Highlighted Year: Ken Hunt, 1961

Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds

Age: 22

1^st season with Reds

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1961:

A native of Ogden, Utah, Hunt was born into one of the Mormon families that originally migrated to the state. Tall and athletic by the time he reached high school, Hunt achieved all-state recognition in basketball as well as baseball. As a pitcher he hurled two no-hitters, one in which he struck out 21 batters. Receiving a scholarship to Brigham Young University, he signed with the Reds in 1958, receiving a reported bonus of $35,000. Assigned to Visalia of the Class C California League where he experienced problems with his control on the way to a 2-5 record and 9.00 ERA while issuing 75 walks in addition to 34 strikeouts over 54 innings. He also hit 7 batters and unleashed 13 wild pitches. Returning to Visalia in 1959, the newly married Hunt showed some progress while producing a 4-14 tally and 6.66 ERA. The hard-throwing 20-year-old struck out 160 batters while walking 185 over 150 innings. In addition to 16 wild pitches he again hit 7 batters. Moving along to Columbia of the Class A South Atlantic (or Sally) League in 1960 he showed tremendous improvement in compiling a 16-6 record and 2.86 ERA and a league-leading 221 strikeouts while reducing his walks to 134 over 211 innings. Not expected to make the Reds entering spring training in 1961, he pitched his way onto the pitching staff with a fine Grapefruit League performance which featured his fastball with plenty of motion and an effective curve.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 29 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 29

Games Started – 22

Complete Games – 4

Wins – 9

Losses – 10

PCT - .474

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 136.1

Hits – 130

Runs – 70

Earned Runs – 60

Home Runs – 13

Bases on Balls – 66 [16]

Strikeouts – 75 

ERA – 3.96 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 6 [5, tied with six others]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 5 

Midseason Snapshot: 9-4, ERA - 3.35, SO – 60 in 102 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 7 (in 9 IP) at San Francisco 5/29

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 7 IP) at Philadelphia 6/16

Batting

PA – 44, AB – 39, R – 0, H – 7, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 3, BB – 2, SO – 19, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .179, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 3, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 34

Put Outs – 10

Assists – 19

Errors – 5

DP – 2

Pct. - .853

Postseason Pitching: G – 1 (World Series vs. NY Yankees)

GS – 0, CG – 0, GF – 1, Record – 0-0, PCT – .000, ERA – 0.00, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 1, H – 0, R – 0, ER – 0, HR – 0, BB – 1, SO – 1, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

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The Reds went 93-61 to win the NL pennant by 4 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The pitching staff led the league in shutouts (12), saves (40), fewest hits allowed (1300), and fewest runs allowed (653). The lightly regarded Reds were paced by their formidable hitting and decent starting pitching that featured righthanders Joey Jay and Bob Purkey, and LHP Jim O’Toole, supported by relievers Jim Brosnan and Bill Henry. They put together a 54-30 first half and remained strong down the stretch to hold off the Dodgers and nail down the first Cincinnati pennant since 1940. Lost World Series to the New York Yankees, 4 games to 1. Hunt was impressive during the season’s first half until shoulder soreness set in. He didn’t win a game after July 7 and lost six straight decisions, including his final start on Sept. 4. Utilized in relief thereafter he made one appearance from the bullpen in the World Series.

Aftermath of 1961:

Following the season, Hunt enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard. He reported late to spring training in 1962 amid higher expectations than the previous year but pitched poorly in seven spring appearances. Sent down to San Diego of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, he split time between San Diego and Macon of the Sally League, producing a combined record of 2-8 with a 7.67 ERA and 34 strikeouts with 80 walks over 61 innings. 1963 was pretty much a repeat performance, splitting time between San Diego and Macon and compiling a combined tally of 7-9 with a 4.50 ERA and 56 strikeouts with 89 walks over 88 innings. Hunt lasted two more seasons in the minor leagues before retiring in 1965, having never regained the form that brought him some success with the Reds in 1961, his only major league season. He blamed changes in his delivery as a result of blisters and shoulder problems with his demise as a pitcher. After baseball he taught English while coaching the baseball and basketball teams at Morgan High School in Utah. He died at age 69 in 2008.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.