Don Hurst
Encyclopedia
Frank O'Donnell "Don" Hurst (August 12, 1905 - December 6, 1952) was a first baseman
in Major League Baseball
. He played with the Philadelphia Phillies
and Chicago Cubs
from 1928 to 1934. In 1932, he led the National League
in runs batted in with 143. Hurst stood at 6' 0".
, and attended Ohio State University
. He started his professional baseball career in 1926 in the International League
. Hurst had two good years in the IL. He was traded to the Phillies on May 11, 1928 and made his major league debut two days later.
Playing in Philadelphia's hitter's park, Hurst put up some big numbers from 1928-1932. In 1929, he slugged a career-high 31 home run
s and drove in 125 runs. His best season was 1932, when he batted .339 with 24 home runs and led the National League with 143 runs batted in. However, he slumped badly in 1933 and 1934.
In June 1934, Hurst was traded to the Cubs for first baseman Dolph Camilli
. The deal proved to be a disaster for Chicago because, while Camilli went on to become one of the best sluggers in baseball, Hurst had nothing left in the tank. In 51 games for the Cubs, he batted .199 and never played in the majors again.
Hurst spent the next few years in the minor leagues. He managed the Hamilton Red Wings in 1939 and then retired from baseball. In his later years, he worked at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Culver City, California
.
In 1952, Hurst became ill and died in December, at the age of 47. He was survived by his wife and three sons.
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
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...
. He played with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and 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...
from 1928 to 1934. In 1932, 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 runs batted in with 143. Hurst stood at 6' 0".
Biography
Hurst was born in Maysville, KentuckyMaysville, Kentucky
Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the Maysville...
, and attended Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. He started his professional baseball career in 1926 in the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. Hurst had two good years in the IL. He was traded to the Phillies on May 11, 1928 and made his major league debut two days later.
Playing in Philadelphia's hitter's park, Hurst put up some big numbers from 1928-1932. In 1929, he slugged a career-high 31 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 and drove in 125 runs. His best season was 1932, when he batted .339 with 24 home runs and led the National League with 143 runs batted in. However, he slumped badly in 1933 and 1934.
In June 1934, Hurst was traded to the Cubs for first baseman Dolph Camilli
Dolph Camilli
Adolph Louis Camilli was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies and Brooklyn Dodgers. He was named the National League's Most Valuable Player in after leading the league in home runs and runs batted in as the Dodgers won the...
. The deal proved to be a disaster for Chicago because, while Camilli went on to become one of the best sluggers in baseball, Hurst had nothing left in the tank. In 51 games for the Cubs, he batted .199 and never played in the majors again.
Hurst spent the next few years in the minor leagues. He managed the Hamilton Red Wings in 1939 and then retired from baseball. In his later years, he worked at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Culver City, California
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in western Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 38,883, up from 38,816 at the 2000 census. It is mostly surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Culver...
.
In 1952, Hurst became ill and died in December, at the age of 47. He was survived by his wife and three sons.