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Revision as of 00:14, 24 December 2008

Template:Infobox MLB retired Clinton Merrick Hurdle (born July 30, 1957 in Big Rapids, Michigan) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball and the current manager of the National League's Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball, having held that position since April 26, 2002.

Personal life

Clint is named for his father, Clinton Sr., who played collegiate baseball for Ferris State University. When Clint was 4 years old, the family moved from Michigan to Florida so Clint Sr. could take a job at the Kennedy Space Center.[1] Clint is a 1975 graduate of Merritt Island High School in Merritt Island, Florida.

Hurdle is married with three children; a daughter with Prader-Willi Syndrome, a son, and a daughter from a previous marriage.[2]

Baseball career

After being selected by the Kansas City Royals with the 9th pick of the first round in the 1975 amateur draft, Hurdle played for the Royals from 1977 to 1981, but never achieved the level of play suggested by his high draft position. Playing regularly only in 1978 and 1980, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in December 1981, and after spending 1982 with the Reds, went on waivers to join the New York Mets (1983, 1985) and St. Louis Cardinals (1986) before ending his career with the Mets in 1987. Hurdle had been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1978 as that year's "phenom." Throughout his career, he also played first base, third base, catcher and designated hitter.

Hurdle began his managerial career the next year, when he was named Manager of the St. Lucie Mets, a Class "A" team, in 1988. He also served as Manager for the AA Jackson Mets (1990-1991), and the AAA Tidewater/Norfolk Tides (1992-1993). In 1994 he joined the Colorado Rockies organization as the minor league hitting instructor; serving in that capacity until he was named the Rockies hitting coach in 1997. Hurdle was promoted to Manager in 2002 following the early-season firing of Buddy Bell.

On April 2, 2006, he was given a two year contract extension.[3]

Hurdle also played in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League during three different seasons. In his first season, 1977-1978, he led the league in home runs (18) while batting .305 with 52 RBIs. He played again in 1979 and 1983. In all three times he led the league in walks while playing for the local team Tiburones de La Guaira [4] [5]

2007 Rockies

Clint Hurdle walking back to the bullpen

In 2007, Hurdle managed Colorado to their best finish ever in the team's 15-year history by winning the last 14 out of 15 games in order to force a tie-breaker game with the San Diego Padres to determine the winner of the National League Wild Card. Colorado defeated San Diego, reaching the playoffs for only the second time in Rockies history. Hurdle's Rockies beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the Division Series, sweeping them in three games to force a match up with their rival Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS. The Rockies continued their improbable streak by sweeping Arizona in four games to win the first pennant in team history and reach the 2007 World Series. In the World Series, Colorado faced the Boston Red Sox. The Rockies lost for the first time in the 2007 postseason in game one and were ultimately swept in four games.

Managerial records

Current through August 21, 2008

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
COL 2002 67 73 .479 4th in NL West - - - -
COL 2003 74 88 .457 4th in NL West - - - -
COL 2004 68 94 .420 4th in NL West - - - -
COL 2005 67 95 .414 5th in NL West - - - -
COL 2006 76 86 .469 4th in NL West - - - -
COL 2007 90 73 .552 2nd in NL West 7 4 .636 Lost in World Series
COL 2008 59 70 .457 - - - - -
Total 501 579 .464 - 7 4 .636 1 league Championship

See also

References

  1. ^ Arangue, Jorge (2007-10-23). "From rocky past to Rockies success". Retrieved 2007-10-24.
  2. ^ Michaelis, Vicki (2007-09-12). "Clint Hurdle balances family concerns with baseball". Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  3. ^ Harding, Thomas (2007-04-07). "O'Dowd, Hurdle extended for two years". Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  4. ^ "SI Flashback: This Year's Phenom".
  5. ^ "Francona y Hurdle son producto del Caribe".
Preceded by Colorado Rockies Manager
April 26, 2002-
Succeeded by
incumbent

Template:MLBManager

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| #default = 1957 births

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