Clyde Hatter
Encyclopedia
Clyde Melno Hatter was a left-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played two seasons with the Detroit Tigers
in 1935 and 1937.
Born in Poplar Hills, Kentucky
, Hatter attended Eastern Kentucky University
where threw a no-hitter
against Kentucky Wesleyan
on April 22, 1929. http://www.baseball.eku.edu/records.htm
He debuted with the Detroit Tigers on April 23, 1935 and was with the team as they won the American League pennant. Hatter played in 8 games, 2 as a starter
, for the 1935 Tigers, pitching 33-1/3 innings with no decisions
and a 7.56 ERA
. On June 14, 1935, Hatter started for the Tigers in a game against the Boston Red Sox
. Hatter lasted only 3-1/3 innings, and the Tigers lost, 10-8, despite collecting 17 hits, including 3 each by Hank Greenberg
and Goose Goslin
.
Hatter did not play in the World Series
and spent the 1936 season in the minor leagues. He came back to the Tigers in 1937, appearing in 3 games, with a 1-0 record and an ERA of 11.57. Hatter played his last major league game on May 10, 1937, and died five months later in Yosemite, Kentucky
at age 29.
Hatter's death has been reported as having been due to a heart attack http://www.thedeadballera.com/tooyoung.html However, teammate Marv Owen
recalled events differently. Interviewed in the 1980s, Owen said Hatter did not show up for a couple games, prompting Owen to check Hatter's room. Hatter told Owen he had been sick, and Owen called the team doctor. The doctor concluded that Hatter was drunk, found two glasses of whiskey in Hatter's bureau drawer, and reported his findings to manager Mickey Cochrane
. Hatter was sent to the minor leagues in Louisville, Kentucky. Owen reported Hatter's death this way: "He went home that winter and they found him dead in the back of his father's car. From booze." (Richard Bak, "Cobb Would Have Caught It: The Golden Age of Baseball in Detroit," p. 239.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
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...
who played two seasons with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit 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 1935 and 1937.
Born in Poplar Hills, Kentucky
Poplar Hills, Kentucky
Poplar Hills is a city in Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 396 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Poplar Hills is located at ....
, Hatter attended Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University, commonly referred to as Eastern or by the acronym EKU by local residents, is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research institution located in Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A.. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
where threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against Kentucky Wesleyan
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private Methodist college in Owensboro, Kentucky, a city on the Ohio River. KWC is just 40 minutes east of Evansville, Indiana, 2 hours north of Nashville, Tennessee, 2 hours west of Louisville, Kentucky, and 4 hours east of St. Louis, Missouri...
on April 22, 1929. http://www.baseball.eku.edu/records.htm
He debuted with the Detroit Tigers on April 23, 1935 and was with the team as they won the American League pennant. Hatter played in 8 games, 2 as a starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
, for the 1935 Tigers, pitching 33-1/3 innings with no decisions
Decision (baseball)
A decision is a statistical credit given to a baseball pitcher.There are two types of decisions: win and loss.In order to receive a win, the starting pitcher must complete at least five innings and leave with the lead. If the pitcher's lead is preserved by the bullpen, he is credited with a win...
and a 7.56 ERA
Earned 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...
. On June 14, 1935, Hatter started for the Tigers in a game against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Hatter lasted only 3-1/3 innings, and the Tigers lost, 10-8, despite collecting 17 hits, including 3 each by Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
and Goose Goslin
Goose Goslin
Leon Allen "Goose" Goslin was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played 18 seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until...
.
Hatter did not play in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
and spent the 1936 season in the minor leagues. He came back to the Tigers in 1937, appearing in 3 games, with a 1-0 record and an ERA of 11.57. Hatter played his last major league game on May 10, 1937, and died five months later in Yosemite, Kentucky
Yosemite, Kentucky
Yosemite is an unincorporated rural community in eastern Casey County, Kentucky, United States. Local pronunciation is "Yo-seh-mite". It was established in the 1870s for logging facilities owned by Cincinnati businessman Eugene Zimmerman. It was named by his daughter, who said the hilly area...
at age 29.
Hatter's death has been reported as having been due to a heart attack http://www.thedeadballera.com/tooyoung.html However, teammate Marv Owen
Marv Owen
Marvin James Owen was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played nine seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
recalled events differently. Interviewed in the 1980s, Owen said Hatter did not show up for a couple games, prompting Owen to check Hatter's room. Hatter told Owen he had been sick, and Owen called the team doctor. The doctor concluded that Hatter was drunk, found two glasses of whiskey in Hatter's bureau drawer, and reported his findings to manager Mickey Cochrane
Mickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
. Hatter was sent to the minor leagues in Louisville, Kentucky. Owen reported Hatter's death this way: "He went home that winter and they found him dead in the back of his father's car. From booze." (Richard Bak, "Cobb Would Have Caught It: The Golden Age of Baseball in Detroit," p. 239.