Bob Hamelin
| Bob Hamelin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First baseman / Designated hitter | |||
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Born: November 29, 1967 Elizabeth, New Jersey | |||
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| MLB debut | |||
| September 12, 1993, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| September 27, 1998, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .246 | ||
| Home runs | 67 | ||
| Runs batted in | 209 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Robert James Hamelin (/ˈhæmlᵻn/; born November 29, 1967 in Elizabeth, New Jersey) is a former first baseman and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. From 1993 through 1998, Hamelin played for the Kansas City Royals (1993–96), Detroit Tigers (1997) and Milwaukee Brewers (1998). He batted and threw left-handed.
In a six-season career, Hamelin posted a .246 batting average with 67 home runs and 209 RBIs in 497 games played. In 1994, at the age of 26, he was the American League Rookie of the Year. But his stint as a professional player was marred by leg injuries, both in the minors and majors. He also suffered from an eye problem.
As of 2012, Hamelin is serving as a Major League scout in the Boston Red Sox organization.
Playing career
High school and college
After a long and illustrious career in the Randolph Little League, the Hamelin family moved from their home in Randolph, New Jersey to Irvine, California, when Bob Hamelin was 12 years old.[1] Hamelin attended Irvine High School[2] where he excelled in both football and baseball[1] and was named the School's Athlete of the Year as a senior. The University of Notre Dame recruited him to play football, however Hamelin had already decided to pursue a career in baseball.[3] Hamelin enrolled in Santa Ana College after graduating from high school and played on the school's baseball team.[1] Soon thereafter the young baseball prospect transferred to UCLA, where he continued to play baseball for his new school.[1]
Major leagues
Hamelin won the 1994 AL Rookie of the Year Award as a member of the Kansas City Royals, when he posted a .282 batting average and hit 24 home runs (earning him the nickname "the hammer") with 65 RBIs during the strike-shortened season.
After the Major Leagues
Hamelin abruptly quit his professional baseball career while playing in the minor leagues for the Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers AAA Team) in 1999. After grounding out, he went back to the dugout and told manager Gene Roof, "I'm done", ending his professional baseball career as a player.[1]
After retirement Hamelin was out of professional baseball for several years, owning a manufacturing company.[4] He attended scout school and returned to professional baseball as a scout for the Washington Nationals and the Toronto Blue Jays.[5] In 2012, he joined the Major League scouting corps of the Boston Red Sox.[6]
Highlights
- American League and TSN Rookie of the Year awards (1994)
- 5th in slugging percentage (AL 1994, .599)
- 5th in OPS (AL 1994, .987)
- 9th in home runs (AL 1994, 24)
- Notable for having the worst baseball card in history.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Pucin, Diane (1999-06-11). "When a Boy of Summer Suddenly Grows Weary; Baseball journeyman Hamelin is scared and exhilarated after dramatically quitting the game during a game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
- ↑ The Baseball Cube. Accessed December 17, 2007
- ↑ Scott, Gerald (February 5, 1986). "Finally, a Rave Review : Irish Discover Hamelin on Film". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-08-28., Bob Hamelin Interview
- ↑ Jays Journal List of Toronto Blue Jays Scouts
- ↑ Leventhal, Josh, ed., Baseball America 2012 Directory. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2012, p. 23
- ↑ The Worst Baseball Card Ever
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball Library, or Retrosheet, or Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Winter League)
| Preceded by none |
Players Choice AL Most Outstanding Rookie 1994 |
Succeeded by Marty Cordova |