Fred Hutchinson
From BR Bullpen
Frederick Charles Hutchinson
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.
- High School Franklin High School
- Debut May 2, 1939
- Final Game September 27, 1953
- Born August 12, 1919 in Seattle, WA USA
- Died November 12, 1964 in Bradenton, FL USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Fred Hutchinson was a pitcher and manager, who was a star in the Pacific Coast League. After his graduation from Franklin High School in Seattle, WA, Hutch signed with the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. He set the PCL on fire in 1938, he hit .313 and posted a strong 25-7 record on the mound.
The following year, Hutchinson moved to the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers. He did not fare nearly as well, going just 3-6 in 1939. Hutchinson returned to the minors with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League, posting a 7-3 mark with a 2.49 ERA in 1940. Hutchinson then led the league in wins the next season, going 26-7 with a 2.44 ERA (3rd in the IL); he also led the IL in complete games (31), innings (284) and most hits allowed (241).
After missing 1942 to 1945 to the Navy, Hutch became a solid major league pitcher. He reeled off six consecutive seasons with double digit wins. He was named an American League All-Star in 1951.
After the 1951 season, Detroit named Hutchinson player-manager, though he significantly decreased his own playing time in 1952 and 1953. He retired as a player for good in 1953. Hutchinson's career marks as a pitcher include a 95-71 record and a 3.71 ERA on the mound. Despite pedestrian expectations of pitchers with the bat, Hutchinson proved a strong hitter, tallying a .263 average with four home runs in limited at bats. In 1954 he was elected to the International League Hall of Fame.
Hutchinson continued to manage, moving onto Seattle in the PCL in both 1955 and 1959, sandwiching his time as skipper of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1956 to 1958. His most succesful reign as a manager came with the Cincinnati Reds from 1960 to 1964. He won the 1961 National League pennant, losing the World Series to a strong New York Yankees squad.
In the winter of 1963, Hutchinson asked his brother, who was a surgeon, about a pain in his neck. It turned out to be a cancerous tumor. Hutchinson announced the sad news at a press conference on January 3, 1964, but vowed to continue as Reds' manager while enduring chemotherapy. The travel wore him out, and he was forced to step down on August 13, 1964 in favor of Dick Sisler. He finished his career as a manager having won 830 games.
Fred Hutchinson died of chest cancer at age 45 - he had been a heavy smoker since his days in the Navy - only a few weeks after the end of the 1964 season.
The Hutch Award has been awarded since 1965 to a player who exemplifies the courage and desire of Fred Hutchinson. The first recipient was Mickey Mantle. Bill Hutchinson, who diagnosed his brother's condition, later founded the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle in 1975; it has become one of the world's leading research institution in the field of oncology.
On December 24, 1999, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer named Hutchinson Seattle's athlete of the 20th Century, ahead of Ken Griffey, Jr.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 1938 Minor League Player of the Year, Seattle Rainiers, Pacific Coast League
- 1938 MVP Pacific Coast League, Seattle Rainiers
- 1941 MVP International League, Buffalo Bisons
- AL All-Star (1951)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 3 (1947, 1949 & 1950)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1946-1948 & 1950)
- ML Manager of the Year Award (1957)
- NL Pennants: 1 (1961)
| Preceded by Red Rolfe | Detroit Tigers Manager 1952-1954 | Succeeded by Bucky Harris |
| Preceded by Harry Walker | St. Louis Cardinals Manager 1956-1958 | Succeeded by Solly Hemus |
| Preceded by Mayo Smith | Cincinnati Reds Manager 1959-1964 | Succeeded by Dick Sisler |
[edit] Further Reading
- Clay Eals: "The thought of losing was just abhorrent", in Mark Armour, ed.: Rain Check: Baseball in the Pacific Northwest, Society for American Baseball Research, Cleveland, OH, 2006, pp. 48-55.
