Billy Hatcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Billy Hatcher |
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Hatcher with the Cincinnati Reds
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: October 4, 1960 Williams, Arizona, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 10, 1984, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 9, 1995, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .264 | ||
| Home runs | 54 | ||
| Runs batted in | 399 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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William "Billy" Augustus Hatcher (born October 4, 1960) is an American former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder and later a first base coach. Billy played for seven different teams during his career. These teams included the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds.
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Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Billy Hatcher grew up in Williams, Arizona. In 1979, he graduated from Williams High School. While in high school, he showed great talent in baseball. He once pitched a game where no one on the other team got a hit for 11 innings!
After high school, Billy played for Yavapai Community College. He was chosen as an All-America player there. This means he was one of the best college players in the country.
Playing in the Major Leagues
Billy Hatcher played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 12 seasons. He was known for his speed and good hitting.
Starting with the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs picked Billy in the 1981 MLB draft. This is when professional teams choose new players. He quickly moved up through the Cubs' minor league teams. He played one season at each level. In 1984, he joined the main Cubs team. He played for the Cubs until 1985. Then, he was traded to the Houston Astros.
Time with the Houston Astros
Billy became the starting left fielder for the Houston Astros. He played there for about three and a half seasons. Astros fans remember him for a big home run he hit. It happened in the 14th inning of a playoff game in 1986. His home run temporarily saved the Astros from losing.
In 1987, Billy had his best season. He started the year with a 16-game hitting streak. This means he got a hit in 16 games in a row! He led the Astros in hitting with a .296 batting average. He also stole 53 bases, which was third-best in the National League. He hit 11 home runs and had 63 runs batted in. During this season, Billy was suspended for 10 days. This happened because a bat he used was found to have cork inside. Billy said he had borrowed the bat from another player and did not know it was corked.
Moving to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Near the end of the 1989 season, the Astros traded Billy to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played only 27 games for the Pirates. Soon after, he was traded again, this time to the Cincinnati Reds.
Success with the Cincinnati Reds
Billy Hatcher had a very memorable year in 1990 with the Cincinnati Reds. He stole 30 bases as the Reds worked to win their division. On August 21, 1990, he tied a major league record. He hit four doubles in one game against the Cubs. He also had a great fielding percentage of .997. This means he almost never made an error in the outfield.
Billy's best hitting came during the 1990 World Series. The Reds played against the Oakland Athletics. The Athletics were expected to win easily. But Billy hit incredibly well! He got hits in more than half of his turns at bat during the playoffs. In the World Series, he hit an amazing .750. This means he got a hit in 75% of his turns at bat. This set a new World Series record! He broke a record that Babe Ruth had held since 1928. Billy also set records for most hits in a row in a series (7) and most doubles in a four-game series (4).
Even with his amazing hitting, Billy was not named the World Series Most Valuable Player. That award went to Reds pitcher José Rijo. However, Billy was given the 1990 Babe Ruth Award for his great performance. He ended his playoff career with a .404 batting average.
Finishing His Playing Career
In the middle of the 1992 season, Billy was traded to the Boston Red Sox. While with the Red Sox, he stole home plate on August 3, 1992. He played center field for the Red Sox in 1993. He then played as a reserve player for the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers. Billy retired after the 1995 season. He played 12 seasons in the major leagues. He finished his career with a .264 batting average. He hit 54 home runs and had 399 runs batted in.
Coaching Career
After his playing days, Billy Hatcher became a baseball coach. He spent 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He worked as a minor league instructor and coach. From 1998 to 2005, he was part of the Rays' main coaching staff. He was a first-base coach, bench coach, and third-base coach. He is the only coach to work for the Rays in their first eight years.
In 2006, Billy joined the Cincinnati Reds as a Major League coach. He worked as a third-base, outfield, and baserunning coach. He stayed with the Reds until 2018. In 2020, he became the first base coach for the Miami Marlins. He held that position until 2021.
Personal Life
Billy Hatcher is married to Karen. They have a son named Derek and a daughter named Chelsea. Derek played football at the University of Richmond. His team won a national championship in 2008. Chelsea played soccer at the University of Tennessee. She was chosen for the All-SEC first team in 2010.
Today, Billy is an assistant coach for a high school football team. He coaches the Madeira Mustangs in Cincinnati, Ohio.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
