Ron Hunt
Encyclopedia
Ronald Kenneth Hunt is a former Major League Baseball
player. A second baseman
who also played third base
sparingly, Hunt played for the New York Mets
(1963–1966), Los Angeles Dodgers
(1967), San Francisco Giants
(1968–1970), Montreal Expos
(1971–1974) and St. Louis Cardinals
(1974).
Hunt broke into the major leagues in as the Mets’ regular second baseman, batting
.272 with 10 home run
s, which would be his career high, and 42 runs batted in
, which would tie him with another. That year, he also finished runner-up to Pete Rose
for the National League
Rookie of the Year honors. In he batted .303 and became the Mets’ first-ever starting All-Star representative, an honor made all the more special because the game was played in the Mets’ newly opened Shea Stadium
. He was also an All-Star representative in .
In November 1966 Hunt and Jim Hickman were traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tommy Davis
. Hunt, heartbroken over the deal, batted .263 in . After the season he was traded again, this time to the San Francisco Giants in the same deal that sent Tom Haller
to Los Angeles. The deal was the first between the two teams since they moved to the West Coast, and also the first since the one that would have sent Jackie Robinson
to the Giants; he reportedly retired rather than report with his new team.
After three seasons in San Francisco Hunt was traded to the Montreal Expos. In nearly four seasons in Montreal he batted .277, including a career high .309 in . Late in the season he was waived to his hometown St. Louis Cardinals, with whom he closed out his career after playing 12 games. The Cardinals brought Hunt to spring training in 1975, but released him in March. He retired forthwith.
In his 12-year career Hunt batted .273 with 39 home runs and 370 RBIs in 1483 games played
. He was also one of the most difficult batters to strike out
, fanning 382 times in 5235 at-bats, or once in every 13.70 at-bats. In 1973 he set an Expos record by only striking out 19 times in 401 at-bats, the fewest ever in franchise history by a player who had at least 400 at-bats on the season.
was, “Some people give their bodies to science; I give mine to baseball,” had been hit by pitch
es more often than anyone during his playing days. He led the National League
in getting hit by pitches in each of his final seven Major League seasons; in all but his final season , he was the Major League HBP leader, his 16 “plunks” outdone only by Bobby Grich
’s 20. He was hit by 25 pitches in , 25 in , 26 in , 50 in , 26 in and 24 in .
Hunt said in a July 2000 interview with Baseball Digest that he really began to get hit by pitches after being traded to San Francisco. "But," Hunt asked, "why would you hit me to face Willie Mays
, Willie McCovey
and Jim Ray Hart
?" http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_7_59/ai_64150801/pg_1
On September 29, , against the Chicago Cubs
at Jarry Park
, Hunt was hit by a Milt Pappas
pitch to give him 50 on the season, obliterating the post-1900 record of 31 by Steve Evans
, although Hughie Jennings
still holds the all-time record for 51 HPBs in .http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/HBP_season.shtml Pappas argued to home plate umpire Ken Burkhart
that the pitch was directly over the plate, that Hunt got hit by the ball without even trying to get out of the way. Earlier in the year, Pappas had also contributed #27 in the Hunt collection, prompting Cub manager Leo Durocher
to cry foul after home plate umpire Augie Donatelli
awarded Hunt first base on that pitch. Cincinnati Reds
manager Sparky Anderson
had a similar complaint after Hunt was hit by a Jim McGlothlin
pitch on August 7 of that year; the HBP was Hunt’s 32nd of the season, which broke the National League
record set by Steve Evans
of the St. Louis Cardinals
.
On April 29, , Hunt tied a Major League record with three HBPs in a game against the Cincinnati Reds. One of those "plunks" was against former Met teammate Jack Fisher
.
Hunt always insisted that he never deliberately got hit by a pitch, that he always stood straight up at the plate and simply leaned into the pitch.
Upon his retirement, his 243 HBPs were a career record. Don Baylor
would break that record in and retire with 267 HBPs. Craig Biggio
would break Baylor’s career record in and retire at the end of the season with 285 HBPs.
.
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...
player. A 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...
who also played third base
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...
sparingly, Hunt played for the 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...
(1963–1966), Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1967), 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....
(1968–1970), 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...
(1971–1974) and St. Louis Cardinals
St. 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...
(1974).
Hunt broke into the major leagues in as the Mets’ regular second baseman, batting
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 :...
.272 with 10 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, which would be his career high, and 42 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, which would tie him with another. That year, he also finished runner-up to Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
for the 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...
Rookie of the Year honors. In he batted .303 and became the Mets’ first-ever starting All-Star representative, an honor made all the more special because the game was played in the Mets’ newly opened Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
. He was also an All-Star representative in .
In November 1966 Hunt and Jim Hickman were traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tommy Davis
Tommy Davis
Herman Thomas Davis, Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball left fielder and third baseman. He played from 1959-1976 for ten different teams, but he is best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During an 18-year baseball career, Davis batted .294 with 153 home runs, 2,121...
. Hunt, heartbroken over the deal, batted .263 in . After the season he was traded again, this time to the San Francisco Giants in the same deal that sent 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...
to Los Angeles. The deal was the first between the two teams since they moved to the West Coast, and also the first since the one that would have sent Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
to the Giants; he reportedly retired rather than report with his new team.
After three seasons in San Francisco Hunt was traded to the Montreal Expos. In nearly four seasons in Montreal he batted .277, including a career high .309 in . Late in the season he was waived to his hometown St. Louis Cardinals, with whom he closed out his career after playing 12 games. The Cardinals brought Hunt to spring training in 1975, but released him in March. He retired forthwith.
