Roger Hansen
Encyclopedia
Roger Christian Hansen is a professional baseball
coach
and a retired professional player. Currently, Hansen is the bench coach for the Seattle Mariners
. Hansen primarily played catcher
during his playing career, but also played first base and third base
on occasion. Before his current assignment with the Mariners, he was a catching consultant in their organization. Over his playing career, Hansen played for the rookie-level GCL Royals (1980), the Class-A Charleston Royals (1981–1982), the Class-A Fort Myers Royals
(1983), the Double-A Jacksonville Suns
(1983), the Double-A Memphis Chicks
(1984–1985), the Triple-A Omaha Royals
(1985–1986), the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
(1987), the Double-A Vermont Mariners
(1988), the Double-A Williamsport Bills
and the Triple-A Calgary Cannons
(1988, 1989). Hansen has never played in Major League Baseball
.
in the second round of the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft
out of Rio Mesa High School
in Oxnard, California
. He began his professional career with the rookie-level GCL Royals. In 55 games, Hansen batted
.228 with 38 hit
, three doubles
and two triples
. In 1981, Hansen was promoted to the Class-A Charleston Royals where he batted .242 with 125 hits, 28 doubles, six triples and six home runs in 141 games played
. During the next season, 1982, Hansen continued playing with the Charleston Royals. He batted .282 with 78 runs
, 148 hits, 34 doubles, 15 home runs and 94 runs batted in (RBIs) in 137 games played that season. He was second in the South Atlantic League
in doubles that year. Hansen's 1983 season was split between the Class-A Fort Myers Royals
and the Double-A Jacksonville Suns
. With Fort Myers, he batted .282 with 51 runs, 109 hits, 13 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 62 RBIs in 107 games. In one game with the Suns, Hansen got one hit in four at-bats. Hansen spent his 1984 season at the Double-A level with the Memphis Chicks
of the Southern League
. In 93 games, Hansen batted .217 with 71 hits, 10 doubles and three home runs. He continued playing with the Memphis Chicks in 1985, but received a promotion to the Triple-A Omaha Royals
late in the season. Hansen batted .324 with 68 hits, 10 doubles and two home runs in 66 games between the two teams. In 1986, Hansen spent the entire season with the Omaha Royals. He batted .253 with 49 hits, five doubles and four home runs in 73 games.
Before the 1987 season, Hansen joined the Seattle Mariners
organization and was assigned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
for the season. In 98 games, Hansen batted .281 with 94 hits, 12 doubles, one triple and five home runs. During the 1988 season, Hansen played at the Double-A and Triple-A level. First, with the Double-A Vermont Mariners
, Hansen batted .301 with 31 hits, two doubles, one triple and one one home run in 34 games. With the Triple-A Calgary Cannons
, he batted .250 with 39 hits, six doubles and two home runs in 51 games. During that season, Hansen's friend, Kurt Stillwell
, compared Hansen to Crash Davis from the movie Bull Durham
. Hansen spent his final season as a player in 1989 with the Double-A Williamsport Bills
and the Triple-A Calgary Cannons. In 122 combined games between the two teams, he batted .205 with 25 hits and five doubles.
was 4.55 that season and the team went 64–98 positioning them seventh in the American League West
. Hansen was fired at the end of the season along with the rest of the Mariners' coaching staff. In 1996, Hansen was hired as the manager
of the Class-A Short Season Everett AquaSox
in the Mariners' organization. Hansen was hired as a roving catching
instructor for the Orix BlueWave in Japan's
Pacific League
. He re-joined the Mariners' organization in 2002 as a coach
with the Everett AquaSox. Hansen managed the AquaSox for the last 28 games of the 2002 season. In 2003, he was named the Mariners' minor-league catching coordinator. On August 10, 2010, the Mariners fired members of their coaching staff, including bench coach Ty Van Burkleo
, and Hansen was hired to take over that position on an interim basis.
. He resides in Stanwood, Washington
with his wife Lynn and their two children.
teams.
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....
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...
and a retired professional player. Currently, Hansen is the bench coach for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. Hansen primarily played 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...
during his playing career, but also played first base and third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
on occasion. Before his current assignment with the Mariners, he was a catching consultant in their organization. Over his playing career, Hansen played for the rookie-level GCL Royals (1980), the Class-A Charleston Royals (1981–1982), the Class-A Fort Myers Royals
Fort Myers Royals
The Fort Myers Royals were a minor league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. In 1978 the Royals were brought to Fort Myers, Florida by the Kansas City franchise. This was because Fort Myers served as the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals. The Royals were a Single A Florida State...
(1983), the Double-A Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
(1983), the Double-A Memphis Chicks
Memphis Chicks
The Memphis Chicks were an American minor league baseball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Chicks were charter members of the Southern Association from 1901 until November 18, 1960, when the club folded and was transferred to Macon, Georgia for 1961.The Chicks suffered a...
(1984–1985), the Triple-A Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
(1985–1986), the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
(1987), the Double-A Vermont Mariners
Vermont Mariners
The Vermont Mariners are a defunct minor league baseball team. They played in the Eastern League at Centennial Field in Burlington, Vermont in 1988...
(1988), the Double-A Williamsport Bills
Williamsport Bills
The Williamsport Bills were a Class AA Eastern League baseball affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, and New York Mets from 1987 to 1991 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in the United States...
and the Triple-A Calgary Cannons
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
(1988, 1989). Hansen has never 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...
.
