Randy Hundley
Encyclopedia
Cecil Randolph "Randy" Hundley Jr. (born June 1, 1942 in Martinsville, Virginia
) is a former American
professional
baseball
player and coach
. He played in Major League Baseball
as a catcher
for the San Francisco Giants
(1964
-1965
), Chicago Cubs
(1966
-1973
, 1976
-1977
), Minnesota Twins
(1974
), and the San Diego Padres
(1975
). Hundley played the majority of his career with the Cubs and was considered their leader in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Despite being a light-hitter, Hundley was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era and, the best Cubs' catcher since Gabby Hartnett
in .
in 1960
for the sum of $140,000. While playing for the Double-A
El Paso Sun Kings in , he posted a .325 batting average
with 23 home run
s and 81 runs batted in. Hundley made his major league debut with the Giants on September 27, 1964
. He returned to the minor leagues in 1965
, playing for the Tacoma Giants
of the Pacific Coast League
although, he was called back to the major leagues briefly in June when regular Giants catcher Tom Haller
was injured. In December , he was traded to the Chicago Cubs along with future 20-game winner Bill Hands
in exchange for Lindy McDaniel
and Don Landrum
, as part of first-year manager
Leo Durocher
's rebuilding effort.
Durocher installed the 24 year old Hundley as the Cubs' starting catcher and he went on to play in 149 games in 1966
, breaking Mickey Cochrane
's 41 year old major league record for most games played by a rookie catcher. He also hit for the cycle
on August 11, , in a 9-8, 11 inning victory against the Houston Astros
and set a major league record for most home runs by a rookie catcher with 19. Hundley led National League
catchers in assists
and finished the season ranked fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
Hundley continued to shoulder a heavy workload in 1967
, playing in 152games and committing just four errors to set a National League record for fewest errors in a season. He led National League catchers in putout
s and won the National League Gold Glove Award
for catchers as the Cubs improved from a last place finish in to finish in third place. Hundley was the first catcher to begin using a new hinged catcher's mitt that permitted a one-handed catching style, protecting his throwing hand. He became a stalwart for the Cubs, setting a record in 1968
with 160 games behind the plate (147 complete) as the Cubs again finished the season in third place.
The Cubs began the 1969
season by winning 11 of their first 12 games and held first place from the first day of the season. By late June, Hundley's batting average was above .300 along with 11 home runs earning him a spot as a reserve for the National League team in the 1969 All-Star Game
. The entire Chicago Cubs infield
joined Hundley on the National League team with third baseman
Ron Santo
and shortstop
Don Kessinger
making the team as starting players.
By August 16, the Cubs were nine games ahead of the second place New York Mets
and appeared to be on their way to winning the National League Eastern Division title. However, as the season entered its final month, the Cubs would suffer an eight-game losing streak while the Mets countered with a ten-game winning streak. After 155 days in first place, the Cubs dropped to second place as the Mets went on to clinch the division title and eventually won the world championship
. Hundley ended the year with a .255 batting average with 18 home runs and 64 runs batted in. He led National League catchers in assists and in games played becoming the first player to catch 150 games for three consecutive years (1967–1969). In his book, The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
, baseball historian Bill James
cited manager Durocher's method of using his regular players everyday without any rest days as a factor in the Cubs' 1969 collapse.
Hundley's heavy workload began to take its toll on his body. He missed the first four games of the 1970
season when he suffered a chip fracture in his left thumb during a tag play at home plate
. Worse was to come on April 21, when he suffered a severely sprained left knee during a collision at home plate with the Cardinals' Carl Taylor. The injury forced him to miss three months of the season and he ended the year having appeared in only 73 games.
Hundley once again missed the opening day game of the 1971
season with an ailing knee. He made his first appearance of the season as a pinch hitter
in the ninth inning of a game on April 12, and collapsed after hitting a fly ball to center field. Hundley returned to play on May 11 but, after only eight games, he had to undergo knee surgery and missed the rest of the season.
Hundley returned to play in 114 games for the Cubs in 1972
and led National League catchers with a .995 fielding percentage
. However, his damaged knee forced him to favor one side which caused his throws to be off mark. His heavy workload had exacted a price and he was never the same player after his knee injuries. After being traded by the Cubs, he played for the Twins, Padres, and then returned to play for the Cubs in 1976
. In 1977
, new Cubs manager Herman Franks
named Hundley as his bullpen
coach
. He was activated late in the season and appeared in two games before retiring at the age of 35.
, accumulating 813 hits
in 3,442 at bats for a .236 career batting average along with 82 home runs, 381 runs batted in and a .292 on base percentage. He ended his career with a .990 fielding percentage.
