Steve Hamilton | |||
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Pitcher | |||
Born: Columbia, Kentucky |
November 30, 1934|||
Died: December 2, 1997 Morehead, Kentucky |
(aged 63)|||
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MLB debut | |||
April 23, 1961, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
August 16, 1972, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Win–loss record | 40–31 | ||
Earned run average | 3.05 | ||
Strikeouts | 531 | ||
Teams | |||
Personal information | |
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Born |
Columbia, Kentucky |
November 30, 1934
Died | December 2, 1997 Morehead, Kentucky |
(aged 63)
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Charlestown (Charlestown, Indiana) |
College | Morehead State (1954–1958) |
NBA draft | 1958 / Round: 2 / Pick: 8th overall |
Selected by the Minneapolis Lakers | |
Playing career | 1958–1960 |
Position | Forward / Center |
Number | 30 |
Career history | |
1958–1960 | Minneapolis Lakers |
Career NBA statistics | |
Points | 368 (4.5 ppg) |
Rebounds | 278 (3.4 rpg) |
Assists | 43 (0.5 apg) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Steven Absher Hamilton (November 30, 1934 – December 2, 1997) was a Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Basketball Association (NBA) player.
He was mostly a relief pitcher during his 12 MLB seasons, including a stint as the New York Yankees closer during the 1968 season. In 421 career games (17 starts) from 1961 to 1972 he had a 40–31 record with 42 saves and a 3.05 earned run average. He pitched 1 inning during the Yankees 1963 World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers and 2 innings during the Yankees 1964 World Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, including 1 save. He also pitched in the 1971 NLCS for the San Francisco Giants.
His one complete game shutout was on August 5, 1966, against the Cleveland Indians, while pitching for the New York Yankees. He gave up 5 hits, walked 1 and struck out 3. It was one of only 3 starts he had in the 1966 season.
Late in his career Hamilton threw the famed "folly-floater", a high, slow eephus pitch. Other pitchers that have thrown a lob pitch include Rip Sewell and Dave LaRoche. One of his most famous moments involving this pitch occurred on June 24, 1970, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians. Hamilton threw a "folly floater" to Indian slugger Tony Horton, who fouled it out of play. Horton asked for another; Hamilton obliged and again threw him the pitch, and again Horton hit it into foul territory — this time into Thurman Munson's mitt for an out. An embarrassed Horton crawled back into the dugout on all fours. A clip of this can be found on Video on YouTube.