Steve Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Steven Absher Hamilton (November 30, 1935 in Columbia, Kentucky
– December 2, 1997 in Morehead, Kentucky
) was a Major League Baseball
(MLB) and NBA player.
He was mostly a relief pitcher
during his 12 MLB seasons, including a stint as the New York Yankees
closer during the 1968 season. In 421 career games (17 starts) from 1961-1972 he had a 40-31 record with 42 saves and a 3.05 earned run average
. He pitched 1 inning during the Yankees 1963 World Series
loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers
and 2 innings during the Yankees 1964 World Series
loss to the St. Louis Cardinals
, including 1 save. He also pitched in the 1971 NLCS for the San Francisco Giants
.
His one complete game shutout was on August 5, 1966, against the Cleveland Indians
, while pitching for the New York Yankees. He gave up 5 hits, walked 1 and struck out 3. It was one of only 3 starts he had in the 1966 season.
Late in his career Hamilton threw the famed "folly-floater," a high, slow eephus pitch
. Other pitchers that have thrown a lob pitch include Rip Sewell
and Dave LaRoche
.) One of his most famous moments involving this pitch occurred on June 24, 1970, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians. Hamilton threw a "folly floater" to Indian slugger Tony Horton, who fouled it out of play. Horton asked for another; Hamilton obliged and again threw him the pitch, and again Horton hit it into foul territory — this time into Thurman Munson
's mitt for an out. An embarrassed Horton crawled back into the dugout on all fours. A clip of this can be found on YouTube.
From 1958-1960 he was a power forward
/center
for the Minneapolis Lakers. He played for the 1958-59 team that lost to the Boston Celtics
during the 1959 NBA Finals
. Over 2 season he average 4.5 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 0.5 assists per game.
After his major league career ended, he was a Detroit Tigers
coach in 1975 and was the athletic director at his alma mater, Morehead State University
. Hamilton died of cancer at age 62.
Hamilton is only one of two people to have played in both a World Series and an N.B.A. finals.
Columbia, Kentucky
Columbia is a city in Adair County, Kentucky, United States, just above Russell Creek. The area was settled around 1802 by Daniel Trabue. The post office was opened on April 1, 1806 by John Field, who also ran a local store. The population was 4,014 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of...
– December 2, 1997 in Morehead, Kentucky
Morehead, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,845 people, households, and families residing in the city. The population density was 726.2 people per square mile. There were 2,356 housing units at an average density of 253.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 93.2% White, 3.2% African...
) was a 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...
(MLB) and NBA player.
He was mostly a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
during his 12 MLB seasons, including a stint as the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
closer during the 1968 season. In 421 career games (17 starts) from 1961-1972 he had a 40-31 record with 42 saves and a 3.05 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...
. He pitched 1 inning during the Yankees 1963 World Series
1963 World Series
The 1963 World Series matched the two-time defending champion New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Dodgers sweeping the Series in four games to capture their second title in five years, and their third in franchise history....
loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and 2 innings during the Yankees 1964 World Series
1964 World Series
The 1964 World Series pitted the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals against the American League champion New York Yankees, with the Cardinals prevailing in seven games. St...
loss to 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...
, including 1 save. He also pitched in the 1971 NLCS for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
His one complete game shutout was on August 5, 1966, against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, while pitching for the New York Yankees. He gave up 5 hits, walked 1 and struck out 3. It was one of only 3 starts he had in the 1966 season.
Late in his career Hamilton threw the famed "folly-floater," a high, slow eephus pitch
Eephus pitch
An Eephus pitch in baseball is considered a junk pitch with very low speed. The delivery from the pitcher has very low velocity and usually catches the hitter off-guard. Its invention is attributed to Rip Sewell of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1940s. According to manager Frankie Frisch, the...
. Other pitchers that have thrown a lob pitch include Rip Sewell
Rip Sewell
Truett Banks "Rip" Sewell was a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played 13 years in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates...
and Dave LaRoche
Dave LaRoche
David Eugene LaRoche is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. LaRoche is currently the pitching coach for the Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s....
.) One of his most famous moments involving this pitch occurred on June 24, 1970, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians. Hamilton threw a "folly floater" to Indian slugger Tony Horton, who fouled it out of play. Horton asked for another; Hamilton obliged and again threw him the pitch, and again Horton hit it into foul territory — this time into Thurman Munson
Thurman Munson
Thurman Lee Munson was an American Major League Baseball catcher. He played his entire 11-year career for the New York Yankees...
's mitt for an out. An embarrassed Horton crawled back into the dugout on all fours. A clip of this can be found on YouTube.
From 1958-1960 he was a power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
/center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for the Minneapolis Lakers. He played for the 1958-59 team that lost to the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
during the 1959 NBA Finals
1959 NBA Finals
The 1959 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 1958-59 National Basketball Association season, and was the conclusion of the 1959 NBA Playoffs. The best-of-seven series was played between the Western Conference champion Minneapolis Lakers and the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics....
. Over 2 season he average 4.5 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 0.5 assists per game.
After his major league career ended, he was a 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...
coach in 1975 and was the athletic director at his alma mater, Morehead State University
Morehead State University
Morehead State University is a public, co-educational university located in Morehead, Kentucky, United States in the foothills of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Rowan County, midway between Lexington, Kentucky, and Huntington, West Virginia. The 2012 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S...
. Hamilton died of cancer at age 62.
Hamilton is only one of two people to have played in both a World Series and an N.B.A. finals.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 30 or more rebounds in a game
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career rebounding leaders
External links
- Steve Hamilton at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...