Glenn Hubbard | |
---|---|
Second baseman | |
Born: Hahn AFB, West Germany | September 25, 1957|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
July 14, 1978, for the Atlanta Braves | |
Last MLB appearance | |
July 29, 1989, for the Oakland Athletics | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .244 |
Home runs | 70 |
Runs batted in | 448 |
Teams | |
As player As coach | |
Career highlights and awards | |
Glenn Dee Hubbard (born September 25,1957) is an American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a second baseman for the Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics from 1978 to 1989. He was a MLB All-Star in 1983. Hubbard coached for the Braves from 1999 to 2010.
Hubbard attended Wheatland High School,just outside Beale AFB,California,where his father was stationed. He finished high school at Ben Lomond High School when his father moved to Hill Air Force Base near Ogden,Utah. Out of high school,he was a 20th round selection in the 1975 MLB draft. The Braves promoted him to the major leagues in 1978. Hubbard hit his first major league home run on September 23,1978.
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. Hubbard got a single when he hit a hard grounder to another first-time All-Star,Cal Ripken. The ball took a wicked hop that Ripken couldn't handle.
Hubbard was known more for his fielding than his hitting. His 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. He was also an excellent bunter and in 1982 he led the National League in sacrifice hits.
Hubbard's most notable trading card is the 1984 Fleer version in which he has an eight-foot boa constrictor draped around his neck. [1]
Hubbard's career with the Braves lasted from 1978 to 1987. Hubbard signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics and played with them in 1988 and 1989.
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. [2]
Hubbard was the Braves' first base coach from 1999 to 2010 under manager Bobby Cox. When Fredi Gonzalez was hired as the Braves manager on October 13,2010,Hubbard was not offered a position on his staff. The previous hitting coach,Terry Pendleton,replaced him.
The Kansas City Royals organization hired Hubbard in 2011. As of the 2015 season Hubbard is now bench coach for the Lexington Legends who operate as the Royals class A team. 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,an image made popular by his 1984 Fleer baseball card.
Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr.,nicknamed "The Iron Man",is an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire 21-season career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1981–2001). One of his position's most offensively productive players,Ripken compiled 3,184 hits,431 home runs,and 1,695 runs batted in during his career,and he won two Gold Glove Awards for his defense. He was a 19-time All-Star and was twice named American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP). Ripken holds the record for consecutive games played (2,632),having surpassed Lou Gehrig's streak of 2,130 that had stood for 56 years and that many deemed unbreakable. In 2007,he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility with 98.53% of votes,the sixth-highest election percentage ever.
Edwin Lee Mathews was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) third baseman. He played 17 seasons for Boston / Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves (1952–1966);Houston Astros (1967) and Detroit Tigers (1967–68). Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978,he is the only player to have represented the Braves in the three American cities they have called home. He played 1,944 games for the Braves during their 13-season tenure in Milwaukee—the prime of Mathews' career.
Eddie Clarence Murray,nicknamed "Steady Eddie",is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) first baseman,designated hitter,and coach. Spending most of his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles,he ranks fourth in team history in both games played and hits. Though Murray never won a Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award,he finished in the top ten in MVP voting several times. He had 996 runs batted in in the 1980s,more than any other player. After his playing career,Murray coached for the Orioles,Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Hubert "Hubie" Brooks is an American former professional baseball right fielder,third baseman,and shortstop. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1980 to 1994 for the New York Mets,Montreal Expos,Los Angeles Dodgers,California Angels,and Kansas City Royals. Brooks was selected third overall in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets and went on to play for five different teams over a 15-year career,and was twice named an All-Star. MLB pitcher Donnie Moore was Brooks' cousin.
Jermaine Trevell Dye is an American former professional baseball right fielder. Dye grew up in Northern California and was a multi-sport star at Will C. Wood High School in Vacaville. Dye attended Cosumnes River College in Sacramento,where he played as a right fielder on a team that reached the playoffs. Dye played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves (1996),Kansas City Royals (1997–2001),Oakland Athletics (2001–2004),and the Chicago White Sox (2005–2009). He won the World Series MVP with the White Sox in 2005. Dye batted and threw right-handed;in his prime,he was known for his ability to hit for power and his powerful throwing arm. Dye announced his retirement on March 31,2011.
