Billy Hoeft

Billy Hoeft

Hoeft with the Tigers
Pitcher
Born: (1932-05-17)May 17, 1932
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Died: March 16, 2010(2010-03-16) (aged 77)
Canadian Lakes, Michigan
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 18, 1952, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
September 25, 1966, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
Win–loss record 97–101
Earned run average 3.94
Strikeouts 1,140
Teams
Career highlights and awards

William Frederick Hoeft (May 17, 1932 – March 16, 2010) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball whose career spanned 15 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Braves, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants. He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Detroit Tigers (1952–1959)

Hoeft was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent in 1950. He made his major league debut on April 18, 1952 for the Tigers, and went on to pitch seven full seasons in Detroit.

On September 7, 1953, Hoeft struck out three batters on nine pitches in the seventh inning of a 6–2 win over the Chicago White Sox. Hoeft became the fourth American League pitcher and the ninth pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the nine-strike/three-strikeout half-inning.

On June 24, 1955, Hoeft surrendered the first home run in the career of Harmon Killebrew, who would eventually hit 573 home runs in his career. He was chosen to be part of the American League All-Star squad in 1955 (in his only baseball all-star selection).

He was primarily used as a starting pitcher in Detroit, starting in 176 games during his time there. His best season came in 1956, when he won 20 games and pitched 18 complete games. He also showed occasional potential as a power hitter, once tying an American League record for consecutive home runs by a pitcher with two to begin a game.

Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles (1959–1962)

In May 1959, Hoeft was dealt to the Boston Red Sox for Dave Sisler and Ted Lepcio. He was the losing pitcher in three of his five appearances for Boston, and was dealt to Baltimore for Jack Harshman after a little more than a month.

Hoeft remained in Baltimore through the 1962 season, where he was primarily used as a relief pitcher, although he did start 16 games for the Orioles. During the 1961 season, Hoeft posted a career best Earned Run Average of 2.02 in 12 starts and 23 relief appearances.

San Francisco, Milwaukee and Chicago (1963–1966)

After the 1962 season, Baltimore traded Hoeft, as well as Jimmie Coker and Jack Fisher to the San Francisco Giants for Stu Miller, Mike McCormick and John Orsino.

In 23 appearances for San Francisco during the 1963 season, Hoeft saved four games and posted an earned run average of 4.44. After the season ended, he was dealt to the Milwaukee Braves, along with Felipe Alou, Ed Bailey and a player to be named later for Del Crandall, Bob Shaw and Bob Hendley. San Francisco ended up sending Ernie Bowman to Milwaukee to complete the deal.

In Milwaukee, Hoeft put up slightly better numbers than he did in San Francisco, appearing in 42 games and posting an ERA of 3.80. He saved four games for the Braves in the 1964 season.

After the 1964 season, Hoeft entered free agency, and was re-signed by his original team, the Detroit Tigers. He was released during spring training for the 1965 season. Shortly afterwards, the Chicago Cubs signed Hoeft to a contract for the 1965 season, where he posted an ERA of 2.81 in two starts and 29 appearances for the Cubs.

Hoeft's last season in Major League Baseball was 1966, as he appeared in 36 games for the Cubs, before being released in August. In September, he was signed by the San Francisco Giants once more, where he appeared in only four games. His ERA during his second stint in San Francisco was a career high 7.36.

Death

Hoeft died in Canadian Lakes, Michigan, at the age of 77.

See also

External links

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