Joe Hague

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Joe Hague
Runs batted in
163
Teams

Joe Clarence Hague (April 25, 1944 – November 5, 1994) was a professional baseball player. Over his eight-year career, Hague spent six in

first base (232 games), and outfield (272 games). Hague played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds
in his six-year major league career.

Over his

Cedar Rapids Cardinals followed by the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, and eventually the Triple-A Tulsa Oilers. Hague made his major league debut on September 19, 1968. He went on to play for the Triple-A Tulsa Oilers for a second time (1969) and the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
(1973) in the minors.

Amateur career

Hague attended Bel Air High School in

1965 Major League Baseball Draft;[5] however, he went undrafted. Hague spent the summer starring with Galesburg in the Central Illinois Collegiate League, and on August 31, 1965, he signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals,[6] receiving a bonus in excess of $10,000. He then returned to school until beginning his career the following year.[1]

Professional career

St. Louis Cardinals

Hague began his professional career in 1966 with the Class-A

home runs in 119 games. On the defensive side, Hague played exclusively at first base. Hague was first on the Cardinals in games played; second in at-bats (435), doubles, and triples; and third in hits.[7]

Hague was promoted to the Double-A

Before the start of the 1968 season, the St. Louis Cardinals re-signed Hague.[11] After spending spring training with the Cardinals, Hague was optioned to the Triple-A Tulsa Oilers of the Pacific Coast League.[12] With the Oilers, Hague batted .293 with 81 runs, 155 hits, 34 doubles, eight triples, 23 home runs, 99 RBIs, and four stolen bases in 147 games. He was first on the Oilers in games played, plate appearances (589), at-bats (529), hits, triples, and total bases (274); tied for first in home runs; second in RBIs, batting average, slugging percentage (.518), and on-base plus slugging (.883).[13] Hague led the Pacific Coast League in games played, and total bases; was second in RBIs; was tied for second in home runs; and was third in hits, and doubles.[14] That season, Hague made his major league debut. His first major league game was on September 19, against the San Francisco Giants where he scored one run after he was walked once.[15] Hague's first hit was a home run, coming on September 20 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.[15] In his first season at the major league level, he batted .235 with two runs, four hits, one home run, one RBI, and two walks in seven games.

Originally at the start of the 1969 season, it looked as if there would be little chance that Hague would get playing time behind then-first baseman

September call-up for the Cardinals late in the season along with five other players.[18]
In the majors that season, Hague batted .170 with eight runs, 17 hits, two doubles, one triple, two home runs, and eight RBIs in 40 games.

Going into the 1970 season, the Cardinals'

.

In December 1970, Hague re-signed with the Cardinals.[24] Hague stated that he wasn't satisfied with his performance during the 1970 season.[25] Hague also acknowledged he had a weight problem and attempted to address it by showing up to spring training early.[25] On June 5, 1971, Hague hit two home runs against the Cincinnati Reds in a 5–3 Cardinals victory.[26] Hague batted .226 with 46 runs, 86 hits, nine doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, and 54 RBIs in 129 games with the Cardinals. Hague was second on the team home runs, and was third in walks (63), and strikeouts (69) in 1971.[27] On the defensive side, Hague played 91 games at first base, and committed three errors in 671 chances; and 36 games in the outfield, and committed two errors in 60 chances. He set a career high in home runs in 1971.

In February 1972, Hague re-signed with the Cardinals.[28] During the 1972 offseason, the Cardinals were in trade negotiations with the San Diego Padres to get pitcher Dave Roberts in exchange for left fielder Luis Meléndez and shortstop Milt Ramirez.[29] Hague was disappointed that the trade fell through because he felt the Cardinals could win the World Series with Roberts, and without Meléndez, Hague would have a starting spot on the team.[29] On May 19, Hague was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Bernie Carbo.[30] Hague played 27 games with the Cardinals that season and batted .237 with eight runs, 18 hits, five doubles, one triple, three home runs, and 11 RBIs.

