Books and articles about Burt Hooton

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Hooton acquired the ironic nickname Happy from Tommy Lasorda for never looking the part. After going 35-3 for the University of Texas, he signed with the Cubs for $50,000 in 1971 and went straight to Tacoma, where his 19-strikeout game tied a 66-year-old Pacific Coast League record. In his first three ML games, in September of that year, he held opposing hitters to a .111 average and struck out 15 in one game. The following April 16, he no-hit the Phillies in his fourth ML start. His performance steadily declined with the Cubs, but he responded to a 1975 trade to the Dodgers by winning his final 12 decisions, finishing 18-9. His unusual knuckle curve made him a mainstay of baseball's best rotation through nine seasons and three pennants. He peaked at 19-10 in 1978. During the prolonged 1981 postseason he went 4-1 with a 0.82 ERA and defeated the Yankees in the final game of the WS. (TG)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 8, 1971: Danny Goodwin is chosen as the first player in the June draft and turns down a reported $50,000 offer from the White Sox to attend Southern University. He will be chosen number one again in 1975. The Sox fail to sign 10 of their 14 picks. The Padres select P Jay Franklin with the 2nd pick. The Expos use the 4th overall pick to take 17-year-old SS Condredge Holloway, who never does play pro baseball, opting after college to play 13 seasons in the CFL. Future MVP Keith Hernandez lasts until the 42nd round (Cards). The Senators pick Dartmouth's Pete Broberg and he bypasses the minors to make his ML debut on June 20th. Other selections to jump right to the majors are the U of Texas Burt Hooton (Cubs, June 17) and MSU's Rob Ellis (Brewers, June 18). » August 17, 1971: At Tacoma, Tacoma's Burt Hooton ties a PCL record when he strikes out 19 in a 5–1 win over Eugene. » September 15, 1971: At Shea Stadium, Mike Jorgensen hits a 2-out single in the 7th to break Burt Hooton's no hit bid, and Ken Singleton follows with a homer to tie the match at 2–2. But Billy Williams clocks a pinch homer in the 9th and Hooton finishes the 3–2 victory with 15 strikeouts, notching his first ML win. In opener of the twi-night DH, Bill Hands beats Jerry Koosman, 6–2. Hands starts the Cubs' scoring with a 2-run single in the 2nd. » April 16, 1972: In Chicago, 22-year-old rookie Burt Hooton of the Cubs no-hits the Phillies 4–0. It is Hooton's 4th ML game over two seasons and he has allowed just eight hits in 30 innings. Throwing his knucklecurve, Hooton walks seven and fans 7. » September 16, 1972: At Wrigley, Glenn Beckert sets a dubious major-league record by stranding 12 base runners but his Cubs beat the Mets, 18–5. The Cubs jump first, knocking out Tom Seaver in just two 1/3 innings. After Seaver loads the bases on walks in the 3rd, pitcher Burt Hooton homers. Chicago garners 15 walks, with Elrod Hendricks walking five straight times, a National League record. Cubs 2B Glenn Beckert sets a dubious major-league record when he strands 12 baserunners. » May 2, 1975: Cubs P Burt Hooton is traded to the Dodgers for pitchers Geoff Zahn and Eddie Solomon. » September 26, 1975: Burt Hooton wins his 12th straight game, beating J.R. Richard and the Astros 3–2. Happy's 12 in a row is a Dodger record for starting pitchers. » October 12, 1977: home runs by Ron Cey, Steve Yeager, Reggie Smith, and Steve Garvey lead the Dodgers to a 6–1 win in game two of the World Series. Burt Hooton goes the distance, allowing just five hits. » October 11, 1978: The Dodgers go two games up with a 4–3 win in game 2. Ron Cey drives in all the Dodger runs and Reggie Jackson does the same for the Yankees. Bob Welch saves Burt Hooton's win in dramatic fashion by striking out Jackson in the 9th inning.