Hillis Layne
Encyclopedia
Ivoria Hillis Layne nicknamed Tony, was an American
third baseman
in Major League Baseball
for three seasons with the Washington Senators
between and . Listed at 6' 0", 170 lb., he batted left-handed
and threw right-handed. He was born in Whitwell, Tennessee
.
Layne was one of many major leaguers who saw his baseball career interrupted by a stint in the army during World War II
. Signed by the legendary Joe Engel to play for the Washington Senators organization, and played for the Chattanooga Lookouts before being called up to the Senators in September 1941. Overall, he spent 37 years in professional baseball, including 17 in the Minor Leagues
, while losing 2¾ years to the Military (1942–44) . After being discharged from military service, he played in parts of the 1944 and 1945 seasons.
In a three-season career, Layne was a .264 hitter (75-for-284) with one home run
and 28 RBI
in 107 games, including 37 runs
, nine doubles
, four triples
, three stolen base
s, and a .321 on-base percentage.
Following his majors career, Layne led the Pacific Coast League
hitters in 1947 with a .367 average. From 1955 through 1958, he served as a player/manager
for the Lewiston Broncs of the Northwest League
, winning the league batting title in 1955 (.391) and ending second in both 1956 (.354) and 1957 (.340). In four NWL seasons, he collected a .362 average with a .468 OBP and led the league's third basemen in fielding percentage
during three consecutive seasons (1955–57).
In 1,796 minor league games, Layne hit .335 with 83 home runs and 953 RBI. He later scouted
for the Texas Rangers
. In 1987, he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
Layne died January 12, 2010, of a heart attack suffered two days earlier. He is interred at Chattanooga National Cemetery
in Chattanooga, Tennessee
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
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...
for three seasons with the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
between and . Listed at 6' 0", 170 lb., he batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
and threw right-handed. He was born in Whitwell, Tennessee
Whitwell, Tennessee
Whitwell is a city in Marion County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,660 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
Layne was one of many major leaguers who saw his baseball career interrupted by a stint in the army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Signed by the legendary Joe Engel to play for the Washington Senators organization, and played for the Chattanooga Lookouts before being called up to the Senators in September 1941. Overall, he spent 37 years in professional baseball, including 17 in the Minor Leagues
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...
, while losing 2¾ years to the Military (1942–44) . After being discharged from military service, he played in parts of the 1944 and 1945 seasons.
In a three-season career, Layne was a .264 hitter (75-for-284) with one 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...
and 28 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 107 games, including 37 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, nine doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, four triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, three stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, and a .321 on-base percentage.
Following his majors career, Layne led the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
hitters in 1947 with a .367 average. From 1955 through 1958, he served as a player/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...
for the Lewiston Broncs of the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
, winning the league batting title in 1955 (.391) and ending second in both 1956 (.354) and 1957 (.340). In four NWL seasons, he collected a .362 average with a .468 OBP and led the league's third basemen in 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...
during three consecutive seasons (1955–57).
In 1,796 minor league games, Layne hit .335 with 83 home runs and 953 RBI. He later scouted
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. In 1987, he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
Layne died January 12, 2010, of a heart attack suffered two days earlier. He is interred at Chattanooga National Cemetery
Chattanooga National Cemetery
Chattanooga National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located near the center of the city of Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee...
in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
.