Atlee Hammaker

Atlee Hammaker
Pitcher
Born: January 24, 1958 (1958-01-24) Carmel, California
Batted: Switch	Threw: Left
MLB debut
August 13, 1981 for the Kansas City Royals
Last MLB appearance
August 9, 1995 for the Chicago White Sox
Career statistics
Win–loss record	59–67
Earned run average	3.66
Strikeouts	615
Teams
Kansas City Royals (1981) San Francisco Giants (1982–1985, 1987–1990) San Diego Padres (1990–1991) Chicago White Sox (1994–1995)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star selection (1983)

Medal record
Baseball
Competitor for the United States
Amateur World Series
Silver	1978 Italy	Team

Charlton Atlee Hammaker (born January 24, 1958 in Carmel, California) is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played the majority of his career for the San Francisco Giants from 1982 to 1990. He also played for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox. During his 12-year career, he won 59 games, lost 67 games and netted five saves.

Early life

Hammaker was born in Carmel, California on January 24, 1958. He is the son of Charles and Myiake Hammaker. He has one older brother (Aldine) and younger sister (Charlene), making him the middle child of three. He is half Japanese and half German. Hammaker grew up living in many different locations due to his dad being in the Army. He attended Mount Vernon High School (Alexandria, Virginia) in Fairfax County, Virginia, where he played basketball, football and baseball. After suffering a knee injury in football his sophomore year he began putting all his focus into basketball. He received a full scholarship to East Tennessee State University (ETSU) for basketball. After being talked to and convinced by the coaches at ETSU he decided to change his focus over to baseball. He attended a summer league in Alaska and then from there was chosen in the number one draft pick to pitch for the Kansas City Royals.

Career

In 1983, his best season, he led the National League in ERA (2.25), WHIP (1.039), BB/9IP (1.67), and strikeout to walk ratio (3.97). He won 10, lost 9, and made the National League All-Star team.

1983 All-Star Game

Hammaker made the National League All-Star team in 1983, but did not fare well, surrendering seven earned runs in 2/3 of an inning, including the first-ever and still-only grand slam in All-Star Game history to Fred Lynn.

1987 NLCS

Hammaker in San Francisco gave up a 3-run homer to José Oquendo, in Game 7 of the 1987 NLCS, which the Cardinals won 6-0 to advance to the World Series. Oquendo was a utility infielder who had hit only one homer that season, and only 14 in his career.

Personal life

Hammaker is married and lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife Virginia (Jen). They met in college and decided to get married at age 20. They now have 5 daughters and have been together over 30 years. Since retired from baseball Atlee has turned his focus towards his family. He currently helps coach his daughter's high school basketball team, owns a few small businesses and gives pitching lessons. His eldest daughter, Erica, is married and living in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband. His second oldest daughter, Jenna, is now in college at the University of Tennessee. Middle daughter Alesa attends Berry College in Rome, Georgia, where she is also part of the Lady Vikings Basketball team. His youngest daughters Christa and Anna are both still at home finishing up school.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball ERA champions

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• 1983 All Star Game box score

Preceded by Steve Rogers

National League ERA Champion 1983

Succeeded by Alejandro Pena