RIP - Dick Hall

 

Dick Hall, a relief pitcher mostly for the Orioles, but also the Pirates and Phillies, passed away on June 18, 2023 at age 92. 

(At the time, he was the 6th-oldest living player to have played after the 1965 season.)

Hall began his career in 1952 with the Pirates as an outfielder. In 1954 he was the Bucs' #2 outfielder (behind only Frank Thomas). Hall started 84 games, and was the team's regular center fielder during May and June. 

 

The following year they acquired Roberto Clemente, and Hall switched positions to pitcher. He began that season in class A ball, learning his new position. Hall posted a 12-5 record while starting 18 of his 19 games, including 16 complete games. Recalled to Pittsburgh in late-July, he made 13 starts for the Bucs and posted a 6-6 record. 

 

After a full season with the Pirates in 1956, he split the '57 season between the Bucs and their AAA team, then missed the 1958 season due to illness. Returning to the Pirates' AAA team in 1959, he posted an 18-5 record in 27 starts, and played 2 games with Pittsburgh in a September call-up. 

 

After the '59 season he was traded to the Athletics, but a year later moved on to the Orioles, where he was a swing man for a year before transitioning to the bullpen in 1962. He pitched in 393 games after 1961, only starting 10 of them (and only 1 start after 1963). 

 

From 1962-65 he was the #2 man in the O's bullpen, behind Hoyt Wilhelm ('62) and Stu Miller ('63-'65). 

 

In 1966, now 35 years old, he was relegated to the #5 slot in the bullpen, and because the Orioles' efficient sweep of the Dodgers in the World Series included 3 complete games, Hall saw no action in the post-season. 

 

Hall pitched for the Phillies in '67 and '68, then returned to Baltimore from 1969 to 1971. In '70 and '71 he was the oldest player in the American League. In 1969 he posted a 1.92 ERA in 65 innings, and saw action in the '69 to '71 post-seasons, notching a 2-1 record in 8 innings of work. 

 

Hall was known for his outstanding control, and walked very few batters unintentionally after 1962 (click to enlarge):

Hall retired after the 1971 season, at age 41.  

 

Baltimore Sun obituary 

 

ESPN obituary 

 

MLB Trade Rumors obituary