Mel Hall
| Mel Hall | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: September 16, 1960 Lyons, New York | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 3, 1981, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 21, 1996, for the San Francisco Giants | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .276 |
| Home runs | 134 |
| Runs batted in | 620 |
| Teams | |
Melvin Hall Jr. (born September 16, 1960) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1981 to 1996 with the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, and San Francisco Giants. Additionally he played in Japan from 1993 to 1995. He primarily played as an outfielder. On June 17, 2009, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison after being found guilty of two counts of sexual assault against minors.
Playing career
Hall made his MLB debut in 1981 with the Chicago Cubs, and was the fifth-youngest player in the league.[1] In his first full Major League season in 1983, Hall hit 17 home runs in 112 games. In 1987, he had the best fielding percentage and range factor of all MLB left-fielders.[1]
In 1991, when Bernie Williams was a rookie, Hall made fun of him by giving him the nickname "Zero". It was alleged that when Williams would talk, Hall would scream "Shut up, Zero!" at him, nearly making him cry.[2] In 1992, Hall hit 15 home runs, drove in a career-high 81 RBIs and had a career high of 163 hits in 152 games with the New York Yankees. During the Yankees Old Timers Game that year, he walked onto the baseball field and asked manager Buck Showalter, "Who are these old fucking guys?" Showalter said: "That's when I knew he had to go."[3] That season he earned $1.2 million.[1]
Following the season, after his contract expired and no major league team showed interest in him, the 32-year-old opted to leave the major leagues, agreeing to a 2-year $4 million contract to play in Japan.[3][4] When he returned to play for the San Francisco Giants in 1996, Hall registered just three singles in 25 games with the big league club, was released after a month, and retired shortly thereafter.[3][5]
Sexual assault conviction
Hall was arrested in Lewisville, Texas, on June 21, 2007, and charged with two counts of sexual assault after police in North Richland Hills, Texas, received a report from a woman who reported she was sexually assaulted in March 1999, when she was under the age of 17. During the investigation, a second victim under the age of 14 was identified.[6] One of these girls was 12 at the time of the rape. On June 16, 2009, Hall was convicted on three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child. On June 17, 2009, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison. He must serve 22 years and 4 months before he is eligible for parole.[7] Hall is currently serving his sentence at Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, Texas.[8]
In 2014, SB Nation published a long-form article detailing allegations that Hall serially preyed upon and sexually abused numerous girls throughout his career.[3]
See also
- Chad Curtis, major league baseball player convicted of sexual assault
References
- ^ a b c "Mel Hall Stats - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ Joel Sherman (2006). Birth of a Dynasty: Behind the Pinstripes with the 1996 Yankees. ISBN 978-1-59486-670-8.
- ^ a b c d Hanlon, Greg (15 July 2014). "The many crimes of Mel Hall". SBNation.com.
- ^ "Mel Hall Goes to Japan". The New York Times. November 17, 1992.
- ^ Mel Hall Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com Archived February 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Ex-MLB Player Sentenced For Raping Minor". Associated Press. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ "TDCJ Offender Details". offender.tdcj.texas.gov.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Mel Hall Hassles Williams
- 1960 births
- Living people
- African-American baseball players
- American expatriate baseball players in Japan
- American people convicted of child sexual abuse
- American sex offenders
- American sportspeople convicted of crimes
- Baseball players from New York (state)
- Chiba Lotte Marines players
- Chicago Cubs players
- Chunichi Dragons players
- Cleveland Indians players
- Coastal Bend Aviators players
- Fort Worth Cats players
- Geneva Cubs players
- Gulf Coast Cubs players
- Iowa Cubs players
- Major League Baseball left fielders
- Midland Cubs players
- Nashville Sounds players
- New York Yankees players
- Nippon Professional Baseball designated hitters
- People from Lyons, New York
- Prisoners and detainees of Texas
- San Francisco Giants players
- Sportspeople from New York City
- Springfield/Ozark Mountain Ducks players