Charlton Atlee Hammaker (born January 24, 1958) is an American former
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
left-handed
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
who played the majority of his career for the
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
(1982–1990). He also played for the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
,
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
, and
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...
. During his twelve-year career, he won 59 games, lost 67 games and netted five saves.
Early life
Hammaker was born in
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea (), commonly known simply as Carmel, is a city in Monterey County, California, located on the Central Coast of California. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 3,220, down from 3,722 a ...
, on January 24, 1958, the son of Miyake and Charles Hammaker. A middle child, he has one older brother, Aldine and one younger sister, Charlene. He is half
German and half
Japanese. Hammaker grew up living in many different locations due to his father's career in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
, and attended
Mount Vernon High School in
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County, officially the County of Fairfax, is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. With a population of 1,150,309 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the most p ...
, where he played basketball,
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
, and baseball. After suffering a knee injury in football his sophomore year, he began focusing on basketball.
Hammaker received a full basketball scholarship to
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is a public research university in Johnson City, Tennessee. It was historically part of the State University and Community College System of Tennessee under the Tennessee Board of Regents, but since 2016, ...
(ETSU) in
Johnson City. After being talked to and convinced by the coaches at ETSU, Hammaker decided to change his focus to baseball. He attended a
summer league in Alaska, and from there, was a first-round pick (21st overall) in the
1979 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals.
Career
In
1983
1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call.
Events January
* January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to TCP/IP is officially completed (this is considered to be the beginning of the ...
, Hammaker's best season, he led the
National League
National League often refers to:
*National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada
*National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...
with an
ERA of 2.25, a
WHIP
A whip is a blunt weapon or implement used in a striking motion to create sound or pain. Whips can be used for flagellation against humans or animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain, or be used as an audible cue thro ...
of 1.039,
BB/9IP of 1.67, and
strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safe ...
to
walk
Walking (also known as ambulation) is one of the main gaits of terrestrial locomotion among legged animals. Walking is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined as an "inverted pendulum" gait in which the body vaults over ...
ratio of 3.97. That year Hammaker won 10, lost 9, and made the
National League
National League often refers to:
*National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada
*National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...
All-Star
An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry.
Sports
"All-star" as a sport ...
team. (Through June, his record was 9–3 with an ERA of 1.52.)
1983 All-Star Game
Hammaker made the
National League All-Star team in 1983, but did not fare well, surrendering seven earned runs in 0.2 inning pitched; and he gave up the only
grand slam in All-Star Game history, to
Fred Lynn
Fredric Michael Lynn (born February 3, 1952) is an American former professional baseball center fielder who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), mostly with the Boston Red Sox and the California Angels. He was the first player to wi ...
. The American League prevailed 13–3 for their first win in
twelve years.
1987 NLCS
In Game 7 of the
1987 NLCS, Hammaker, pitching for
San Francisco
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
, gave up a three-run
homer
Homer (; , ; possibly born ) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Despite doubts about his autho ...
in the second inning to
José Oquendo, a utility infielder who had hit only one home run that season. The
Cardinals won 6–0 to advance to the
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...
.
Religion
While with the Giants, Hammaker and teammates
Scott Garrelts,
Dave Dravecky and
Jeff Brantley became known as the "God Squad" because of their strong Christian faith. Forgoing the hard-partying lifestyle of many of their teammates, they preferred to hold Bible studies in their hotel rooms while on the road.
Personal life
Hammaker is married and lives in
Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Tennessee River and had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division ...
, with his wife. He is the father of five daughters. His second oldest daughter, Jenna Hammaker-Gomes, is married to
major league player
Yan Gomes. His youngest daughter, Annalee, is married to
minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nort ...
player Josh Rolette, a catcher in the
Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. Since , the team has played its home gam ...
' farm system.
See also
*
List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
References
External links
1983 All Star Game box score
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hammaker, Atlee
1958 births
American baseball players of Japanese descent
Baseball players from Monterey County, California
Birmingham Barons players
Chicago White Sox players
East Tennessee State Buccaneers baseball players
East Tennessee State Buccaneers men's basketball players
Fort Myers Royals players
Gulf Coast Royals players
High Desert Mavericks players
Jacksonville Suns players
Kansas City Royals players
Las Vegas Stars (baseball) players
Living people
Major League Baseball pitchers
Nashville Sounds players
National League All-Stars
National League ERA champions
Omaha Royals players
Sportspeople from Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Phoenix Firebirds players
Phoenix Giants players
San Diego Padres players
San Francisco Giants players
Shreveport Captains players
Wichita Wranglers players
American men's basketball players
Peninsula Oilers players
20th-century American sportsmen