While Hundley was a light hitter, he was valued for his defensive skills and for the way he handled the pitching staff. Cubs' relief pitcher
Phil Regan said of Hundley in 1972
,"He's not only our catcher, he's our leader." He was one of the few catchers to steal home
, doing so on May 19, 1966
against Gary Kroll
of the Houston Astros
after tripling
off Turk Farrell
. Hundley caught two no-hitter
s in 1972
; Burt Hooton
on April 16 and Milt Pappas
on September 2. He is one of a handful of men to catch two no-hitters in one season.
in 1979.
After leaving the playing field, Hundley originated the idea of baseball fantasy camps, and since the early 1980s, has operated them to the delight of many a middle aged fan/camper and also to the former pro players who return to the uniform to help coach the teams. For years, Hundley operated camps for many major league teams but now concentrates on the Chicago Cubs. His son Todd Hundley
, was also a catcher, playing in the major leagues for 15 years.
Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
) is a former American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. He played 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...
as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1964
1964 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants were a fourth-place team, as a result of their 90-72 record, placing them three games behind the National League and World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.- Offseason :...
-1965
1965 San Francisco Giants season
- Offseason :* Prior to 1965 season: Merritt Ranew was acquired by the Giants from the Milwaukee Braves.- Regular season :- Opening Day lineup :*Jesús Alou*Tom Haller*Jim Ray Hart*Harvey Kuenn*Hal Lanier*Juan Marichal*Willie Mays*Willie McCovey...
), Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1966
1966 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was the 94th in franchise history. One of the defining trades in Cubs history occurred on April 21, when the Cubs acquired future Cy Young Award winner Ferguson Jenkins in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies.- Offseason :...
-1973
1973 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 27, 1972: Elrod Hendricks was traded by the Cubs to the Baltimore Orioles for Frank Estrada.- Regular season :Of note is that 1973 is the only season between 1945 and 1984 in which the Cubs were still in contention on the last day of the regular season, September 30...
, 1976
1976 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 28, 1975: Don Kessinger was traded by the Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals for Mike Garman and a player to be named later. The Cardinals completed the deal by sending Bobby Hrapmann to the Cubs on April 5, 1976....
-1977
1977 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was a season in American baseball. The Cubs finished fourth in the National League East with a record of 81-81, 20 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.- Offseason :...
), 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...
(1974
1974 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins finished 82-80, third in the American League West.- Offseason :* October 14, 1973: Joe Keough was purchased by the Twins from the Chicago White Sox....
), and 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...
(1975
1975 San Diego Padres season
The 1975 San Diego Padres season was the 7th in franchise history. It was the first season in which the Padres did not finish in the National League West cellar , and brought the promise of an owner who would make the necessary changes to the organization.- Offseason :* October 3, 1974: Horace...
). Hundley played the majority of his career with the Cubs and was considered their leader in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Despite being a light-hitter, Hundley was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era and, the best Cubs' catcher since Gabby Hartnett
Gabby Hartnett
Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played almost his entire career in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago Cubs. Until the career of Johnny Bench, Hartnett was considered the greatest catcher in the history of the National League...
in .
Baseball career
Hundley was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agentFree 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 1960
1960 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants season involved the team moving their home games from Seals Stadium to the new Candlestick Park. In their third season in the Golden Gate City, the Giants finished in fifth place in the National League, 16 games behind the World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates.- Offseason :*...
for the sum of $140,000. While playing for the Double-A
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...
El Paso Sun Kings in , he posted a .325 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 23 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 and 81 runs batted in. Hundley made his major league debut with the Giants on September 27, 1964
1964 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants were a fourth-place team, as a result of their 90-72 record, placing them three games behind the National League and World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.- Offseason :...
. He returned to the minor leagues in 1965
1965 San Francisco Giants season
- Offseason :* Prior to 1965 season: Merritt Ranew was acquired by the Giants from the Milwaukee Braves.- Regular season :- Opening Day lineup :*Jesús Alou*Tom Haller*Jim Ray Hart*Harvey Kuenn*Hal Lanier*Juan Marichal*Willie Mays*Willie McCovey...
, playing for the Tacoma Giants
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
although, he was called back to the major leagues briefly in June when regular Giants catcher Tom Haller
Tom Haller
Thomas Frank Haller was an American professional baseball player and baseball executive. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers...
was injured. In December , he was traded to the Chicago Cubs along with future 20-game winner Bill Hands
Bill Hands
William Alfred "Bill" Hands, Jr. , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the major leagues from 1965-1975. Hands' best season came in 1969 with the Chicago Cubs, when he won 20 games....
in exchange for Lindy McDaniel
Lindy McDaniel
Lyndall Dale McDaniel, known as Lindy is a right-handed former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a 21-year career from 1955 to 1975. During McDaniel's career he witnessed approximately 3,500 major league games , had more than 300 teammates, and played under eight different managers...
and Don Landrum
Don Landrum
Donald Leroy Landrum was an American professional baseball player, an outfielder in the Major Leagues from to for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies. Born in Santa Rosa, California, Landrum attended Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, California...
