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February 5
February 5 "Tiger" Don Hoak is born
Don Hoak was born on Sunday, February 5, 1928 in Roulette, PA
He was the kind of player who’s worth doesn’t always show up in the box score, but yet his determination and aggressiveness to win made him one of the most valuable players on the world championship of 1960. Don Hoak, nicknamed “Tiger” by Dodger pitcher Clem Labine because he was always starting fights, was a solid fielder who twice led the circuit in fielding percentage at third base who also would contribute at the plate, hitting over .280 in three of his four seasons with the Bucs.
Many players felt he was such an important cog to the club’s championship run. Cy Young Award winner Vern Law felt his fighting spirit rubbed off on everyone helped push the club over the hump to the title, while legendary reliever Roy Face thought he was the most underrated player on the team. What ever it was, Hoak definitely wanted to fit the tough boy persona. He was a Marine in World War II where he saw some action in the Pacific theater and also spent sometime as a boxer in the middleweight division and his tough image was something he prided himself on.
Tiger came up with the Dodgers in 1954 and was part of their memorable 1955 world championship team, the only title that the legendary team from Brooklyn would win. He was dealt to the Cubs the year after where he hit .215 and went on his way Cincinnati in 1957. It was there that his career finally started to take shape as he led the senior circuit in doubles with 39 and fielding percentage with a .971 mark while hitting career highs in both homers 19, and RBI’s with 89. Hoak was named to his one and only selection in the mid –summer classic that year. Don slumped in 1958 and was dealt to the Bucs along with Smoky Burgess and Harvey Haddix in a seven-player deal that many felt was the final piece in the Pirate 1960 championship machine.
In 1959, Tiger proved that his .261 average in 1958 was just a fluke as he broke .290 for the first time when he hit .294, before moving into his best all around season in the Steel City. Hoak would show a rare glimpse of power during that magical season, hitting 16 homers to go with 79 RBI’s and a .282 average. While his numbers were good, it was his grit, determination and leadership that found him finishing second to teammate Dick Groat in the National League Most Valuable Player voting ahead of such Hall of Famers as Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, Roberto Clemente and Eddie Mathews.
Two great series Hoak played ib for you on classic Baseball Broadcasts -
1955 & 1960 World Series
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Trivia:
What fellow Hall of Famer broke Babe Ruth’s record of 29 2/3 scoreless innings pitched in the World Series?
A. Lefty Grove
B. Sandy Koufax
C. Bob Gibson
D. Whitey Ford
Hint: The answer is below
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February 5, 1903, the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox announce they will play a series of 15 pre-season games against each other. (This series continued and you can listen to some of the broadcasts in games section).
Don Hoak, nicknamed Tiger by Dodger pitcher Clem Labine because he was always starting fights, was born on Sunday, February 05, 1928 in Roulette, PA. He was the kind of player who’s worth doesn’t always show up in the box score, but yet his determination and aggressiveness to win made him one of the most valuable players on the world championship of 1960.
February 5, 1934, a day before Babe Ruth’s 39th birthday, future all-time home run leader Hammerin’ Hank Aaron is born in Mobile, Alabama. After a one-year stint with the Negro Leagues’ Indianapolis Clowns, Aaron will make his major league debut with the Milwaukee Braves on April 13, 1954. The slugger, who will finish his career hitting 755 home runs playing for the Braves and Brewers, will surpass the ‘Bambino’s’ record of 714 home runs in 1974, after receiving much hate mail from people who did not want to see a black man break baseball’s hallowed mark.
February 5, 1935 — At 39 years of age, home run king Babe Ruth is released by the New York Yankees. He will sign with the Boston Braves to play one more season, but will not complete it
Passed away February 5, 1970 Always threatening at the plate, the 6’1″ 210-lb Rudy York overcame defensive troubles and jibes at his ancestry (he was half American Indian) to become a productive ML first baseman. As MVP of the Texas League in 1935 and the American Association in 1936, York was trapped behind the Tigers’ first baseman Hank Greenberg, who was AL MVP himself in ’35. As a rookie in 1937, York put together one of the greatest months in baseball history, breaking Babe Ruth’s record for home runs in one month with 18 in August, while driving in 49 runs, another ML one-month record. He finished at .307 with 35 HR and 103 RBI in only 375 at-bats while splitting time between catcher and third base. When Mickey Cochrane suffered a career-ending skull fracture, York became Detroit’s everyday catcher, but by 1940 Tiger management realized York belonged at first base. They paid Greenberg a bonus to move to left field, and he hit 41 home runs that year. York added 33, and the Tigers won the pennant.
February 5, 1984 — The Yankees obtain third baseman Toby Harrah and minor leaguer Rick Brown from the Cleveland Indians for Dan Boitano, rookie outfielder Otis Nixon, George Frazier and minor leaguer Guy Elston. The team’s new third baseman will hit just .217 in the one season he plays for the Bronx Bombers, but Nixon will go on to have a solid 17-year major league career, leaving the game in 1999 with a lifetime batting average of .270.
February 5, 1999 — Major League Baseball will honor each league’s best hitter with an award named after Hank Aaron. The all-time home run king learns about the honor on his 65th birthday at an event which includes US President Bill Clinton and Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Reggie Jackson.
Quote of the day:
Patricia Wettig: "I like baseball. I just don't memorize who played third base for Pittsburgh in 1960."
Crystal, Kirby, and Stern (simultaneously): "Don Hoak"
-- from the movie City Slickers, 1991
MILESTONES
Birthday Boys!
Al Worthington, Dewey Williams, Don Hoak, Hank Aaron, Lee Thomas, and Norm Miller
Passings.
Windy McCall, Shelby Whitfield and Rudy York
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Trivia Answer: Whitey Ford, Ford pitched in both Game 3 & 6 of the 1960 World Series and pitched complete game shutouts in both games. His streak would extend 3 more WS starts until 1962. His newly established mark is 33 and 2/3’s. Mariano Rivera would break the post season record in 2000, but not the WS record.
