Chris Hoiles
Encyclopedia
Christopher Allen Hoiles (born March 20, 1965 in Bowling Green, Ohio
) is an American
former professional
baseball
player. He played his entire Major League Baseball
career as a catcher
for the Baltimore Orioles
from 1989 to 1998. Hoiles was considered one of the best all-around catchers in Major League Baseball.
in the 19th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft
. He played in the Tigers' minor league
system until , when he was traded with Cesar Mejia and Robinson Garces to the Baltimore Orioles for Fred Lynn
. Hoiles made his major league debut with the Orioles on April 25, 1989
at the age of 24, but appeared in only six games with the Orioles, spending most of the season in the minor leagues with the Rochester Red Wings
. He appeared in 23 games with the Orioles in 1990
, but once again spent most of the season playing in Rochester.
Hoiles returned to the major leagues in 1991
when the Orioles traded away catcher Mickey Tettleton
and gave Hoiles an opportunity to be their starting catcher. He made only one error
in 89 games played as a catcher and ended the year with a .998 fielding percentage
, becoming the fifth rookie
catcher in major league baseball history to win a fielding title.
Hoiles had his best season offensively in 1993
, hitting for a .300 batting average
at mid-season. Cito Gaston
, the American League manager for the 1993 All-Star Game
held in Baltimore, received criticism for naming Oakland's catcher, Terry Steinbach
as a reserve player instead of hometown favorite Hoiles. Both players were hitting .300, but Hoiles had 18 home runs compared to Steinbach's 7 home runs. Gaston explained that he was forced by Major League Baseball rules to name at least one Oakland player to the All-Star team. Hoiles finished the season posting a .310 batting average along with 29 home run
s, 80 runs batted in, a .416 on base percentage
and a .585 slugging percentage. He ranked fifth in the American League
in slugging percentage and in on base percentage, and finished in sixteenth place in balloting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
By early 1996
, Hoiles' offensive production had diminished to the point to where the Orioles tried to drop him from the team by exposing him through waivers, but he managed a comeback. On May 17, 1996, Hoiles joined the list of 23 major league players who have hit an ultimate grand slam when he hit a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Baltimore Orioles down by three runs against the Seattle Mariners
. Hoiles' feat was made even more unique, as he hit his home run on a full count
with 2 outs, the only time in major league history this has ever been recorded. Hoiles ended the 1996 season with 25 home runs and 73 runs batted in to help the Orioles finish in second place in the American League East
Division and capture the Wild Card
berth. The Orioles went on to defeat the Cleveland Indians
in the first round of the play-offs, before losing to the eventual world champion New York Yankees
in the 1996 American League Championship Series
.
In 1997
, Hoiles played the entire season without committing an error, leading American League catchers with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, as the Orioles went on to win the American League East Division title. The Orioles defeated the Seattle Mariners
in the first round of the play-offs, before losing to the Cleveland Indians
in the 1997 American League Championship Series
.
On August 14, 1998
, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Hoiles became the ninth player and the first catcher in major league history to hit two grand slams in one game. By the beginning of 1999, the 34-year-old Hoiles was hampered by injuries that included a degenerative hip and a bad back. On May 1, 1999, the Orioles announced that Hoiles had been placed on waivers, but had been offered another job within the organization.
, accumulating 739 hits
in 2,820 at bats for a .262 career batting average along with 151 home runs, 449 runs batted in and an on base percentage
of .366. He led American League catchers four times in fielding percentage and ended his career with a .994 average, which was 4 points above the league average during his playing career. Hoiles' career .837 on-base plus slugging
percentage is 7th highest all-time among major league catchers. His .467 slugging percentage is 11th highest all-time among major league catchers. His 151 career home runs ranks 12th highest in Orioles team history.
Hoiles was the Orioles catcher on July 13, 1991, when four Orioles pitchers combined to pitch a no hitter. In a game against the Kansas City Royals
on April 9, , Hoiles set a major league record for catchers by being involved in 4 double play
s in one game.
, where he served as a baseball coach
. He later became a baseball coach at Bowling Green State University
. He was inducted to the Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000. Hoiles was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame on August 26, .
On December 20, , Chris Hoiles was named as the first manager
of the York Revolution
of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
. He led the team to the playoffs, after winning the Freedom Division in the second half of the season. He stepped down as the manager on August 5, , citing personal reasons.
