In 1983,Hubbard had his best season;he hit .263 with 14 home runs and 70 runs batted in (RBIs),as he earned his only All-Star Game appearance. During his 7th inning at-bat,announcers Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola made numerous light-hearted comments—even calling him Old Mother Hubbard—about his full beard,as beards were not in fashion at the time.[citation needed] Hubbard got a single when he hit a hard grounder to another first-time All-Star,Cal Ripken,which took a hop that Ripken couldn't handle.
Hubbard was known for his defense,and he holds the record for highest range factor per nine innings for a second baseman in MLB history. He also had the most double plays in the National League for two seasons,and from 1981–1987,he consistently finished in the top two for assists in the league.[1] In 1982,he led the league and second basemen overall in both double plays and sacrifice hits.[2]
Hubbard's willingness to stand in while turning a double play with a runner coming at him and his steady glove made him very valuable for the Braves. He holds Braves' team fielding records for second basemen in all categories.[citation needed]
Hubbard's most notable trading card is his 1984 Fleer card,in which he has an eight-foot boa constrictor draped around his neck.[3] The snake was part of a pre-game birthday ceremony for the Philadelphia Phillies' mascot,the Phillie Phanatic.[2] Hubbard had spontaneously recruited a photographer at the park to take a shot of him with the snake and did not know it would be widely seen.[2] He was subsequently surprised by its inclusion on the card and took many years to become comfortable with the image.[2]
Hubbard's career with the Braves lasted from 1978 to 1987.[4] He signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics and played with them in 1988 and 1989.[2]
In 1,354 games over 12 seasons,Hubbard posted a .244 batting average (1084-for-4441) with 545 runs,214 doubles,22 triples,70 home runs,448 RBIs,35 stolen bases,and 539 bases on balls. He recorded a .983 fielding percentage;on defense,he appeared only at second base. In seven postseason games,he hit .238 (5-for-21) with three runs,one RBI and one walk.[5]
Coaching career
In 2010,Hubbard was hired as the Braves' first base coach,under manager Bobby Cox.[4] When Fredi Gonzalez was hired as the Braves' manager on October 13,2010,Hubbard was not offered a position on his staff,and the previous hitting coach,Terry Pendleton,replaced him.[6]
The Kansas City Royals organization hired Hubbard in 2011,and in 2014,he was hired as first base coach for the Lexington Legends,who operate as the Royals' class A team.[6] On June 24,2016,the Legends held a promotional giveaway with a Glenn Hubbard bobblehead,featuring him in a Legends uniform with a boa constrictor draped across his neck,as on his Fleer card.[7]
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