Hillis Layne was the star who bridged the gap between the Rainiers dynasty of the late '30s & early '40s and the ballclub that won two pennants in the early & mid '50s. In only three short seasons Layne comported himself admirably on the playing field and captured the heart of Seattle's fans.

Signed by the legendary Joe Engel, Layne spent his first three professional seasons in the Class D leagues as a .300 hitter despite leg troubles before joining the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern Association, not far from his hometown of Whitwell, in 1941. Layne had a very good season with the Lookouts, mostly at shortstop, finishing 5th in the league in batting with a .338 average and posted a .498 slugging percentage, earning him a September call up where he hit .280 in 13 games for the Washington Senators. Manager Bucky Harris was unimpressed with Layne's defense at third base, but hoped that a move to second would prove to be a more natural fit.

Unfortunately, World War II would intervene, and Hillis Layne was called to serve the U.S. Army after the 1941 season. However, the leg troubles that had plagued his first few years resurfaced during basic training. In the July 16, 1942 edition of the Sporting News Buss Walker provided this quote from Layne on Army life:

"I did all right in the Army, with the exception of a little sergeant trouble because of not being able to make an about-face," said Layne. "Joe Engel and Clark Griffith have spent a lot of money on my leg and in one operation the surgeon cut the veins at the upper part of my left thigh and tied them up. Since then I haven't been able to make any quick turns. That's why I should be able to play third better than short.

"I was getting by in the Army until they sent us to Camp Keesler in Mississippi. We had to walk a mile and a half from the train in full packs. Next day my leg was swollen so badly they kept me there for almost 14 weeks. Finally they gave me my discharge"

After the honorable discharge due to what the Sporting News referred to as "milk leg," a condition he suffered from since his youth, Layne looked to be ready for the '43 season; however, Hillis would not appear in a professional game until 1944, playing sparingly before a demotion in late August to Minneapolis without ever appearing in a game for the Millers due to an injured finger on his throwing hand.

After he spent 1945 as a bench warmer for the Senators--hitting .299/.352/.408 for a 128 OPS+ in 160 PA--due to continued leg issues and manager Ossie Bluege's dissatisfaction with his defense, Layne returned to Chattanooga, proving himself to be the class of the league. The third baseman finished 2nd in batting average, 3rd in runs, 3rd in hits, 6th in doubles, 4th in triples, 3rd in total bases, 7th in walks, and led the league in HBP & on-base percentage:


Hillis Layne's strong performance in the Southern Association in '46 earned him a AAA call up, and he made the most of the opportunity provided by the PCL Seattle Rainiers, winning the PCL batting title with a .367 average. The first Seattle ballplayer to win the PCL batting title since Emil Frisk in 1904, Layne was named the MVP of the fifth-place Rainiers, was voted by the press to the '47 PCL All-Star squad, and finished 7th in the PCL MVP voting.



While Layne's second season with the Rainiers did not reach the same heights as his rookie year, Layne still performed admirably, finishing 2nd in batting behind Gene Woodling's astounding .385 average (the last season he would ever spend as a minor leaguer . . . ) and 2nd in hits behind Gus Zernial, earning another opportunity to represent at an All-Star game, playing third base for the North (Seattle, Portland, Sacramento & Oakland). Also, during this season a curious incident occurred on the field involving Hillis Layne and an umpire reversal as reported by the July 21st edition of the Sporting News:

Umpire's Reversed Ruling Helps Seattle to Three Runs

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--An umpire's reversed decision after the team had already changed sides helped Seattle score three runs and deprived Rex Cecil of a shutout, July 8, as the Sacramento right-hander posted a 4 to 3 victory.

With two batters retired in the Rainier sixth inning, Hillis Layne lined to center field, where Al White came in fast to snare the ball close to the ground. Umpire Danny Deever ruled it a legal catch, retiring the Rainiers. The two teams then changed sides and Joe Grace came to the plate to lead off for the Solons.

However, Skipper Jo-Jo White of Seattle turned on the full power of his Georgia oratory, and Deever finally agreed to consult Umpire Lon Warneke. Warneke, working at first base, ruled the ball had struck the ground. Then followed a harangue by the Solons, with Manager Joe Orengo and White finally being banished. When play resumed, with Layne on first base, Seattle followed with four straight hits for three runs--all after the third out presumably had been made.

Hillis Layne would return to Seattle for a third time in 1949, this time with more mundane results, missing both umpire reversals and the .300 average the had made him a minor league star during his career, and in 1950, the last 200-game season in the PCL, Layne suffered through the worst performance of his baseball tenure, splitting the time between Seattle and Portland:


The left-handed batter's age 32 season would be his last in the high minors. Hillis Layne would spend the next few years bouncing around various B & C leagues as a player/manager, continuing to hit at a .300 level, before settling into the role with the Lewiston Broncos of the Northwest League in 1955. Just as he had in his PCL rookie season with Seattle, Layne led the league that year in batting with a .391 average, including an equally astounding .497 on-base percentage. The next two years Layne would finish second with a .354 & .340 average respectively:


In his final year as a ballplayer Layne hit .362 as a part-timer. During the four years that he dominated the Northwest League Layne hit .362/.468/.516 (on-base percentage courtesy of the History Guy), proving that he was a creditable baseball player into his late thirties. His tenure in Lewiston also includes one of the touching fan stories heard from time to time in this game, found in the "Voice of the Fan" section of the Sept. 11, 1957 edition of the Sporting News:

LEWISTON'S 'FAN OF YEAR'
Editor of The Sporting News:

I have attended all of Lewiston's home games this season and for "fan of the year," I want to nominate Mrs. Clare Bruner, who is 73 years old and totally blind. I have been describing game action to her.

Recently, Manager Hillis Layne and his Broncs autographed a baseball and presented it to this happy baseball-minded lady. She has faithfully attended all home games since July 5.

CARROLL M. DEMBOWSKI
Lewiston, Idaho

Hillis Layne played in nearly 1900 games over his 20-year major & minor league career, hitting .332 in over 6400 at-bats. He would spend the next 17 years in baseball as a minor league manager & scout, and was named as one of the 100 greatest minor league stars by SABR. Here is a nice little article (other than the "For much of his career, Layne played for the Seattle Mariners of the Pacific Coast League" quote), including his obituary. RIP Hillis Layne.

Wow. Thanks for sharing all that - your post was significantly more interesting/educational than the actual printed obituary.