the championship game to University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, 5–1, with Small’s homer accounting for the only run.
Professional career
Small was selected in the fourth round of the 1975 Major League Baseball Draft1975 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1975 Major League Baseball draft..Many baseball draft experts consider the 1975 draft to be the weakest in MLB history.- External links :*- References :...
by the Atlanta Braves. He was assigned to Class-A Greenwood Braves
Greenwood Braves
The Greenwood Braves were a minor league baseball team located in Greenwood, South Carolina that existed from 1968 to 1979. Affiliated with the Atlanta Braves, they were part of the Western Carolinas League. Notable alumni include Rafael Ramirez, Joe Cowley, Steve Bedrosian, Jose Alvarez, Gerald...
but advanced quickly through the minor league system, gaining promotions to Double-A Savannah
Savannah Braves
The Savannah Braves, were a baseball team that existed from 1971 to 1983 in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Affiliated with the Atlanta Braves, they played in the Southern League and played their home games at Grayson Stadium...
(1976-'77) and Triple-A Richmond
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
(1977-'78). In 1978 he led the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
with 25 home runs and 101 runs batted in, while hitting a .289 average and making the All-Star team. He earned a late-season call-up to the majors and played in one game for Atlanta on September 27. He went hitless in four at-bats in his only big-league game.
Small hit .220 with six home runs and 35 RBI for Rochester in 1979, his last professional season. In five minor league seasons, he posted a collective average of .267 (480-for-1954) in 514 games, including 53 homers and 237 RBI while scoring
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
170 times.
Following his baseball career, Small worked in the insurance industry for a long time and later worked for a groundskeeping company that maintained baseball diamonds.
Small died at age 56 as a result of a fall, while moving into his new home in Griffin, Georgia
Griffin, Georgia
Griffin is a city in and the county seat of Spalding County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 23,643.-Geography:Griffin is located at ....
.
USC Honors
Small was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991. His name still sits in the record books in several categories among the top 10 career leaders in USC history. He ranks second in the all-time list in home runs (48), fifth in runs batted (184), sixth in total basesTotal bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
(433), eight in slugging percentage (.626), ninth in hits (245), and tenth in batting average (.354) and for singles
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
(156).