In his 12-year career Hunt batted .273 with 39 home runs and 370 RBIs in 1483 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,...
. He was also one of the most difficult batters to strike out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
, fanning 382 times in 5235 at-bats, or once in every 13.70 at-bats. In 1973 he set an Expos record by only striking out 19 times in 401 at-bats, the fewest ever in franchise history by a player who had at least 400 at-bats on the season.
The Hit by Pitch
Hunt, whose mottoMotto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
was, “Some people give their bodies to science; I give mine to baseball,” had been hit by pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
es more often than anyone during his playing days. He led the 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...
in getting hit by pitches in each of his final seven Major League seasons; in all but his final season , he was the Major League HBP leader, his 16 “plunks” outdone only by Bobby Grich
Bobby Grich
Robert Anthony "Bobby" Grich is an American former professional baseball second baseman who played for the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels of Major League Baseball...
’s 20. He was hit by 25 pitches in , 25 in , 26 in , 50 in , 26 in and 24 in .
Hunt said in a July 2000 interview with Baseball Digest that he really began to get hit by pitches after being traded to San Francisco. "But," Hunt asked, "why would you hit me to face Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
, Willie McCovey
Willie McCovey
Willie Lee McCovey , nicknamed "Mac", "Big Mac", and "Stretch", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played nineteen seasons for the San Francisco Giants, and three more for the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics, between and...
and Jim Ray Hart
Jim Ray Hart
James Ray Hart , is a retired third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the National League's San Francisco Giants from 1963 to 1973 and the American League's New York Yankees in 1973 and 1974. Hart batted and threw right-handed...
?" http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_7_59/ai_64150801/pg_1
On September 29, , against the 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...
at Jarry Park
Jarry Park Stadium
Jarry Park Stadium is a former baseball stadium in Montreal which served as home to the Montreal Expos, Major League Baseball's first Canadian franchise, from 1969–1976. It served as a temporary home until the domed Olympic Stadium was finished and made available to the Expos...
, Hunt was hit by a Milt Pappas
Milt Pappas
Milton Steven "Milt" Pappas is a former professional baseball pitcher...
pitch to give him 50 on the season, obliterating the post-1900 record of 31 by Steve Evans
Steve Evans (baseball)
Louis Richard Evans was a right fielder in Major League Baseball....
, although Hughie Jennings
Hughie Jennings
Hugh Ambrose Jennings was a Major League Baseball player and manager from 1891 to 1925. Jennings was a leader, both as a batter and as a shortstop, with the Baltimore Orioles teams that won National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896. During the three championship seasons, Jennings had...
still holds the all-time record for 51 HPBs in .http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/HBP_season.shtml Pappas argued to home plate umpire Ken Burkhart
Ken Burkhart
Kenneth William Burkhart, born Burkhardt , was an American right-handed pitcher and umpire in Major League Baseball. From through he played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds , and he served as a National League umpire from 1957 to 1973.Burkhart was born in Knoxville, Tennessee...
that the pitch was directly over the plate, that Hunt got hit by the ball without even trying to get out of the way. Earlier in the year, Pappas had also contributed #27 in the Hunt collection, prompting Cub manager 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...
to cry foul after home plate umpire Augie Donatelli
Augie Donatelli
August Joseph Donatelli was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1950 to 1973. Highly regarded for his ability, he was also known for his inclination to eject players and managers quickly and dramatically.-Biography:Donatelli was born in Heilwood,...
awarded Hunt first base on that pitch. Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
manager Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
had a similar complaint after Hunt was hit by a Jim McGlothlin
Jim McGlothlin
James Milton McGlothlin , nicknamed "Red", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He graduated from Reseda High School in 1961...
pitch on August 7 of that year; the HBP was Hunt’s 32nd of the season, which broke the 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...
record set by Steve Evans
Steve Evans (baseball)
Louis Richard Evans was a right fielder in Major League Baseball....
of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. 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...
.
On April 29, , Hunt tied a Major League record with three HBPs in a game against the Cincinnati Reds. One of those "plunks" was against former Met teammate Jack Fisher
Jack Fisher
John Howard Fisher was a Major League Baseball pitcher. The right-hander was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent on June 24, 1957. He played for the Orioles , San Francisco Giants , New York Mets , Chicago White Sox , and Cincinnati Reds...
.
Hunt always insisted that he never deliberately got hit by a pitch, that he always stood straight up at the plate and simply leaned into the pitch.
Upon his retirement, his 243 HBPs were a career record. Don Baylor
Don Baylor
Donald Edward Baylor is a Major League Baseball coach currently the hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and a former player and manager. During his 19-year playing career, he was a power hitter who played as a first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter...
would break that record in and retire with 267 HBPs. Craig Biggio
Craig Biggio
Craig Alan Biggio is a former Major League Baseball second baseman, catcher, and outfielder. He played his entire 20-year baseball career with the Houston Astros . He ranks 21st all-time with 3,060 career hits, and is the ninth player in the 3000 hit club to get all his hits with the same team. He...
would break Baylor’s career record in and retire at the end of the season with 285 HBPs.
Personal
Since 1986, Hunt has operated an instructional baseball camp in Wentzville, MissouriWentzville, Missouri
Wentzville is a city located in western St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 29,070. The city's major employer is General Motors which has a full size van assembly plant located there. As the site of the county fairgrounds,...
.