Ken Hunt (pitcher)

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For the baseball outfielder, see Ken Hunt (outfielder).

Ken Hunt
Pitcher
Born: (1938-12-14)December 14, 1938
Ogden, Utah, U.S.
Died: January 27, 2008(2008-01-27) (aged 69)
Morgan, Utah, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 16, 1961, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 1961, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
Win–loss record9–10
Earned run average3.96
Strikeouts75
Teams

Kenneth Raymond Hunt Jr. (December 14, 1938 – January 27, 2008) was an American

The Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award and appeared in the World Series, which the Reds lost in five games to the New York Yankees. However, his control problems resurfaced in the minor leagues after that, and he never appeared in another major league game. Following his career, he coached baseball and basketball at Morgan High School in Utah
for 20 years.

Early life

Hunt was born to Kenneth Sr. and Wanda Hunt in

Cougar to make it to the major leagues.[3]

Career

Hunt signed a contract with the

walks in 54 innings pitched contributed to a 2–5 record and an earned run average (ERA) of 9.00.[5] Next season, Hunt remained with Visalia. Once again, he had more walks (185) than innings pitched (150), and his record was 4–14. However, he lowered his ERA to 6.66 and struck out 160 batters.[5] Sometime in 1959, he married Carol Nelson; later, the couple had their marriage solemnized at the Salt Lake Temple.[1]

The repeated use began to pay off with the

Class A South Atlantic League in 1960. Hunt shoved his walk total down to 134, even as his innings pitched rose to 211, in 30 starts. He spent the whole year in Columbia's rotation, winning 16 games (to only six losses) and striking out 221.[5] This earned him a spot at spring training for the Reds in 1961.[4]

Crosley Field was the site of Hunt's home games with the Reds in 1961.

Despite his improvement, Hunt was not expected to make the Reds' roster in 1961.

The Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award after going 9–10 with 75 strikeouts in 136⅓ innings of work.[11][12] The Reds surprised experts (Sports Illustrated said they had 25–1 odds of winning the pennant before the season) by finishing in first place in the National League, earning a trip to the World Series against the New York Yankees.[4] Not needed as a starter, Hunt made only one appearance, striking out one and walking one in the ninth inning of the fifth and final game, a blowout 13–5 loss.[13]

Hunt was mentioned in Sports Illustrated's preview of the 1962 Reds as a backup for the Big Three starters of

Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He had a 2–8 record between those teams, with a 7.67 ERA, and his control problems returned, as he walked 80 in 61 innings. Strangely, he gave up fewer earned runs per game at San Diego (3.46 ERA) than at Macon (10.80 ERA).[5]

In 1963, Hunt again split the season between Macon (now a

Southern League. In 25 games (14 starts), he had a 7–6 record, a 4.59 ERA, 69 strikeouts, and 63 walks in 98 innings.[5]

Cincinnati switched its AA affiliate to the

Knoxville Smokies of the Southern League in 1965, and Hunt pitched one final season for them, losing two games and posting a 6.92 ERA in 12 games (four starts). He also got spent time with the Baltimore Orioles' organization that season, giving up five runs in three innings of three games for the Class AAA Rochester Red Wings of the International League that year. His career ended at the age of 26, with him having pitched one season in the major leagues.[5]

Later life

Following his baseball career, Hunt earned his bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University, then taught English and coached basketball and baseball at Morgan High School in Utah from 1983 through 2003. As a basketball coach, he was twice named Utah's 2A coach of the year.[1][15] In 2004, he was grateful to be inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame. He and his wife had three children: Ken III, Jennifer, and Adam. An avid sportsman, he liked to fish, hunt and camp. Hunt also was an enthusiastic Utah Jazz fan who would shout at the TV while watching their games. Hunt died in Morgan at age 69 while in hospice.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Kenneth Hunt Obituary". legacy.com. January 30, 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  2. ^ "Ken Hunt". BYU Cougars. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "Brigham Young University Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e Maule, Tex (June 12, 1961). "The Odds Go Down on Cincy". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Ken Hunt Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, April 16, 1961". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants Box Score, April 19, 1961". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, May 23, 1961". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Ken Hunt 1961 Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  10. ^ "1961 Cincinnati Reds Pitching Game Log". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  11. ^ "Ken Hunt Stats". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  12. ^ "Rookie of the Year Award by The Sporting News". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  13. ^ "1961 World Series Game 5, Yankees at Reds, October 9". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  14. ^ SI Staff (April 9, 1962). "Cincinnati Reds". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  15. ^ "Hall of Fame 2000s". Utah Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 13, 2020.

External links

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