In April 2010 along with Adam Gladstone, Hoiles began his professional radio career as co-host of "Bird Talk" a daily baseball show heard on Baltimore's Fox 1370. The show is a baseball oriented talk show focusing primarily on the Baltimore Orioles and their minor league affiliates.
Bowling Green, Ohio
Bowling Green is the county seat of Wood County in the U.S. state of Ohio. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Bowling Green was 30,028. It is part of the Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bowling Green is the home of Bowling Green State University...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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. He played his entire 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...
career 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 Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
from 1989 to 1998. Hoiles was considered one of the best all-around catchers in Major League Baseball.
Baseball career
Hoiles was drafted by the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in the 19th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft
1986 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1986 Major League Baseball Draft was the 22nd MLB draft that took place in 1986. During this draft, five all-stars were drafted in five different teams.-First round selections:...
. He played in the Tigers' minor league
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...
system until , when he was traded with Cesar Mejia and Robinson Garces to the Baltimore Orioles for Fred Lynn
Fred Lynn
Fredric Michael "Fred" Lynn is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres .Fred Lynn was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in and to the College Baseball Hall of Fame...
. Hoiles made his major league debut with the Orioles on April 25, 1989
1989 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 87 wins and 75 losses. The team was known as the Comeback Kids as they rebounded from the 54 wins and 107 losses of the 1988 season...
at the age of 24, but appeared in only six games with the Orioles, spending most of the season in the minor leagues with the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
. He appeared in 23 games with the Orioles in 1990
1990 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 5th in the American League East with a record of 76 wins and 85 losses.-Offseason:* October 3, 1989: Mark Huismann was released by the Orioles....
, but once again spent most of the season playing in Rochester.
Hoiles returned to the major leagues in 1991
1991 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 6th in the American League East with a record of 67 wins and 95 losses. Cal Ripken. Jr. would be the first shortstop in the history of the American League to win two MVP awards in a career. This was...
when the Orioles traded away catcher Mickey Tettleton
Mickey Tettleton
Mickey Lee Tettleton , is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, and Texas Rangers...
and gave Hoiles an opportunity to be their starting catcher. He made only one error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 89 games played as a catcher and ended the year with a .998 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...
, becoming the fifth rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
catcher in major league baseball history to win a fielding title.
Hoiles had his best season offensively in 1993
1993 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was the 93rd baseball season in Orioles history. It involved the Orioles finishing 3rd in the American League East with a record of 85 wins and 77 losses.-Offseason:...
, hitting for a .300 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 :...
at mid-season. Cito Gaston
Cito Gaston
Clarence Edwin "Cito" Gaston is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. His major league career as a player lasted from 1967–1978, most notably for the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves...
, the American League manager for the 1993 All-Star Game
1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 64th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 13, 1993 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland,...
held in Baltimore, received criticism for naming Oakland's catcher, Terry Steinbach
Terry Steinbach
Terry Lee Steinbach is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for 14 years from to . He was drafted in 1980 out of New Ulm High School by the Cleveland Indians. He was the starting catcher for Oakland Athletics teams that won three straight American League pennants from 1988 to...
as a reserve player instead of hometown favorite Hoiles. Both players were hitting .300, but Hoiles had 18 home runs compared to Steinbach's 7 home runs. Gaston explained that he was forced by Major League Baseball rules to name at least one Oakland player to the All-Star team. Hoiles finished the season posting a .310 batting average along with 29 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, 80 runs batted in, a .416 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
and a .585 slugging percentage. He ranked fifth in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in slugging percentage and in on base percentage, and finished in sixteenth place in balloting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
By early 1996
1996 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season in which the Orioles finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses and qualifying for the post-season as the Wild Card team. The Orioles broke the all-time record for most home runs hit by a team with 257...
, Hoiles' offensive production had diminished to the point to where the Orioles tried to drop him from the team by exposing him through waivers, but he managed a comeback. On May 17, 1996, Hoiles joined the list of 23 major league players who have hit an ultimate grand slam when he hit a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Baltimore Orioles down by three runs against 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...
