Jack Hiatt
Encyclopedia
Jack E. Hiatt is a former Major League Baseball
player. He was signed by the Los Angeles Angels
as a free agent
in . Jack made his debut on September 7, and would go on to play his final major league game with the Angels on October 3, .
position for 312 games, but was also called upon to play first base
for 70 games and went into the outfield
for 2.
At the beginning of the 1969 San Francisco Giants season
, the starting catcher job was won by Dick Dietz
. However, when a foul tip bruised his right hand, Hiatt took over the role as starter and made an almost immediate impact. In his first six games after taking over the starting role, Hiatt had four home runs and 13 runs batted in
. Hiatt was quoted as saying during the stretch, "It really makes a difference when you know you're going to play again every day. It used to be that if I didn't have a good game, I wouldn't be in the lineup the next game unless somebody was hurt." He gave credit to his hitting coach, Hank Sauer
, for the remarkable stretch. Hiatt noted that all of his home runs came on outside corner fastballs. "It's a pitch I'd been taking until Sauer suggested that I swing at it."
On April 24, Hiatt hit his first home run of the season off Atlanta Braves
pitcher Milt Pappas
, an opposite field 360-foot shot that also drove in Willie McCovey
. The next day, April 25, Hiatt had a mammoth performance against the Houston Astros
, hitting two home run
s and driving in seven runs
. In the 1st inning, Jack homered off Astros starter
Denny Lemaster
to drive in fellow teammate Willie Mays
. In the 8th inning, he roped a single to left to score Bobby Bonds
from third base. In the bottom of the 13th inning, Hiatt dramatically hit a walk-off
grand slam
off Astros pitcher Dan Schneider
to end the game.
Hiatt received praise from Giants manager Clyde King
in regards to his defensive efforts. "We had a game in Cincinnati where Hiatt made six tremendous stops of pitches in the dirt." He added, "He kept us in the game all night."
Despite the hot start, Hiatt's offensive production faded and he finished the season with a .196 batting average.
teams for the Chicago Cubs
organization, including the GCL Cubs
(1975), the Pompano Beach Cubs
(1976-1978), and the Wichita Aeros
(1979-1980). Under the California Angels
farm system he managed the Holyoke Millers
in 1982. With the Houston Astros
, he managed the Columbus Astros in 1983. The final managerial position he took in the minors was with the San Francisco Giants
farm team, the Pocatello Giants
in 1988. Over the course of his minor league managerial career Jack amassed a 501-599 record with only 3 winning seasons.
Hiatt was the Giants' director of player development for 16 seasons, before his retirement in October .
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...
player. He was signed by the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in . Jack made his debut on September 7, and would go on to play his final major league game with the Angels on October 3, .
Playing career
Hiatt played the catcherCatcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
position for 312 games, but was also called upon to play first base
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...
for 70 games and went into the outfield
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for 2.
At the beginning of the 1969 San Francisco Giants season
1969 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants season was the franchise's 87th season and 12th season in San Francisco. The team finished second in the newly-established National League West with a record of 90-72, 3 games behind the Atlanta Braves.- Offseason :...
, the starting catcher job was won by Dick Dietz
Dick Dietz
Richard Allen Dietz was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Atlanta Braves from 1966 to 1973. Born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Dietz enjoyed his best season in 1970 with the Giants, when he batted .300 with 22 home runs and...
. However, when a foul tip bruised his right hand, Hiatt took over the role as starter and made an almost immediate impact. In his first six games after taking over the starting role, Hiatt had four home runs and 13 runs batted in
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...
. Hiatt was quoted as saying during the stretch, "It really makes a difference when you know you're going to play again every day. It used to be that if I didn't have a good game, I wouldn't be in the lineup the next game unless somebody was hurt." He gave credit to his hitting coach, Hank Sauer
Hank Sauer
Henry John "Hank" Sauer was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1959, Sauer played for the Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs , St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants and San Francisco Giants...
, for the remarkable stretch. Hiatt noted that all of his home runs came on outside corner fastballs. "It's a pitch I'd been taking until Sauer suggested that I swing at it."
On April 24, Hiatt hit his first home run of the season off Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
pitcher Milt Pappas
Milt Pappas
Milton Steven "Milt" Pappas is a former professional baseball pitcher...
, an opposite field 360-foot shot that also drove in Willie McCovey
Willie McCovey
Willie Lee McCovey , nicknamed "Mac", "Big Mac", and "Stretch", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played nineteen seasons for the San Francisco Giants, and three more for the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics, between and...
. The next day, April 25, Hiatt had a mammoth performance against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, hitting two 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 driving in seven 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...
. In the 1st inning, Jack homered off Astros starter
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....
Denny Lemaster
Denny Lemaster
Denver Clayton Lemaster Denver Clayton Lemaster Denver Clayton Lemaster (born (February 25, 1939 in Corona, California) was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 to 1972 for the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, and Montreal Expos. During his decade-long career, LeMaster won 90...
to drive in fellow teammate Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
. In the 8th inning, he roped a single to left to score Bobby Bonds
Bobby Bonds
Bobby Lee Bonds was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball from to , primarily with the San Francisco Giants...
from third base. In the bottom of the 13th inning, Hiatt dramatically hit a walk-off
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
off Astros pitcher Dan Schneider
Dan Schneider (baseball)
Daniel Louis Schneider is an American former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues between and .-Career:...
to end the game.
Hiatt received praise from Giants manager Clyde King
Clyde King
Clyde Edward King was an American pitcher, coach, manager, general manager and front office executive in Major League Baseball. King, whose career in baseball spanned over 60 years, was perhaps best known for his longtime role as a special baseball advisor to George Steinbrenner, late owner of the...
in regards to his defensive efforts. "We had a game in Cincinnati where Hiatt made six tremendous stops of pitches in the dirt." He added, "He kept us in the game all night."
Despite the hot start, Hiatt's offensive production faded and he finished the season with a .196 batting average.
Post-Career
After his playing career, Jack managed minor leagueMinor 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...
teams for the 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...
organization, including the GCL Cubs
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
(1975), the Pompano Beach Cubs
Pompano Beach Cubs
The Pompano Beach Cubs were a minor league baseball team located in Pompano Beach, Florida. The team played in the Florida State League. Their home stadium was Pompano Beach Municipal Park....
(1976-1978), and the Wichita Aeros
Wichita Aeros
The Wichita Aeros was a minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas, that played in the AAA American Association from 1970 through 1984....
(1979-1980). Under the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
farm system he managed the Holyoke Millers
Holyoke Millers
The Holyoke Millers were a minor league baseball team located in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The team played in the Eastern League. Their home stadium was Mackenzie Stadium. The Millers played from 1977 to 1982 and was a farm team of the Milwaukee Brewers the first four years and the California...
in 1982. With the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, he managed the Columbus Astros in 1983. The final managerial position he took in the minors was with 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....
farm team, the Pocatello Giants
Pocatello Giants
The Pocatello Giants were a professional minor league baseball team located in Pocatello, Idaho. The team played in the Rookie-level Pioneer League, and were affiliated with the San Francisco Giants for the 1988 and 1989 seasons; prior affiliation was with the Oakland A's. The home stadium was...
in 1988. Over the course of his minor league managerial career Jack amassed a 501-599 record with only 3 winning seasons.
Hiatt was the Giants' director of player development for 16 seasons, before his retirement in October .