Ken Hamlin (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Lee Hamlin is an American
former Major League Baseball
shortstop
/second baseman
. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates
as an amateur free agent on June 3, 1957 and played for the Pirates (1957, 1959), Kansas City Athletics (1960), Los Angeles Angels (1961), and Washington Senators
(1962, 1965-66).
Hamlin made his major league debut for the Pirates two weeks after he signed with them, but only played in five games for them in his two short stays there. He was traded to the Kansas City A's as part of a multi-player deal on December 9, 1959.
He was a good fielder but not strong with the bat. Playing on weaker teams like the A's, Angels, and Senators, Hamlin had the opportunity to start more games than he would have had he been on teams with stronger rosters. He was in the starting lineup in 366 of the 468 major league games he played in. He received most of his playing time with the 1960 A's (58-96), 1962 Senators (60-101), and 1965 Senators (70-92).
Career totals include 323 hits
, 11 home runs, 89 runs batted in, 372 runs scored
, a .241 batting average
, a .304 on base percentage
, and a slugging percentage of .311. His lifetime fielding percentage
was .963, which was right around the league average during his era.
Career highlights include:
In his retirement years, Hamlin founded and ran Tall Timbers, a sports camp with a baseball emphasis, in Climax, Michigan
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
/second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
as an amateur free agent on June 3, 1957 and played for the Pirates (1957, 1959), Kansas City Athletics (1960), Los Angeles Angels (1961), and Washington Senators
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...
(1962, 1965-66).
Hamlin made his major league debut for the Pirates two weeks after he signed with them, but only played in five games for them in his two short stays there. He was traded to the Kansas City A's as part of a multi-player deal on December 9, 1959.
He was a good fielder but not strong with the bat. Playing on weaker teams like the A's, Angels, and Senators, Hamlin had the opportunity to start more games than he would have had he been on teams with stronger rosters. He was in the starting lineup in 366 of the 468 major league games he played in. He received most of his playing time with the 1960 A's (58-96), 1962 Senators (60-101), and 1965 Senators (70-92).
Career totals include 323 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 11 home runs, 89 runs batted in, 372 runs scored
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...
, a .241 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 :...
, a .304 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
, and a slugging percentage of .311. His lifetime fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
was .963, which was right around the league average during his era.
Career highlights include:
- hit two home runs with four RBI vs. the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe 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...
(July 19, 1965) - one 5-RBI game...including a grand slamGrand slam (baseball)In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
and a run-scoring doubleDouble (baseball)In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
vs. the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(July 27, 1962 - game 2) - two 4-hit games...4 singlesSingle (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...
vs. the Washington SenatorsMinnesota TwinsThe 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...
(August 9, 1960 - game 2) and two singles and two doubles vs. the Detroit Tigers (July 2, 1965) - seventeen 3-hit games
In his retirement years, Hamlin founded and ran Tall Timbers, a sports camp with a baseball emphasis, in Climax, Michigan
Climax, Michigan
Climax is a village in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 791 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Climax Township on the northern boundary with Charleston Township, and is roughly west of Battle Creek and east of Kalamazoo...
.