The speedy Hatcher was traded from the Cubs to the Astros in December 1985 and took over as Houston's primary leadoff man and center fielder the next season. He hit .258 with 38 stolen bases that year as the Astros won 96 games and an NL West title, but his most memorable contribution came during the club's epic Game Six NLCS loss to the Mets. With Houston trailing by a run in the bottom of the 14th inning, Hatcher (who had connected for just six round trippers during the regular season) launched a drive deep down the left field line that landed just foul, but moments later lined a Jesse Orosco delivery off the left field foul screen to tie the game. The Mets would go on to win the game and the series in the 16th inning.
Hatcher was ejected from a September 1, 1987 game against Chicago when the barrel of his bat split, revealing it had been corked. He claimed he had no idea the bat had been doctored, that he had borrowed it from reliever Dave Smith, who had used it only during batting practice. Nevertheless, Hatcher received a 10-day suspension. Whatever the reason, that season proved to be Hatcher's most successful at the plate, as he set career bests with a .296 batting average, 11 home runs, 63 RBIs, 96 runs scored and 53 stolen bases (ranking third in the NL). Hatcher dropped to .268 with seven home runs the next year, and was dealt to Pittsburgh in August 1989. The Pirates turned around and sent him to Cincinnati the next April. Hatcher batted .276 with 30 steals for the Reds, who went wire-to-wire in winning the NL West, but again saved his best for the post-season. In Cincinnati's stunning four-game upset of the A's in the Fall Classic, Hatcher tied Thurman Munson's World Series record with seven consecutive hits over the first two games, and finished the series with nine hits (including four doubles and a triple) in 12 at-bats for a .750 clip.
After one more year in the Queen City, the oft-traveled Hatcher was sent to Boston in July 1992. He spent his last full-time season in a Red Sox uniform, batting .287 with nine home runs in 1993. He was on the move again in 1994 after Boston dealt him to Philadelphia that May, and closed out his career with six games for Texas the next season.
(JCA)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»July 5, 1985: At Wrigley Field, the first three hitters in the Cubs' announced batting order are Billy Hatcher, Davey Lopes, and Ryne Sandberg. After Hatcher walks, Lopes takes a strike before someone in the Cubs' dugout sees that the lineup card submitted to the umpire has Sandberg listed second and Lopes third. Sandberg then finishes the at-bat (during which Hatcher is picked off) and singles. Lopes, hitting in his proper turn, doubles Sandberg home. All for naught as the Giants beat them, 12-6.
»June 3, 1987: The Cubs rout Houston 22–7 at Wrigley Field in a game that features a ML-record-tying three grand slams. Keith Moreland and Brian Dayett hit grand slams for Chicago and Billy Hatcher connects for the Astros to equal the record set by the Orioles and Rangers last August 6th.
»September 1, 1987:
In a 3–2 loss to the Cubs, Houston's Billy Hatcher becomes the first player this season to be ejected for using an illegal corked bat, and will eventually be suspended for 10 games by National League president Bart Giamatti. Hatcher claims he borrowed the bat from P Dave Smith and only used it in batting practice. Baseball has seen a rash of protests regarding allegedly doctored bats this season, partly in response to the record number of home runs being hit.
»August 18, 1989: Andre Dawson gets his 2,000th career hit in the Cubs' 6–5 loss to Houston. Houston scores twice in the 9th against four Cub relievers. After the game, the Astros trade Billy Hatcher, who had a pinch single in the 9th today, to the Pirates for Glenn Wilson.
»August 21, 1990:
Billy Hatcher ties a major-league record with four doubles to pace the Reds to an 8–1 win over the Cubs. Rick Mahler beats Mike Harkey. The only score for Chicago in Ryne Sandberg's 29th homer.
»October 17, 1990: In the first extra-inning World Series game since 1986, the underdog Reds beat the A's 5–4 in 10 innings to take a surprising 2-0 lead in the Series. Reds OF Billy Hatcher goes 4-for-4 to run his consecutive hit streak to 7, tying Thurman Munson's World Series record.
»July 9, 1992:
The Red Sox trade P Tom Bolton to the Reds in exchange for OF Billy Hatcher.
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