An All-Star at shortstop and second base, Hamner was 17 when he made his ML debut in 1944. He stuck for good in 1949. Hamner played a key role on the 1950 pennant-winning club and hit well in the four-game WS loss to the Yankees. Regarded as one of the NL's best clutch hitters, Hamner rapped 30 or more doubles four times. He was also a superb relay man with a very strong arm. He took brief turns on the mound in 1956-57. When his career as an infielder ended after his trade to Cleveland in 1959, he joined the A's as a minor league manager and honed his knuckleball sufficiently to pitch three AL games in relief for Kansas City in 1962. Granny's brother, Garvin "Wes" Hamner, played infield with the 1945 Phillies. (AL)
Contribute your recollections of Granny Hamner by clicking here.
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»July 16, 1948:
Rookie Granny Hamner drives in seven runs to lead the Phils to an 11–10 squeaker over the Cardinals. Hamner has a pair of doubles and a single to go along with spectacular fielding, starting DPs in the 8th and 9th. Ken Heintzelman, who relieves Blix Donnelly after Stan Musial's grand slam in the 2nd, is the winner.
»August 28, 1948: The Phils snap their 10-game losing streak with a pair of victories over the Pirates, 9–2 and 11–7. Del Ennis and Andy Seminick homer in the opener to back Schoolboy Rowe. Ennis hits pair in game two, Seminick adds another, as do Eddie Miller, Granny Hamner --his first of the year -- and Al Lakeman. But the Phils lose star Richie Ashburn, who breaks a finger on his left hand.
»May 19, 1954: The Phils apologize to 2B Granny Hamner for having him followed by Charles Leland, a detective. Phils owner Robert Carpenter, suspecting that some players were not ready physically and mentally, had hired Leland to follow them. Hamner noticed Leland and reported him to the police, who promptly arrested the detective. Carpenter's apology comes with the Phils tied for 2nd place, a game behind St. Louis.
»May 11, 1958:
In the Phils 10–4 loss in the lidlifter with Pittsburgh, Phils OF Richie Ashburn pulls a muscle. He sits out the 2nd game, ending his consecutive game streak at 473. Bob Friend wins the opener, overcoming back-to-back first inning home runs by Rip Repulski and Granny Hamner. In game 2, American League castoff Bob Porterfield wins a brilliant pitching duel with Curt Simmons, winning 1–0 in 11 innings.
BALLPLAYERS | TEAMS | CHRONOLOGY | TODAY | BOOKS | NEWSLETTER | ERRATA | FAQ
