Willard Hunter

Born: 3/8/1934 in Newark, NJ, USA

Died: 2/3/2021 in Omaha, NE, USA

MLB Debut: 1962-04-16 | Final Game: 1964-10-04

Bats: R | Throws: L | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: Willard Mitchell Hunter

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Biography

Willard Hunter was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1964. Born in 1934, Hunter's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, marked by the expansion of the league and the increasing competitiveness of teams. He made his debut on April 16, 1962, showcasing his skills on the mound for multiple clubs throughout his brief stint in the majors. Over the course of his career, Hunter recorded a win-loss record of 4-9, with an earned run average (ERA) of 5.68. He struck out 63 batters and notched 5 saves, demonstrating his ability to contribute both as a starter and a reliever. While his statistics may not reflect dominance, Hunter's presence on the field was part of the rich tapestry of the early '60s baseball landscape, where pitchers were often challenged by the evolving offensive strategies of the game. His journey through the majors remains a testament to the challenges and opportunities faced by players of his era.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
4	9	69	6	1	0	5	114.0	127	72	14	47	63	5.68	0

Career ERA 5.68 vs. league average 3.77 across their career seasons — 50.9% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1962	LAD	NL	0	0	1	0	0	0	2.0	6	9	4	1	40.50	—	-
1962	NYN	NL	1	6	27	6	1	0	63.0	67	39	34	40	5.57	3.96 (-41%)	-1461.2
1964	NYN	NL	3	3	41	0	0	5	49.0	54	24	9	22	4.41	3.58 (-23%)	171.8

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
69	14	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0.286	0.286	0.286	0.571	0.0

Career AVG .286 vs. league average .254 across their career seasons — +12.5% above league average.

Career OBP .286 vs. league average .319 across their career seasons — 10.5% below league average.

Career SLG .286 vs. league average .386 across their career seasons — 25.9% below league average.

Career OPS 0.571 vs. league average 0.705 across their career seasons — 18.9% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS
1962	LAD	NL	1	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—
1962	NYN	NL	27	13	1	3	7	0.231	—	—	—	—
1964	NYN	NL	41	1	0	1	0	1.000	—	—	—	—

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
P	69	6	7	15	1	1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1962	LAN	P	1	0	0	1	0	0
1962	NYN	P	27	6	5	6	1	0
1964	NYN	P	41	0	2	8	0	1

Career Games by Position

Position	Games
Pitcher	69