Where Are They Now? - Interview

Former Player RON HUNT Recalls His Big League Career

In 1971, second baseman set a major league record when he was hit by a pitch 50 times with the Expos

EVERY MAJOR LEAGUER DOES his best to get hits while batting. Ron Hunt may be the only player in history who went all-out to get hit during every plate appearance.

A second baseman with five National League teams from 1963 to 1974, the right-handed hitting Hunt crowded the plate no matter who was on the mound. His fearless style of play resulted in 243 hit by pitches.

Only Don Baylor (who had nearly 3,000 more career at-bats) had a higher total with 267 HBPs.

Except for 1965 when injuries limited him to 57 games, Hunt was in double figures in hit by pitches every season of his career. From 1968 to 1970, 1972 and 1973, Hunt was drilled 24 to 26 times each year.

When it comes to unbeatable records, Hunt's total of 50 HBPs during his first season with the Expos in 1971 will have few if any challenges in the future.

"I worked and practiced in full uniform in a mirror to make sure I was perfect," Hunt said. "I'd stand right on top of the plate. An inside pitch had to be right on the corner, or it would hit me. The umpires never called me for getting hit on purpose."

Originally signed by the Milwaukee Braves, Hunt was purchased by the Mets prior to the 1963 season. He made the jump to the majors from Austin of the Texas League.

"The Mets were using me as a bullpen catcher," he recalls. "During spring training, Casey Stengel told me to come to him rather than going to the press if I ever had any problems."

That's exactly what the brash rookie did.

"Larry Burright wasn't doing too well," Hunt said. "I went up to Casey after a game in the Polo Grounds and said This is Ron Hunt, number 33. I'm not a bullpen catcher. I can play second base. If you want me to go to the minors every day until you need me, I'll do it."

Hunt's boldness paid off.

"I guess Casey took a liking to me," Hunt laughed. "He said, `Do you want to play that badly, son? You're in the lineup tomorrow."

Hunt took advantage of the opportunity and ended the season with a .272 average in 143 games. He finished second to Pete Rose in the N.L. Rookie of the Year balloting.

Hunt had 13 HBPs in his first season, and he credits Stengel with putting him on a bruising career path.

"There was a tie game where Elio Chacon was batting with the bases loaded, and he dove out of the way of an inside pitch," Hunt said. "Casey screamed about that, because we could have won the game if he got hit. After that, Casey said that anyone who won a game by getting hit would get a $50 bonus."

Unlike today, young major leaguers earned meager wages in the '60s, asHunt explained.

"My first contract was for $7,000," he said. "We couldn't afford to live in New York, so my wife Jackie found us a place in New Jersey. I drove an 18-wheeler for $2.85 an hour in the offseason. I've never' been allergic to work."

Players seldom received midseason raises, and Hunt's bonus didn't push him into a higher tax bracket.

"Casey called me in during my rookie year and said "You need a raise?' Hunt remembers. "I said, `Yes, sir.' He gave me a $500 raise, so I was making $7,500 a year."

Hunt hit .303 in 1964 and was named to the National League All-Star team. He also appeared in the 1966 All-Star contest.

A trade to the Dodgers prior to the 1967 season caught Hunt by surprise.

"I found out about it when Dick Young (famed New York sportswriter) called me," he said. "I was crying on the phone. Getting traded for the first time is tough."

Hunt hit .263 in his only season in Los Angeles. He was swapped to the Giants and spent three seasons in Candlestick Park.

"That's when I really started getting hit by pitches," Hunt laughed. "But why would you hit me to face Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Jim Ray Hart?" During Hunt's time with the Giants, McCovey told him, "If you're crazy enough to go after that record, you can have it."

As his career progressed, Hunt choked up more and more on the bat until his hands were six inches above the knob.

"There aren't any hits in the handle, so I got rid of it," he explained. As someone who seldom struck out, punched the ball and did everything possible to get on base, Hunt batted in the first or second spots throughout his 12 years in the majors.

During his record-setting 1971 season, Hunt batted .279 in 520 at-bats. He struck out fewer times (41) than he was hit by pitches (50). It was a feat he duplicated in 1973 when he hit a career-high .309 and came close to achieving in 1970 and 1972.

How many broken bones did Hunt endure in his career?

"None that I know of," he stated. "I played with bruises and ouches. That's something that players don't do today." Ironically, Hunt appeared in a career-high 152 games in 1971 when he was being drilled on a constant basis.

In his final season (1974), Hunt's HBP total fell below 20 (16) for the first time in seven years. He was traded to his hometown Cardinals in September and played a dozen games for the Redbirds.