Ken Hubbs

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Ken Hubbs
Second Baseman
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 10, 1961 for the Chicago Cubs
Final game
September 29, 1963 for the Chicago Cubs
Career statistics
Batting average	.247
Home runs	14
Runs scored	148
Teams
Chicago Cubs (1961-1963)
Career highlights and awards
Rookie of the Year Award (NL): 1962 Gold Glove Award (NL 2B): 1962

Kenneth Douglas Hubbs (December 23, 1941 - February 13, 1964) was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs.

Born in Riverside, California, Hubbs played a few games for the Cubs in 1961, but became the starting second baseman in 1962, winning the Rookie of the Year award. As a fielder, he set records with 78 consecutive errorless games and 418 total chances, and he became the first rookie to ever win a Gold Glove Award. He also led the league in two less desirable categories that season by striking out 129 times and grounding into 20 double plays. His prime achievement as a fielder may have come on September 30, when he started a triple play in a game against the New York Mets.

Hubbs was afraid of flying, and he decided to overcome that fear by taking flying lessons. He was killed at age 22 in a crash while flying his Cessna 172, with friend Dennis Doyle as a passenger, near Provo, Utah. The crash was attributed to poor weather. Hubbs had obtained his license only two weeks earlier.

According to The Baseball Hall of Shame by Nash and Zullo, a Topps Bubblegum card in 1966 included statistics and information on Cubs' pitcher Dick Ellsworth--but used the picture of the deceased Hubbs.

Hubbs plays a prominent role in Martin Ralbovsky's best-selling book Destiny's Darlings, a historical work dealing with the lives of various children who played in the 1954 Little League World Series.