The Year in Review: No. 6 Torii Hunter

December 25, 2015

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

Torii Hunter retired at the end of the 2015 MLB baseball season. Hunter is a native a Pine Bluff, Arkansas and will be in the conversation as the greatest Arkansans ever to play the game. Below is a statistical breakdown of Hunter and the players I consider to be in the conservation. Hopefully this will be a fun debate after Christmas dinner today. Happy Holidays from PBR Arkansas

Torri Hunter was drafted in the 1^st round by the Minnesota Twins in 1993 after attending Pine Bluff High School. He competed in 2371 MLB games for the Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angles and Detroit Tigers. He was a career .277 hitter with 353 home runs. As good as those as those numbers are Hunter will forever be remember for his defensive prowess in centerfield. Hunter won 9 consecutive gold gloves beginning in 2001. Other accolades Hunter received during his 18 year career included two Silver Slugger Awards, and was selected to the American League All-Star team 5 times.

Lou Brock signed a free agent contract in 1960 with the Chicago Cubs. Brock debuted in the big leagues September 10^th 1961. He played 18 season in the big leagues recording 3,023 hits while hitting .293. He also stole 938 bases throughout his career. He was a 6 time All-Star, a two time World Series Champion and he led the National League in stolen bases 8 times. Brock was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985 on his first ballot. Brock is a native of El Dorado.

Dizzy Dean is a native of Lucas, pitched 12 season in Major League baseball acquiring a record on 151-83 with an ERA of 3.02 with 1,132 strike outs. Dean won 30 games in 1934 going 30-7 with 2.66 ERA winning the National League MVP. The Cardinals defeated the Detroit Tigers in 1934 to win the World Series. He was selected as a National League All-Star 4 times, led the National league in wins twice and strike out four times. He was selected in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.

George Kell was elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983. He played 14 years in the major leagues hitting a career .306 with 2054 hits and 870 RBIs. He played for 5 different organizations and was selected as an All-Star 10 different season. He led the American League in batting in 1949. Kell is a native of Swifton and attended Arkansas State University.

Brooks Robinson played 23 seasons for Baltimore Orioles making his debut in 1955. Robinson known for his defensive abilities at third base won 16 consecutive gold gloves from 1960-1975. He was a career 267 hitter with 2,848 hits and 1357 RBIs. He was a part of two World Series Championships 1966 and 1970. In 1970 he won the World Series MVP. Robinson was also selected to play in the All-Star Game 18 times. He was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983. Robinson is a native of Little Rock.

I don’t know who the best player of this group is. All of them had great careers in different eras of professional baseball. Hunter like the rest should be a lock to be in National Baseball Hall of Fame and has been elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

The Year in Review: No. 6 Torii Hunter

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