| Atlee Hammaker | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: January 24, 1958 Carmel, California |
|
| Batted: Switch | Threw: Left |
| MLB debut | |
| August 13, 1981 for the Kansas City Royals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 9, 1995 for the Chicago White Sox | |
| Career statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 59–67 |
| Earned run average | 3.66 |
| Strikeouts | 615 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | ||
| Competitor for the United States | ||
| Amateur World Series | ||
| Silver | 1978 Italy | Team |
Charlton Atlee Hammaker (born January 24, 1958 in Carmel, California) is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played the majority of his career for the San Francisco Giants from 1982 to 1990. He also played for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox. During his 12-year career, he won 59 games, lost 67 games and netted five saves.
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Hammaker was born in Carmel, California on January 24, 1958. He is the son of Charles and Myiake Hammaker. He has one older brother (Aldine) and younger sister (Charlene), making him the middle child of three. He is half Japanese and half German. Hammaker grew up living in many different locations due to his dad being in the Army. He attended Mount Vernon High School (Alexandria, Virginia) in Fairfax County, Virginia, where he played basketball, football and baseball. After suffering a knee injury in football his sophomore year he began putting all his focus into basketball. He received a full scholarship to East Tennessee State University (ETSU) for basketball. After being talked to and convinced by the coaches at ETSU he decided to change his focus over to baseball. He attended a summer league in Alaska and then from there was chosen in the number one draft pick to pitch for the Kansas City Royals.
In 1983, his best season, he led the National League in ERA (2.25), WHIP (1.039), BB/9IP (1.67), and strikeout to walk ratio (3.97). He won 10, lost 9, and made the National League All-Star team.
Hammaker made the National League All-Star team in 1983, but did not fare well, surrendering seven earned runs in 2/3 of an inning, including the first-ever and still-only grand slam in All-Star Game history to Fred Lynn.
Hammaker in San Francisco gave up a 3-run homer to José Oquendo, in Game 7 of the 1987 NLCS, which the Cardinals won 6-0 to advance to the World Series. Oquendo was a utility infielder who had hit only one homer that season, and only 14 in his career.
Hammaker is married and lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife Virginia (Jen). They met in college and decided to get married at age 20. They now have 5 daughters and have been together over 30 years. Since retired from baseball Atlee has turned his focus towards his family. He currently helps coach his daughter's high school basketball team, owns a few small businesses and gives pitching lessons. His eldest daughter, Erica, is married and living in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband. His second oldest daughter, Jenna, is now in college at the University of Tennessee. Middle daughter Alesa attends Berry College in Rome, Georgia, where she is also part of the Lady Vikings Basketball team. His youngest daughters Christa and Anna are both still at home finishing up school.
| Preceded by Steve Rogers |
National League ERA Champion 1983 |
Succeeded by Alejandro Pena |
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