Hal King facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hal King |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Catcher | |||
| Born: February 1, 1944 Oviedo, Florida, U.S. |
|||
| Died: March 23, 2019 (aged 75) Oviedo, Florida, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| September 6, 1967, for the Houston Astros | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 1974, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .214 | ||
| Home runs | 24 | ||
| Runs batted in | 82 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
Harold "Hal" King (born February 1, 1944 – died March 23, 2019) was an American professional baseball player. He was a catcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Mexican League. Hal King played for teams like the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, and Cincinnati Reds.
He is especially remembered for hitting a huge walk-off home run for the Cincinnati Reds on July 1, 1973. This hit happened when the Reds were struggling. Many people believe it helped turn their whole season around, leading them to win their division!
Early Life
Hal King was born in Oviedo, Florida. He grew up there and went to Oviedo High School.
Baseball Career
Hal King started his professional baseball journey in 1962. He played for the Negro league team, the Indianapolis Clowns. He stayed with them until 1964.
In 1965, the California Angels signed him. The Houston Astros later drafted him in 1966. In 1967, while playing for the Asheville Tourists, King hit 30 home runs. He also had 87 runs batted in and a .288 batting average. His great hitting earned him a chance to play in the major leagues that same year.
King made his first MLB appearance on September 6, 1967, with the Houston Astros. Four days later, he got his first major league hit. He also hit his first triple and got his first run batted in during that game.
He spent most of the 1968 season in the minor leagues. However, he did play in 27 games for the Astros. In 1970, King had his best season in the major leagues with the Atlanta Braves. He played in 89 games, hitting .260 with 11 home runs and 30 runs batted in.
After playing for the Braves, King joined the Texas Rangers in 1972. He later moved to the Cincinnati Reds in 1973. The Reds needed more catchers because their star player, Johnny Bench, was having health issues.
King became the Reds' third-string catcher. In the 1973 season, he hit a very important home run that changed the team's luck. He hit three pinch-hit home runs that season that either tied or won games for the Reds. King played his last major league game on October 1, 1974.
After his time in MLB, King played successfully in the Mexican League from 1975 to 1979. In 1979, playing as a designated hitter for the Saltillo Saraperos, he hit 19 home runs.
The Season-Changing Home Run
On July 1, 1973, the Cincinnati Reds were having a tough time. They were 11 games behind their rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the first game of a doubleheader, the Dodgers were leading 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Reds had two runners on base.
Even though Hal King had only one hit for the Reds that season, he was known for hitting with power. The Reds' manager, Sparky Anderson, sent King in to bat. With two balls and two strikes, King hit a walk-off home run! This meant the Reds won the game instantly.
The Reds' announcer, Al Michaels, said that hit could "turn a season around." Manager Sparky Anderson also called it a turning point. The Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper later called it "one of the most dramatic home runs in franchise history."
After King's big hit, the Reds started playing much better. They won the second game of the doubleheader and kept winning. They ended up with a 60–26 record for the rest of the season. This amazing comeback helped them pass the Dodgers and win the division championship!
Career Statistics
During his seven years in Major League Baseball, Hal King played in 322 games. He had 146 hits in 683 at bats, giving him a .214 career batting average. He also hit 24 home runs and had 82 runs batted in. As a catcher, he had a .982 career fielding percentage in 204 games.
Later Life
In 1986–87, Hal King was the president of the athletic boosters club at Oviedo High School. He passed away in 2019 in Oviedo, Florida. He had a power washing and home maintenance business there.
