Hamner was born in Richmond, Virginia and graduated from Benedictine High School. His brother Garvin was also an infielder in the big leagues. "Granny" spent 15+1⁄2 years with the Phillies, having come to the club as a 17-year-old during World War II. In 1945, still seventeen, he became the youngest player ever to start an Opening Day game, a record that still stands as of 2022.[1] By the Phillies' 1950 NL pennant season, he was one of the team leaders, age 23. A right-handed hitting shortstop with moderate power, Hamner compiled more than 80 runs batted in (RBI) four times.
An All-Star three years in a row, Hamner was the National League's starting shortstop in the 1952 All-Star Game, played on his home field, Shibe Park, in Philadelphia. The game was called off after five innings due to rain.
On May 16, 1959, Hamner was traded to the Cleveland Indians, but he batted only .164 for the remainder of the campaign. Hamner then became a Kansas City Athletics’ Minor League Baseball (MiLB), manager, reappearing briefly with the A's as a pitcher during the 1962 season. (He had begun dabbling on the mound for the 1956-57 Phillies).[3] But the change did not prolong Hamner's playing career. He briefly managed in the Phils' farm system in the 1970s and 1980s.
In 17 major league seasons, Hamner compiled a .262 batting average with 104 home runs. As a pitcher, he was winless with two losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 5.40, in seven games, and 13+1⁄3innings pitched.[4]
Later lifeedit
In 1980, Hamner was one of several drivers who were able to stop their vehicles on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida before reaching the gap in the roadway caused by the collapse of a span after the freighterMVSummit Venture collided with the bridge.[5]
^Sarah Langs (2019). "Youngest Players to Start on Opening Day". MLB. mlb.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
^"Hamner is Given Authority as Team Captain of Phillies". Milwaukee Journal. March 18, 1952. p. 2.
^Preston, JG (2 November 2009). "Major league players who converted to pitching after becoming minor league managers". prestonjg.wordpress.com. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
^Conlin, Bill (15 September 1993). "A Date with Fate Hamner Once Survived Collapse of Bridge over Troubled Waters". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
^"Granny Hamner's New York Times Obituary". thedeadballera.com. The Deadball Era. September 14, 1993. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
Further readingedit
DeLuca, Duke (1972-04-18). "Off the Cuff". Reading Eagle. p. 30. Kaplan, Mathew (2018-04-08). "Granny Hamner: More Than Baseball".
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
January 01, 1970
granny, hamner, granville, wilbur, granny, hamner, april, 1927, september, 1993, american, professional, baseball, shortstop, second, baseman, major, league, baseball, hamner, players, whiz, kids, 1950, national, league, champion, philadelphia, phillies, short. Granville Wilbur Granny Hamner April 26 1927 September 12 1993 was an American professional baseball shortstop and second baseman in Major League Baseball MLB Hamner was one of the key players on the Whiz Kids the 1950 National League NL champion Philadelphia Phillies Granny HamnerShortstop Second basemanBorn 1927 04 26 April 26 1927Richmond Virginia U S Died September 12 1993 1993 09 12 aged 66 Philadelphia Pennsylvania U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutSeptember 14 1944 for the Philadelphia PhilliesLast MLB appearanceAugust 1 1962 for the Kansas City AthleticsMLB statisticsBatting average 262Home runs104Runs batted in708TeamsPhiladelphia Phillies 1944 1959 Cleveland Indians 1959 Kansas City Athletics 1962 Career highlights and awards3 All Star 1952 1954 Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame Contents 1 Career 2 Later life 3 Notes 4 Further reading 5 External linksCareer editHamner was born in Richmond Virginia and graduated from Benedictine High School His brother Garvin was also an infielder in the big leagues Granny spent 15 1 2 years with the Phillies having come to the club as a 17 year old during World War II In 1945 still seventeen he became the youngest player ever to start an Opening Day game a record that still stands as of 2022 1 By the Phillies 1950 NL pennant season he was one of the team leaders age 23 A right handed hitting shortstop with moderate power Hamner compiled more than 80 runs batted in RBI four times In the 1950 World Series a four game New York Yankees sweep dominated by Yankee pitchers Hamner batted 429 6 for 14 with three extra base hits In March 1952 manager Eddie Sawyer named Hamner team captain of the Phillies 2 An All Star three years in a row Hamner was the National League s starting shortstop in the 1952 All Star Game played on his home field Shibe Park in Philadelphia The game was called off after five innings due to rain On May 16 1959 Hamner was traded to the Cleveland Indians but he batted only 164 for the remainder of the campaign Hamner then became a Kansas City Athletics Minor League Baseball MiLB manager reappearing briefly with the A s as a pitcher during the 1962 season He had begun dabbling on the mound for the 1956 57 Phillies 3 But the change did not prolong Hamner s playing career He briefly managed in the Phils farm system in the 1970s and 1980s In 17 major league seasons Hamner compiled a 262 batting average with 104 home runs As a pitcher he was winless with two losses with an earned run average ERA of 5 40 in seven games and 13 1 3 innings pitched 4 Later life editIn 1980 Hamner was one of several drivers who were able to stop their vehicles on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida before reaching the gap in the roadway caused by the collapse of a span after the freighter MV Summit Venture collided with the bridge 5 In 1981 Hamner was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame On September 12 1993 Hamner died of a heart attack at age 66 in Philadelphia 6 Notes edit Sarah Langs 2019 Youngest Players to Start on Opening Day MLB mlb com Retrieved October 5 2022 Hamner is Given Authority as Team Captain of Phillies Milwaukee Journal March 18 1952 p 2 Preston JG 2 November 2009 Major league players who converted to pitching after becoming minor league managers prestonjg wordpress com Retrieved January 30 2017 Granny Hamner Stats Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC 2020 Retrieved April 2 2020 Conlin Bill 15 September 1993 A Date with Fate Hamner Once Survived Collapse of Bridge over Troubled Waters St Louis Post Dispatch Retrieved 13 February 2019 Granny Hamner s New York Times Obituary thedeadballera com The Deadball Era September 14 1993 Retrieved April 2 2020 Further reading editDeLuca Duke 1972 04 18 Off the Cuff Reading Eagle p 30 Kaplan Mathew 2018 04 08 Granny Hamner More Than Baseball External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or ESPN or Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Granny Hamner amp oldid 1167149774, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
