Howard Hilton
Encyclopedia
Howard James Hilton was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
who appeared in two games with the St. Louis Cardinals
at the start of the season.
Hilton was born in Oxnard, California
, and graduated from Hueneme High School
in . He played college baseball
for Oxnard College
before transferring to the University of Arkansas
, and helping pitch the Arkansas Razorbacks
, to the 1985 College World Series
. Hilton was the starting pitcher
in the fourth game in which his team was eliminated in extra innings
.
The Cardinals drafted him in the 22nd round of the 1985 Major League Baseball Draft
. After five seasons in the Cardinals' farm system, in which he went 33-30 with a 2.97 earned run average
, Hilton made the team out of Spring training
in 1990. During that Spring
, he was involved in trade rumors that would have sent him to the Boston Red Sox
for closer
Lee Smith
, but nothing ever materialized (a deal for Smith was eventually reached after the start of the season for Tom Brunansky
).
He made his major league debut in the Cards' season opener, pitching 1.1 innings without giving up an earned run
against the Montreal Expos
. He entered the final game of the three game series with the Expos with one out in the eighth, and finished the game. It turned out to be his final major league appearance before he was optioned back to the triple A Louisville Redbirds.
Hilton was released during Spring training in , and joined the San Diego Padres
' organization. He remained with them through .
Hilton died on July 12, 2011 at Ventura County Medical Center
in Ventura, California
. No cause of death was given.
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...
pitcher
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...
who appeared in two games with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
at the start of the season.
Hilton was born in Oxnard, California
Oxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
, and graduated from Hueneme High School
Hueneme High School
Hueneme High School, or HHS as it is more often referred to, is a public four-year high school serving grades 9-12 in Oxnard, California. The school was founded in 1959 and sits in the heart of South Oxnard...
in . He played college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
for Oxnard College
Oxnard College
Oxnard College is a California-state funded community college located in Oxnard, California. It was established in 1975. It serves the Oxnard Plain cities of Oxnard, Camarillo, and the town of Port Hueneme. The college offers two year degrees, as well as career and technical education programs to...
before transferring to the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
, and helping pitch the Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
, to the 1985 College World Series
1985 College World Series
The 1985 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from May 31 to June 11. The thirty-ninth tournament champion was the University of Miami, coached by Ron Fraser. The Most Outstanding Player was Greg Ellena of the University of Miami.-Participants:-Game results:*...
. Hilton was the starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in the fourth game in which his team was eliminated in extra innings
Extra innings
Extra innings is the extension of a baseball or softball game in order to break a tie.Ordinarily, a baseball game consists of nine innings , each of which is divided into halves: the visiting team bats first, after which the home team takes its turn at bat...
.
The Cardinals drafted him in the 22nd round of the 1985 Major League Baseball Draft
1985 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1985 Major League Baseball draft.-Background:Six of the first eight draft picks from the June regular phase had at least one full year of major league experience prior to the start of the 1987 season. Included in that list were...
. After five seasons in the Cardinals' farm system, in which he went 33-30 with a 2.97 earned run average
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...
, Hilton made the team out of Spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1990. During that Spring
Spring (season)
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
, he was involved in trade rumors that would have sent him to 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"...
for closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Lee Smith
Lee Smith (baseball)
Lee Arthur Smith is an American right-handed former baseball pitcher who played 18 years in Major League Baseball for eight teams. Pitching primarily for the Chicago Cubs, with whom he spent his first eight seasons, Lee served mostly as a relief pitcher during his career...
, but nothing ever materialized (a deal for Smith was eventually reached after the start of the season for Tom Brunansky
Tom Brunansky
Thomas Andrew Brunansky , nicknamed "Bruno", is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1981 to 1994 for the California Angels, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, and Milwaukee Brewers....
).
He made his major league debut in the Cards' season opener, pitching 1.1 innings without giving up an earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
against the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He entered the final game of the three game series with the Expos with one out in the eighth, and finished the game. It turned out to be his final major league appearance before he was optioned back to the triple A Louisville Redbirds.
Hilton was released during Spring training in , and joined the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
' organization. He remained with them through .
Hilton died on July 12, 2011 at Ventura County Medical Center
Ventura County Medical Center
Ventura County Medical Center is a hospital in the city of Ventura, California, USA. It is a 208 bed acute care hospital. The county also operates a 49 bed campus in Santa Paula.- External links :*...
in Ventura, California
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
. No cause of death was given.