BBTF.org/m/obit : Former major leaguer Champ Summers dies in Florida

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Former Astros manager, Beaumont-native Hatton dead at 90

(www.beaumontenterprise.com)

posted on April 11, 2013 at 09:34 PM by Repoz to astros, obit | 6 comment(s)

RIP, Grady Hatton…or as we used to call him The Creeper.

Grady Hatton Jr., a Beaumont-native, major league baseball player and manager of the Houston Astros, died Thursday morning from causes relating to cancer, his daughter-in-law said.

Hatton was born in Beaumont and played in the majors from 1946-60 after attending the University of Texas-Austin. He made his major league debut on April 16, 1946 as a 23-year-old second baseman with the Cincinnati Reds. In 1952, he was named a National ...

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1. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars posted on October 11, 2012 at 08:17 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

He had a great baseball name. His last appearance was in the 1984 World Series, pinch hitting for Alan Wiggins.

2. Misirlou is bad, he's nationwide posted on October 11, 2012 at 08:30 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Jeeze. First Beano Cook, now Champ Summers. Who's next, Cornbread Maxwell?

3. T.J. posted on October 11, 2012 at 08:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

When I used to visit the Upper Peninsula with my grandparents in the summers of the late '70s and early '80s, I would listen to Ernie Harwell broadcast Tigers games on the radio. I was a Cubs fan first, but a Tigers fan second. Champ Summers, Milt Wilcox; I remember those teams fairly well.

4. Bruce Markusen posted on October 11, 2012 at 09:10 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Yes, one of the great baseball names. When I first heard his name back in the mid-1970s, I thought, this is the name of a guy who will one day win the batting title.

He came up with those great A's teams of the early 70s and never really had a chance, stuck behind Rudi, North, Reggie and Claudell Washington. The A's traded him to the Cubs, but he never panned out as an everyday outfielder.

After being traded by Oakland, he was very critical of his A's teammates, saying that they were not very supportive of a young, struggling player. He didn't have very fond memories of the 1974 championship.

5. asinwreck posted on October 11, 2012 at 09:20 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

For absolutely no good reason, my dominant memory of Champ Summers is him struggling near the end of his career with the Giants. (Even though I saw him plenty of times with the Tigers.)

6. michaelplank posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:09 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

His 1979 APBA card was a thing of beauty.

7. Cooper Nielson posted on October 12, 2012 at 02:01 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

He had a great baseball name.

Indeed. In fact, my fantasy baseball league has been named "Champs of Summer" since 1999. We'll miss you, Champ.

8. xdog posted on October 12, 2012 at 08:32 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Champ played in the infamous Braves/Pads beanball game in 1984. I remember him trying to get in the Braves dugout and dismember Pascual Perez. Bob Horner saved Perez that day.

I haven't seen any mention of Summers' military service in Viet Nam.

9. Tom Nawrocki posted on October 12, 2012 at 08:51 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I always got him confused with Tarzan Joe Wallis.

10. BourbonSamurai, vassal of the Harpsburg Empire posted on October 12, 2012 at 08:53 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

After being traded by Oakland, he was very critical of his A's teammates, saying that they were not very supportive of a young, struggling player.

Well, he was a 28 year old making his major league debut on a team that had won two world series in a row, I imagine there wasn't a lot of room for slack there.

11. SoSH U at work posted on October 12, 2012 at 09:22 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I haven't seen any mention of Summers' military service in Viet Nam.

If that Wikipedia entry is accurate, that was a hell of a ride to the big leagues for Champ. I don't remember ever hearing any of that.

RIP.

12. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines posted on October 12, 2012 at 10:08 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

The death of a guy named Champ whose widow is named Joy. We haven't seen a story like this since Moose and Cookie Skowron.

13. I Am Not a Number posted on October 12, 2012 at 10:09 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

His 1979 APBA card was a thing of beauty.

I was going to say the exact same thing about his Strat-O-Matic card. I guess I just did.

At ages 33 and 34 he was quite a hitter for the Tigers. He did little before that and little after. Very odd little burst of greatness.

And what a perfect baseball name.

14. xdog posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:23 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

bbref gives his full name as John Junior Summers.

If that Wikipedia entry is accurate

It's correct. Read this appreciation: http://www.bnd.com/2012/10/11/2357039/former-metro-east-standout-and.html

Great pic of Champ and Danny Cox.

15. Tom (and his broom) posted on October 12, 2012 at 11:23 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Well, he was a 28 year old making his major league debut on a team that had won two world series in a row, I imagine there wasn't a lot of room for slack there.

I imagine there were quite a few older players in the minors and having rookie seasons around that time, competition with the South East Asian League.

16. SoSH U at work posted on October 12, 2012 at 12:02 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

It's correct. Read this appreciation: link here, if anyone else wants to read it.

Thanks xdog.

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Thursday, April 11, 2013

Former Astros manager, Beaumont-native Hatton dead at 90

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