Ken Hill (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Wade Hill is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. During a 14-year career, he pitched from 1988-2001 for seven different teams. He pitched in the 1995 World Series
as a member of the Cleveland Indians
. He also appeared in the 1994 All-Star Game
in Pittsburgh's
Three Rivers Stadium
.
in , had a good first start, and went downhill from that point. He finished that season with a 7-15 record and a decent 3.80 ERA. He wouldn't see a decent season until , going 11-10 with a 3.57 ERA. In November 1991, he was traded to the Montreal Expos
for first-baseman Andrés Galarraga
. It was as a member of these Expos that Hill found his groove.
In both and , Hill won 16 games, going 16-9 with a 2.68 ERA in 1991 and 16-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 1994. He was also an All-Star in 1994
, pitching 2 innings in relief and walking one batter, and finished second in Cy Young
voting to Greg Maddux
. Hill was brought back to the Cardinals, where he suffered the same fate he endured in his first tour of duty with the Cardinals, only winning 6 games, losing 7, and posting a 5.06 ERA. Hill was traded to the Cleveland Indians
for minor league
prospects David Bell
, Rick Heiserman
, and Pepe McNeal. He did well for the Indians, going 4-1 in the remainder of the regular season and 2-1 in the postseason.
He filed for free agency
in the 1995 postseason, being signed by the Texas Rangers
, tied for the team lead (along with Bobby Witt
) with 16 wins and led the Rangers to the postseason. It was in that Hill suffered an injury, sending him to the disabled list
greatly affecting the rest of his playing career. He also played for the Anaheim Angels
, traded in 1997 for Jim Leyritz
. He performed poorly over the next two years, going 13-17 and finally being relegated to the bullpen in . He was released in August , signed by the Chicago White Sox
, for whom he promptly gave up eight runs in three innings, and was then released two weeks later.
He accepted a non-roster invitation from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
in , and appeared in five games for them before being released.
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...
. During a 14-year career, he pitched from 1988-2001 for seven different teams. He pitched in the 1995 World Series
1995 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 21, 1995 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta ace Greg Maddux pitched a two-hit complete game victory in his first World Series appearance ....
as a member of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. He also appeared in the 1994 All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
in Pittsburgh's
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
.
Career highlights
Hill was called up by the injury-plagued St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in , had a good first start, and went downhill from that point. He finished that season with a 7-15 record and a decent 3.80 ERA. He wouldn't see a decent season until , going 11-10 with a 3.57 ERA. In November 1991, he was traded to the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
for first-baseman Andrés Galarraga
Andrés Galarraga
Andrés José Padovani Galarraga is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Montreal Expos , St. Louis Cardinals , Colorado Rockies , Atlanta Braves , Texas Rangers , San Francisco Giants and Anaheim Angels...
. It was as a member of these Expos that Hill found his groove.
In both and , Hill won 16 games, going 16-9 with a 2.68 ERA in 1991 and 16-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 1994. He was also an All-Star in 1994
1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 65th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
, pitching 2 innings in relief and walking one batter, and finished second in Cy Young
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
voting to Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan Maddux , nicknamed "Mad Dog" and "The Professor", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
. Hill was brought back to the Cardinals, where he suffered the same fate he endured in his first tour of duty with the Cardinals, only winning 6 games, losing 7, and posting a 5.06 ERA. Hill was traded to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
prospects David Bell
David Bell (baseball)
David Michael Bell is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who is currently the manager of the Triple-A Louisville Bats...
, Rick Heiserman
Rick Heiserman
Richard Michael "Rick" Heiserman is former Major League Baseball pitcher. Heiserman played for the St. Louis Cardinals in .-External links:...
, and Pepe McNeal. He did well for the Indians, going 4-1 in the remainder of the regular season and 2-1 in the postseason.
He filed for free agency
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in the 1995 postseason, being signed by 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...
, tied for the team lead (along with Bobby Witt
Bobby Witt
Robert Andrew Witt was a pitcher for the Major League Baseball Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Florida Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cleveland Indians, and Arizona Diamondbacks....
) with 16 wins and led the Rangers to the postseason. It was in that Hill suffered an injury, sending him to the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
greatly affecting the rest of his playing career. He also played for the Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, traded in 1997 for 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...
. He performed poorly over the next two years, going 13-17 and finally being relegated to the bullpen in . He was released in August , signed by 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...
, for whom he promptly gave up eight runs in three innings, and was then released two weeks later.
He accepted a non-roster invitation from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
in , and appeared in five games for them before being released.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions
- List of Texas Rangers Opening Day starting pitchers