Playing career
Hansen was drafted by the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
in the second round of the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft
1980 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft.- Compensation Picks :*William Erickson, was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco Giants, 31st pick overall. *Jeff Horne was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Pirates,...
out of Rio Mesa High School
Rio Mesa High School
Rio Mesa High School is located in Oxnard, California and is within the Oxnard Union High School District. It serves the Oxnard communities of Northern Oxnard, River Park, Nyeland Acres, and El Rio, as well as the western portion of the city of Camarillo...
in Oxnard, California
Oxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
. He began his professional career with the rookie-level GCL Royals. In 55 games, Hansen batted
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 :...
.228 with 38 hit
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....
, three doubles
Double (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....
and two triples
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....
. In 1981, Hansen was promoted to the Class-A Charleston Royals where he batted .242 with 125 hits, 28 doubles, six triples and six home runs in 141 games played
Games 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,...
. During the next season, 1982, Hansen continued playing with the Charleston Royals. He batted .282 with 78 runs
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...
, 148 hits, 34 doubles, 15 home runs and 94 runs batted in (RBIs) in 137 games played that season. He was second in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
in doubles that year. Hansen's 1983 season was split between the Class-A Fort Myers Royals
Fort Myers Royals
The Fort Myers Royals were a minor league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. In 1978 the Royals were brought to Fort Myers, Florida by the Kansas City franchise. This was because Fort Myers served as the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals. The Royals were a Single A Florida State...
and the Double-A Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
. With Fort Myers, he batted .282 with 51 runs, 109 hits, 13 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 62 RBIs in 107 games. In one game with the Suns, Hansen got one hit in four at-bats. Hansen spent his 1984 season at the Double-A level with the Memphis Chicks
Memphis Chicks
The Memphis Chicks were an American minor league baseball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Chicks were charter members of the Southern Association from 1901 until November 18, 1960, when the club folded and was transferred to Macon, Georgia for 1961.The Chicks suffered a...
of the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
. In 93 games, Hansen batted .217 with 71 hits, 10 doubles and three home runs. He continued playing with the Memphis Chicks in 1985, but received a promotion to the Triple-A Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
late in the season. Hansen batted .324 with 68 hits, 10 doubles and two home runs in 66 games between the two teams. In 1986, Hansen spent the entire season with the Omaha Royals. He batted .253 with 49 hits, five doubles and four home runs in 73 games.
Before the 1987 season, Hansen joined the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
organization and was assigned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
for the season. In 98 games, Hansen batted .281 with 94 hits, 12 doubles, one triple and five home runs. During the 1988 season, Hansen played at the Double-A and Triple-A level. First, with the Double-A Vermont Mariners
Vermont Mariners
The Vermont Mariners are a defunct minor league baseball team. They played in the Eastern League at Centennial Field in Burlington, Vermont in 1988...
, Hansen batted .301 with 31 hits, two doubles, one triple and one one home run in 34 games. With the Triple-A Calgary Cannons
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
, he batted .250 with 39 hits, six doubles and two home runs in 51 games. During that season, Hansen's friend, Kurt Stillwell
Kurt Stillwell
Kurt Andrew Stillwell is a former Major League Baseball infielder with a 9-year career from 1986–1993, 1996...
, compared Hansen to Crash Davis from the movie Bull Durham
Bull Durham
Bull Durham is a 1988 American romantic comedy baseball film. It is based upon the minor league experiences of writer/director Ron Shelton and depicts the players and fans of the Durham Bulls, a minor league baseball team in Durham, North Carolina....
. Hansen spent his final season as a player in 1989 with the Double-A Williamsport Bills
Williamsport Bills
The Williamsport Bills were a Class AA Eastern League baseball affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, and New York Mets from 1987 to 1991 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in the United States...
and the Triple-A Calgary Cannons. In 122 combined games between the two teams, he batted .205 with 25 hits and five doubles.
Coaching career
In 1992, Hansen joined the Seattle Mariners as a bullpen coach. The Mariners' team earned run averageEarned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
was 4.55 that season and the team went 64–98 positioning them seventh in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
. Hansen was fired at the end of the season along with the rest of the Mariners' coaching staff. In 1996, Hansen was hired as the 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...
of the Class-A Short Season Everett AquaSox
Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a minor league baseball team in Everett, Washington, USA. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League, of which they are the current defending champions...
in the Mariners' organization. Hansen was hired as a roving catching
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...
instructor for the Orix BlueWave in Japan's
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
. He re-joined the Mariners' organization in 2002 as a 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...
with the Everett AquaSox. Hansen managed the AquaSox for the last 28 games of the 2002 season. In 2003, he was named the Mariners' minor-league catching coordinator. On August 10, 2010, the Mariners fired members of their coaching staff, including bench coach Ty Van Burkleo
Ty Van Burkleo
Tyler Lee Van Burkleo was a former bench coach for the Seattle Mariners and a former first baseman in major league baseball. He played for two different major league teams in his career: the California Angels and Colorado Rockies...
, and Hansen was hired to take over that position on an interim basis.
Personal
Hansen was born on August 28, 1961 in Johnstown, PennsylvaniaJohnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
. He resides in Stanwood, Washington
Stanwood, Washington
Stanwood is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 6,231 at the 2010 census.-History:Stanwood was first settled in 1866 by Robert Fulton. Stanwood's Post Office was established as Centerville in 1870, and the name was changed to Stanwood in 1877 by D.O. Pearson...
with his wife Lynn and their two children.
Footnotes
All team's listed under "as player" and "as manager" are minor league baseballMinor 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...
teams.