Cincinnati Reds

After the trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, it was noted by the

Christian Science Monitor that Hague was expected to be a key in the Reds' success.[31] On the season with the Reds, Hague batted .246 with 17 runs, 34 hits, seven doubles, one triple, four home runs, and 20 RBIs in 69 games. Hague played in the 1972 National League Championship Series with the Reds and went hitless in one at-bat and two walks. He also played three games in the 1972 World Series, going hitless in three at-bats. Hague returned to the Reds in 1973 and split time between the majors and minors. On June 9, 1973, Hague was placed on the disabled list after suffering a dislocated bone in his right hand.[32] With the Reds that season, Hague batted .152 with two runs, five hits, two doubles, one home run, and one RBI in 19 games. He played 20 games with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in the minor leagues and batted .203 with 15 hits, and three doubles. On March 28, 1974, Hague was placed on waivers by the Reds and eventually released.[33]

Personal

Hague was born in Huntington, West Virginia, however, as a child his family moved to El Paso, Texas.[1] Hague had a wife, Mickey, whom he had a daughter with.[2] His father was a Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Army.[1] As a player, Hague made it a personal preference not to use profanity and instead replaced it in his speech with the word mullet.[1] Hague, who said that he used profanity a lot as a kid, stated that he stopped because "you don't gain anything from it".[1] He took up golf during his early professional baseball career.[1] Hague died from cancer at age 50 in San Antonio, Texas.

References

General references
  1. "Joe Hague Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  2. "Joe Hague Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
Inline citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Walter L. Johns (March 19, 1969). "St. Louis' Joe Hague". Reading Eagle. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Jimmy Mann (February 8, 1969). "Hague: A Trevino Style Player". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved July 6, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "1st Free Agent Baseball Draft Stars Tuesday With Monday The No. 1 Pick". The Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. June 6, 1965. Retrieved July 5, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Brunstad Top Hitter In Nation". Tri City Herald. Associated Press. April 11, 1965. Retrieved July 5, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "A's May Shell Out $100,000 For College Slugger". Herald-Journal. Associated Press. June 6, 1965. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  6. ^ "Two Sign Card Pacts". Alton (IL) Evening Telegraph. Associated Press. September 1, 1965. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  7. ^ "1966 Cedar Rapids Cardinals". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  8. ^ "1967 Arkansas Travelers". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  9. ^ "1967 Texas League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  10. ^ "Card Release Romano, Woodeshick". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. October 20, 1967. Retrieved July 5, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Four Cardinals Sign". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. January 24, 1968. Retrieved July 5, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "Birds End Big Spring Sunday; Pare Down To 25-Player Limit". St. Petersburg Times. April 6, 1968. Retrieved July 5, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "1968 Tulsa Oilers". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  14. ^ "1968 Pacific Coast League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  15. ^ a b "Joe Hague 1968 Batting Game Log". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  16. ^ "Big Swap: Joe Torre for Cepeda". The Deseret News. Associated Press. March 17, 1969. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  17. ^ "Joe Hague 1969 Batting Gamelog". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  18. ^ "St. Louis Recalls Six Players". The Modesto Bee. Associated Press. September 1, 1969. Retrieved July 8, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ Fred McMane (October 9, 1969). "Allen Goes to Cards in Big Trade". United Press International. Lodi News-Sentinel. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  20. ^ "Pinson-Cardenal trade now official". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. November 22, 1969. Retrieved July 8, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "30th Cardinal Signs Contract". The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. February 3, 1970. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  22. ^ "Hague's Bat, Gibby's Arm Mangle Mets". Lawrence Journal-World. Associated Press. May 29, 1970. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  23. ^ "1970 St. Louis Cardinals Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  24. ^ "Cardinals Report More Players Sign". Anchorage Daily News. Associated Press. December 14, 1970. Retrieved July 8, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ a b Tom Duffy (February 27, 1971). "Strive For Perfection — Or Else". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  26. ^ "Hague Powers Cardinals Win". Times Daily. Associated Press. June 5, 1971. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  27. ^ "1971 St. Louis Cardinals Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  28. ^ "Card Signees Straggle In". St. Petersburg Times. February 25, 1972. Retrieved July 8, 2010.[dead link]
  29. ^ a b Larry Harnly (March 9, 1972). "Hague wishes that Cardinals had gotten Roberts". Copley News Service. Rome News-Tribune. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  30. ^ "Cards Shuffle On: Hague for Carbo". United Press International. St. Petersburg Times. May 20, 1972. Retrieved July 8, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ Ed Rumill (June 28, 1972). "Cinci Reds still strong". Christian Science Monitor. Ellensburg Daily Record. Retrieved July 8, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ "Driessen Recalled". United Press International. The Bryan Times. June 9, 1973. Retrieved July 8, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  33. ^ "Conigliaro..." The Milwaukee Sentinel. March 28, 1974. Retrieved July 8, 2010.[permanent dead link]

External links