. Hoiles' feat was made even more unique, as he hit his home run on a full count
Full count
In baseball and softball, a full count is the common name for a count where the batter has three balls and two strikes. The term may derive from older scoreboards, which had three spaces for balls and two for strikes, since this is the maximum number of each that can be achieved before some type...
with 2 outs, the only time in major league history this has ever been recorded. Hoiles ended the 1996 season with 25 home runs and 73 runs batted in to help the Orioles finish in second place in the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
Division and capture the Wild Card
Major League Baseball Wild Card
In Major League Baseball, the wild-card playoff spot is given to the team in each league with the best record among the non-division winners. It was established for Major League Baseball's playoffs in 1994 with the intention of helping the best teams that did not win their division to still have a...
berth. The Orioles went on to defeat the Cleveland Indians
1996 Cleveland Indians season
For the second consecutive sesaon, the Indians had the best record in Major League Baseball. This was the first time in franchise history that the Indians had accomplished such a feat.-Offseason:*November 9, 1995: Ruben Amaro Jr...
in the first round of the play-offs, before losing to the eventual world champion New York Yankees
1996 New York Yankees season
The 1996 New York Yankees season was the 94th season for the Yankees. The 1996 New York Yankees were managed by Joe Torre, and played at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx....
in the 1996 American League Championship Series
1996 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 9, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe first game of the series is most notable for the infamous "Jeffrey Maier Incident." With the Yankees trailing 4–3 in the bottom of the eighth, rookie Derek Jeter hit a fly ball to deep right field off Orioles reliever...
.
In 1997
1997 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season saw the Orioles finishing 1st in the American League East with a record of 98 wins and 64 losses. They met the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS, and beat them in 4 games. However, in the ALCS, they would play the Cleveland Indians, where they would fall in 6 games...
, Hoiles played the entire season without committing an error, leading American League catchers with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, as the Orioles went on to win the American League East Division title. The Orioles defeated the Seattle Mariners
1997 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners 1997 season was their 21st since the franchise creation, and ended the season finishing 1st in the American League West, finishing with a record of 90-72...
in the first round of the play-offs, before losing to the Cleveland Indians
1997 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Indians making their second World Series appearance in three years...
in the 1997 American League Championship Series
1997 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 8, 1997 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland-Game 2:Thursday, October 9, 1997 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland...
.
On August 14, 1998
1998 Baltimore Orioles season
The 1998 Baltimore Orioles season involved the Orioles finishing 4th in the American League East with a record of 79 wins and 83 losses.-Offseason:*December 11, 1997: Doug Drabek was signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles....
, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Hoiles became the ninth player and the first catcher in major league history to hit two grand slams in one game. By the beginning of 1999, the 34-year-old Hoiles was hampered by injuries that included a degenerative hip and a bad back. On May 1, 1999, the Orioles announced that Hoiles had been placed on waivers, but had been offered another job within the organization.
Career statistics
In a ten-year major league career, Hoiles played in 894 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 739 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 2,820 at bats for a .262 career batting average along with 151 home runs, 449 runs batted in and an on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .366. He led American League catchers four times in fielding percentage and ended his career with a .994 average, which was 4 points above the league average during his playing career. Hoiles' career .837 on-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
percentage is 7th highest all-time among major league catchers. His .467 slugging percentage is 11th highest all-time among major league catchers. His 151 career home runs ranks 12th highest in Orioles team history.
Hoiles was the Orioles catcher on July 13, 1991, when four Orioles pitchers combined to pitch a no hitter. In a game against the Kansas City Royals
1998 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing 3rd in the American League Central with a record of 72 wins and 89 losses.-Offseason:...
on April 9, , Hoiles set a major league record for catchers by being involved in 4 double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s in one game.
Post-baseball career
After his playing career, Hoiles returned to his alma mater, Eastern Michigan UniversityEastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
, where he served as a baseball 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 later became a baseball coach at Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
. He was inducted to the Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000. Hoiles was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame on August 26, .
On December 20, , Chris Hoiles was named as the first 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 York Revolution
York Revolution
The York Revolution is an American professional baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
. He led the team to the playoffs, after winning the Freedom Division in the second half of the season. He stepped down as the manager on August 5, , citing personal reasons.
In April 2010 along with Adam Gladstone, Hoiles began his professional radio career as co-host of "Bird Talk" a daily baseball show heard on Baltimore's Fox 1370. The show is a baseball oriented talk show focusing primarily on the Baltimore Orioles and their minor league affiliates.