, as part of first-year manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
's rebuilding effort.
Durocher installed the 24 year old Hundley as the Cubs' starting catcher and he went on to play in 149 games in 1966
1966 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was the 94th in franchise history. One of the defining trades in Cubs history occurred on April 21, when the Cubs acquired future Cy Young Award winner Ferguson Jenkins in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies.- Offseason :...
, breaking Mickey Cochrane
Mickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
's 41 year old major league record for most games played by a rookie catcher. He also hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
on August 11, , in a 9-8, 11 inning victory against the Houston Astros
1966 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros season was a season in American baseball. The team finished eighth in the National League with a record of 72-90, 23 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.- Offseason :* November 29, 1965: 1965 rule 5 draft...
and set a major league record for most home runs by a rookie catcher with 19. Hundley led National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
catchers in assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and finished the season ranked fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
Hundley continued to shoulder a heavy workload in 1967
1967 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season saw the 87-74 team finish in third place, fourteen games behind the National League and World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.- Offseason :* October 18, 1966: Joey Amalfitano was released by the Cubs....
, playing in 152games and committing just four errors to set a National League record for fewest errors in a season. He led National League catchers in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s and won the National League Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
for catchers as the Cubs improved from a last place finish in to finish in third place. Hundley was the first catcher to begin using a new hinged catcher's mitt that permitted a one-handed catching style, protecting his throwing hand. He became a stalwart for the Cubs, setting a record in 1968
1968 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* November 28, 1967: Ramón Hernández was drafted by the Cubs from the Atlanta Braves in the 1967 rule 5 draft.* November 30, 1967: Paul Popovich and Jim Williams were traded by the Cubs to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Lou Johnson....
with 160 games behind the plate (147 complete) as the Cubs again finished the season in third place.
The Cubs began the 1969
1969 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season involved the Cubs finishing as "the most celebrated second-place team in the history of baseball.". In the first season after the National League was split into two divisions, the Cubs finished with a record of 92-70, 8 games behind the New York Mets in the...
season by winning 11 of their first 12 games and held first place from the first day of the season. By late June, Hundley's batting average was above .300 along with 11 home runs earning him a spot as a reserve for the National League team in the 1969 All-Star Game
1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 40th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 23, 1969 at RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington, DC. The game resulted...
. The entire Chicago Cubs infield
Infield
Infield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on the sport in which it is used.- In baseball :In baseball the baseball diamond plus a region beyond it , has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered outfield...
joined Hundley on the National League team with third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Ron Santo
Ron Santo
Ronald Edward Santo was an American professional baseball player and long-time radio sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball from 1960 to 1974, most notably as the third baseman for the Chicago Cubs. A nine-time All-Star, he was a powerful hitter who was also a good defensive...
and 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...
Don Kessinger
Don Kessinger
Donald Eulon Kessinger is a former American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from to for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox...
making the team as starting players.
By August 16, the Cubs were nine games ahead of the second place New York Mets
1969 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the eighth season for the Mets franchise, which played its home games at Shea Stadium. Managed by Gil Hodges, the team went 100-62, finishing first in the newly-established National League East by eight games over the Chicago Cubs...
and appeared to be on their way to winning the National League Eastern Division title. However, as the season entered its final month, the Cubs would suffer an eight-game losing streak while the Mets countered with a ten-game winning streak. After 155 days in first place, the Cubs dropped to second place as the Mets went on to clinch the division title and eventually won the world championship
1969 World Series
The 1969 World Series was played between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, with the Mets prevailing in five games to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles squad was considered to be one of the finest ever...
. Hundley ended the year with a .255 batting average with 18 home runs and 64 runs batted in. He led National League catchers in assists and in games played becoming the first player to catch 150 games for three consecutive years (1967–1969). In his book, The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract is a reference-type book written by Bill James featuring an overview of baseball decade by decade, along with rankings of the top 100 players at each position. The original edition was published in 1985 by Villard Books, followed by The New Bill James...
, baseball historian Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
cited manager Durocher's method of using his regular players everyday without any rest days as a factor in the Cubs' 1969 collapse.
