Ken Hill (baseball) facts for kids

Kenneth Wade Hill (born December 14, 1965) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for 14 years, pitching for seven different teams between 1988 and 2001. In 1994, as a member of the Montreal Expos, he was chosen for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. That same year, he tied for the most wins in the National League. Ken Hill also pitched in the 1995 World Series when he played for the Cleveland Indians.

Ken Hill's Baseball Journey

Early Life and Start in Baseball

Ken Hill was born on December 14, 1965. He grew up in Lynn, Massachusetts. He went to Lynn Classical High School and graduated in 1983. After high school, he attended North Adams State College.

Hill began his professional baseball career when he signed with the Detroit Tigers on February 14, 1985. He made his first professional appearance that year. He played for the Gastonia Jets, a Class A team.

Rising Through the Minor Leagues

In 1986, Hill continued to play for the Gastonia Jets. He had a good season, winning 9 games and losing 5. Later that year, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He then played for the Arkansas Travelers, a Class AA team.

Hill spent 1987 playing for both Arkansas and the St. Petersburg Cardinals. He continued to gain experience as a pitcher.

Major League Debut and Early Years

In 1988, Ken Hill made his big league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals. His first game was on September 3. He pitched three innings against the Houston Astros.

In 1989, Hill was called up by the Cardinals again. He finished that season with 7 wins and 15 losses. However, he had a good ERA of 3.80. After a tough 1990 season, Hill improved in 1991. He won 11 games and lost 10, with an ERA of 3.57.

Success with the Montreal Expos

In November 1991, Ken Hill was traded to the Montreal Expos. This move helped him find his best form. He became a very successful pitcher for the Expos.

Hill wore a White Sox jersey for only two games before leaving the team in 2000.

In 1992, Hill won 16 games for the Expos. He had a strong ERA of 2.68. His 1994 season was even more impressive. He won 16 games and lost only 5, with a 3.32 ERA. The 1994 season ended early because of a baseball strike. If the season had continued, he was on track to win 23 games.

Hill was also selected as an All-Star in 1994. He pitched two innings in the All-Star Game. He finished second in the voting for the Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher.

Moving Teams and World Series Appearance

After his time with the Expos, Hill returned to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1995. He then was traded to the Cleveland Indians. He pitched very well for the Indians, winning 4 games and losing 1 for the rest of the regular season. He also helped them in the postseason, winning 2 games and losing 1. He pitched in the 1995 World Series with the Indians.

In 1996, Hill signed with the Texas Rangers. He tied for the team lead with 16 wins. He helped the Rangers reach the postseason for the first time in their history.

Later Career and Retirement

In 1997, an injury affected Ken Hill's career. He was later traded to the Anaheim Angels. He played for the Angels for a few years. In 1999, he moved to the bullpen, pitching in relief rather than starting games.

He was released by the Angels in August 2000. He then briefly signed with the Chicago White Sox. After a short time with them, he was released again.

In 2001, Hill joined the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He appeared in five games before being released in April. He later signed with the Cincinnati Reds and then the Boston Red Sox organizations, but he did not play in any more Major League games.

Personal Life

Ken Hill lives in Keller, Texas. His son, Kenny Hill, played quarterback for Texas Christian University. His youngest son, Marcus, played baseball for Southlake Carroll Dragons and now plays for Eastern Kentucky University.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
• List of Texas Rangers Opening Day starting pitchers