Clint Hurdle
From BR Bullpen
Clinton Merrick Hurdle
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 195 lb.
- Debut September 18, 1977
- Final Game June 26, 1987
- Born July 30, 1957 in Big Rapids, MI USA
Contents |
[edit] Biographical Information
Clint Hurdle was a first-round pick in the 1975 amateur draft whose promising career was derailed in 1981 at age 23 by a back injury. Since 2002 he has managed the Colorado Rockies leading them to the 2007 World Series.
Selected by the Kansas City Royals with the ninth overall pick in the 1975 amateur draft, outfielder Hurdle reached the majors in 1977 as a 20 year old. In spring training in 1978, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a "can't miss" prospect, something which was later held to have jinxed his career. That season, he was given regular playing time alongside stars such as George Brett, Amos Otis, Willie Wilson, and Hal McRae, at a time when the Royals were winning the division practically every year. He hit a decent .264 that year, but without the expected power, and went 3 for 8 in the ALCS. After struggling at the plate and being sent down to the AAA Omaha Royals in 1979, he became a regular the next year, hitting .294 with 10 homers, while batting seventh in the lineup, behind Otis. In the 1980 World Series, he appeared in 4 games, hitting .417.
Hurdle began 1981 by putting up even better numbers, and despite missing considerable time due to injuries, still managed to hit .329. After that season, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Scott Brown. This is when he was sidelined by a back injury that almost ended his career there and then; it didn't, but it ended his chances of ever being a major league regular again. He only hit .206 in 19 games for the Reds in 1982, and .245 but with decent power for AAA Indianapolis. He was released at the end of the year.
After hitting .282 with 22 homers and 105 RBIs for the Tidewater Tides in 1983, Hurdle later played briefly for the New York Mets (who attempted to convert him to catcher) and the St. Louis Cardinals. He did spend the entire 1985 season with the Mets as a third-string catcher, but only gathered 82 at-bats. He retired after the 1987 season which he split between New York and Tidewater. In 1989, he played for the St. Lucie Legends of the Senior Professional Baseball Association and hit .252 in 42 games with the club.
After his playing career ended, Hurdle was a manager in the New York Mets minor league system for six years. He was also Colorado Rockies hitting coach for more than five seasons before becoming the club's manager in April 2002. After five consecutive losing season at the helm of the Rockies, he led them to a surprise postseason appearance in 2007. The team seemed to be well out of the race by mid-September, but suddenly caught fire, finishing the regular season with a 13-1 run to tie the San Diego Padres for second-best record in the National League. The Rockies played a one-game playoff with the Padres and came out on the right end of an epic, 13-inning 9-8 game to clinch the NL wild card. The team then swept through the NLDS and the NLCS to reach the World Series for the first time in team history.
The last two teams in major league history (through 2007) to win 19 out of 20 are the 1977 Royals featuring Clint Hurdle as a player and the 2007 Colorado Rockies featuring Clint Hurdle as manager.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- Postseason appearance: 1 (2007, Wild Card)
- NL Pennants: 1 (2007)
| Preceded by Buddy Bell | Colorado Rockies Manager 2002- | Succeeded by Current |
[edit] Minor League Managerial Record
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | St. Lucie Mets | Florida State League | 74-65 | 4th/1st | New York Mets | League Champs |
| 1989 | St. Lucie Mets | Florida State League | 79-55 | 1st/1st | New York Mets | Lost in 1st round |
| 1990 | Jackson Mets | Texas League | 73-62 | 3rd | New York Mets | Lost in 1st round |
| 1991 | Williamsport Bills | Eastern League | 60-79 | 7th | New York Mets | |
| 1992 | Tidewater Tides | International League | 56-86 | 8th | New York Mets | |
| 1993 | Norfolk Tides | International League | 70-71 | 6th | New York Mets |