Hundley's heavy workload began to take its toll on his body. He missed the first four games of the 1970
1970 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* November 17, 1969: Oscar Gamble and Dick Selma were traded by the Cubs to the Philadelphia Phillies for Johnny Callison and a player to be named later...
season when he suffered a chip fracture in his left thumb during a tag play at home plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
. Worse was to come on April 21, when he suffered a severely sprained left knee during a collision at home plate with the Cardinals' Carl Taylor. The injury forced him to miss three months of the season and he ended the year having appeared in only 73 games.
Hundley once again missed the opening day game of the 1971
1971 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* November 30, 1970: Hoyt Wilhelm was traded by the Cubs to the Atlanta Braves for Hal Breeden.* December 3, 1970: Phil Gagliano was traded by the Cubs to the Boston Red Sox for Carmen Fanzone.- Notable transactions :...
season with an ailing knee. He made his first appearance of the season as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
in the ninth inning of a game on April 12, and collapsed after hitting a fly ball to center field. Hundley returned to play on May 11 but, after only eight games, he had to undergo knee surgery and missed the rest of the season.
Hundley returned to play in 114 games for the Cubs in 1972
1972 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* November 29, 1971: Ken Holtzman was traded by the Cubs to the Oakland Athletics for Rick Monday.* December 1, 1971: Ernie Banks was released by the Cubs....
and led National League catchers with a .995 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...
. However, his damaged knee forced him to favor one side which caused his throws to be off mark. His heavy workload had exacted a price and he was never the same player after his knee injuries. After being traded by the Cubs, he played for the Twins, Padres, and then returned to play for the Cubs in 1976
1976 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 28, 1975: Don Kessinger was traded by the Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals for Mike Garman and a player to be named later. The Cardinals completed the deal by sending Bobby Hrapmann to the Cubs on April 5, 1976....
. In 1977
1977 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was a season in American baseball. The Cubs finished fourth in the National League East with a record of 81-81, 20 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.- Offseason :...
, new Cubs manager Herman Franks
Herman Franks
Herman Louis Franks was a catcher, coach, manager, general manager and scout in American Major League Baseball. He was born in Price, Utah.-Catcher with Cardinals, Dodgers and A's:...
named Hundley as his bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. He was activated late in the season and appeared in two games before retiring at the age of 35.
Career statistics
In a 14 year career, Hundley played in 1,061 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 813 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....
in 3,442 at bats for a .236 career batting average along with 82 home runs, 381 runs batted in and a .292 on base percentage. He ended his career with a .990 fielding percentage.
While Hundley was a light hitter, he was valued for his defensive skills and for the way he handled the pitching staff. Cubs' relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
Phil Regan said of Hundley in 1972
1972 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* November 29, 1971: Ken Holtzman was traded by the Cubs to the Oakland Athletics for Rick Monday.* December 1, 1971: Ernie Banks was released by the Cubs....
,"He's not only our catcher, he's our leader." He was one of the few catchers to steal home
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
, doing so on May 19, 1966
1966 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Los Angeles Dodgers ; Frank Robinson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at Busch Stadium: National League, 2–1 ; Brooks Robinson, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Ohio State...
against Gary Kroll
Gary Kroll
Gary Melvin Kroll is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for four seasons. The , righthander played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1964, the New York Mets from 1964 to 1965, the Houston Astros in 1966, and the Cleveland Indians in 1969...
of the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
after tripling
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
off Turk Farrell
Turk Farrell
Richard Joseph "Turk" Farrell was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a 14-year career from 1956 to 1969...
. Hundley caught two no-hitter
No-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"...
s in 1972
1972 in baseball
-Labor strife and more moving:1972 was tainted by a players' strike over pension and salary arbitration. The strike erased the first week and a half of the season, and the Leagues decided to just excise the lost portion of the season with no makeups. As a result, an uneven number of games were...
; Burt Hooton
Burt Hooton
Burt Carlton Hooton , nicknamed "Happy" , is a coach and former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball...
on April 16 and Milt Pappas
Milt Pappas
Milton Steven "Milt" Pappas is a former professional baseball pitcher...
on September 2. He is one of a handful of men to catch two no-hitters in one season.
Post retirement
Hundley managed in the Cubs minor league system from to , leading the Midland Cubs to first place in the Western Division of the Texas LeagueTexas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
in 1979.
After leaving the playing field, Hundley originated the idea of baseball fantasy camps, and since the early 1980s, has operated them to the delight of many a middle aged fan/camper and also to the former pro players who return to the uniform to help coach the teams. For years, Hundley operated camps for many major league teams but now concentrates on the Chicago Cubs. His son Todd Hundley
Todd Hundley
Todd Randolph Hundley is a former Major League Baseball catcher and outfielder. He is the son of former Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley...
, was also a catcher, playing in the major leagues for 15 years.
See also
- List of Gold Glove Award winners at catcher
- List of players who have hit for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...