Ted Lyle Simmons is an American former professional baseball player and coach. A switch-hitter,Simmons was a catcher for most of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the St. Louis Cardinals (1968–1980),the Milwaukee Brewers (1981–1985) and the Atlanta Braves (1986–1988). Although he was often overshadowed by his contemporary,Johnny Bench,Simmons is considered one of the best hitting catchers in MLB history. While his power numbers paled in comparison to Bench,Simmons still managed to hit for a higher batting average despite playing home games in a notoriously tough hitter's park.
William Oliver Ripken,nicknamed Billy the Kid,is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1987–1998 for the Baltimore Orioles,Texas Rangers,Cleveland Indians (1995),and Detroit Tigers (1998). During his career,he batted and threw right-handed. He is the younger brother of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. He currently serves as a radio host for XM Satellite Radio and a studio analyst for MLB Network.
Ronald Edwin Gant is an American television news anchor and former professional baseball outfielder,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves (1987–1993),Cincinnati Reds (1995),St. Louis Cardinals (1996–1998),Philadelphia Phillies (1999–2000),Anaheim Angels (2000),Colorado Rockies (2001),Oakland Athletics,and San Diego Padres (2002). Gant is currently a co-host on WAGA-TV's morning news program Good Day Atlanta.
Philip Mason Garner is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as an infielder with the Oakland Athletics,Pittsburgh Pirates,Houston Astros,Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants from 1973 to 1988. With the Pirates,he won the 1979 World Series over the Baltimore Orioles. He was manager of the Astros from July 14,2004 to August 27,2007,leading Houston to a World Series appearance in 2005.
William Henry Robinson,Jr. was an American professional baseball outfielder,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1966 to 1983,for several teams. He also played some first and third base. Robinson batted and threw right-handed.
Herman Thomas Davis Jr. was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a left fielder and third baseman from 1959 to 1976 for ten different teams,most prominently for the Los Angeles Dodgers where he was a two-time National League batting champion and was a member of the 1963 World Series winning team.
Michael Peter Aldrete is an American former professional baseball first baseman/outfielder and current coach. He is currently the first base coach for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Robert Tolan is an American former professional baseball center fielder / right fielder,and coach,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals (1965–1968),Cincinnati Reds (1969–1973),San Diego Padres,Philadelphia Phillies (1976–1977),and Pittsburgh Pirates (1977);he also played one season in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB),for the Nankai Hawks (1978). Tolan batted and threw left-handed.
Francis Elmore Bolling was an American baseball second baseman who played twelve seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves from 1954 until 1966. He batted and threw right-handed,and was the younger brother of shortstop Milt Bolling.
Danny Kay Goodwin is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman and designated hitter from 1975 to 1982. He also played in the Nippon Professional Baseball league with the Nankai Hawks in 1986. Goodwin is the only baseball player to be drafted first overall in the Major League draft in two separate drafts.
David Lawrence McKay is a Canadian professional baseball coach and former second baseman and third baseman who is the first base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins,Toronto Blue Jays,and Oakland Athletics,and has previously coached for the Athletics,St. Louis Cardinals,and Chicago Cubs. He is the father of former catcher Cody McKay.
Philip Anthony Roof is an American former professional baseball player,coach and minor league manager. He played for 15 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball in 1961 and from 1964 to 1977,most notably for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics and the Minnesota Twins. Although Roof did not produce impressive offensive statistics,he excelled defensively as a catcher which enabled him to sustain a lengthy career in the major leagues due to his valuable defensive abilities. He was the first player acquired by the expansion Toronto Blue Jays.
Michael Steven Hessman is an American former professional baseball first baseman and third baseman. He is currently a hitting coach for the Toledo Mud Hens. He played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves,Detroit Tigers,and New York Mets,and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes.
Matthew Kent Olson is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics.
Ramón Laureano Jr. is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2018.