Andy Hawkins – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Andy Hawkins’ career in Major League Baseball lasted a decade across three teams, ending with his retirement in 1991. The right-handed pitcher broke in with the San Diego Padres in 1982, then moved to the New York Yankees, where things got a little strange. Even though his career record doesn’t exactly scream “legend,” Hawkins still found his way into baseball history by tossing a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox on July 1, 1990. Amazingly, he lost that game 4-0 because of fielding errors—a wild chapter in the sport’s lore.

Hawkins’ last season pretty much summed up the challenges that pushed him toward retirement. He started off 1991 with the Yankees, but after going 0-2 and giving up 14 earned runs, the team pulled him from the rotation. The Yankees let him go early that year, and the Oakland Athletics picked him up in May. That didn’t last long either; they released him three months later. Hawkins didn’t disappear from baseball, though. He came back as a pitching coach from 2001 through 2015.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Andy Hawkins got his start in baseball long before reaching the Major Leagues. Growing up in Texas, he showed flashes of the talent that would eventually launch his pro career.

High School Years

Born Melton Andrew Hawkins on January 21, 1960 in Waco, Texas, Andy started working on his pitching early. During his high school days in Texas, he stood out with an impressive fastball and a knack for developing his breaking pitches.

By his senior year, scouts definitely took notice. Hawkins had become one of the top pitching prospects in Texas, thanks to his size, arm strength, and pitching IQ. Scouts looking for young talent with big league upside kept their eyes on him.

College Baseball Experience

While a lot of prospects jumped straight to pro ball after high school, Hawkins spent a short time in college to keep honing his craft. But honestly, he didn’t stay long—pro opportunities came knocking fast.

The San Diego Padres drafted him in the first round of the 1978 amateur draft. Scout Al Heist played a huge role in spotting Hawkins’ potential and pushing him onto the Padres’ radar.

That draft pick ended Hawkins’ amateur days and kicked off his pro career. The Padres saw a future big league starter in the young righty, and as he worked his way through the minors, he started to prove them right.

Major League Baseball Debut and Early Years

Andy Hawkins’ pro career took off after the Padres picked him fifth overall in the 1978 MLB draft. He worked his way up through the minors, showing promise as a tall right-hander, and finally made his big league debut.

San Diego Padres Debut

Hawkins debuted in Major League Baseball on July 17, 1982, pitching for the San Diego Padres. The 6’4″ righty from Waco had some growing pains but flashed potential. He finished his rookie year with a 5-7 record, learning on the job against major league hitters.

Manager Dick Williams helped him shape his approach. Hawkins leaned on a sinking fastball and a slider, which became his signature combo.

The Padres liked what they saw and kept him in their plans. That first season gave him the experience he’d need for the rest of his career.

Formative Seasons

From 1983 to 1985, Hawkins carved out a spot as a reliable member of the Padres pitching staff. In 1985, he really broke through: 18 wins, 8 losses, and a 3.15 ERA—one of the National League’s best that year.

He played a big part in the Padres’ 1984 National League pennant-winning season, picking up valuable playoff experience. Hawkins showed his durability by taking the ball every fifth day and giving his team a shot.

By 1987, he was one of the staff’s veteran leaders, mentoring younger pitchers and still working to improve his own game.

Career with the San Diego Padres

Andy Hawkins kicked off his big league journey with the San Diego Padres in 1982 and grew into a reliable starter for most of the decade. He spent seven seasons with the Padres, making a real impact in their pitching rotation.

Notable Starts with Padres

After being drafted in the first round (5th overall) in 1978, Hawkins made his MLB debut on July 17, 1982. He gradually earned his place in the rotation.

The 1984 season was huge for Hawkins as he helped the Padres reach the World Series. That year, he posted an 8-9 record and a 4.68 ERA.

His best run came in 1985—18 wins, just 8 losses. That year, he became a frontline starter, helping out a rotation that included stars like Tony Gwynn.

Hawkins put up over 200 innings a season at his peak, showing real durability. His consistency kept the Padres’ pitching staff steady during the mid-1980s.

Importance to Pitching Staff

Hawkins anchored the Padres rotation during their competitive mid-’80s years. His reliability let the team build their pitching plans around him.

He teamed up with Eric Show and Mark Thurmond to form a solid rotation. Hawkins’ ability to pitch deep into games gave the bullpen some breathing room.

Having Hawkins on the mound helped the whole team, including Tony Gwynn, by keeping games close and giving the offense a chance.

By the late ’80s, Hawkins was a veteran leader, helping younger pitchers find their footing. After the 1988 season, he hit free agency, and with the Padres looking elsewhere for pitching, his time in San Diego wrapped up—a significant chapter closed.

Transition to the New York Yankees

After six seasons with the Padres, Andy Hawkins switched things up by signing with the New York Yankees as a free agent after 1988. This move brought new opportunities—and a whole new set of challenges.

Trade and First Impressions

Hawkins signed a three-year deal with the Yankees once he became a free agent. The Yankees, struggling to find steady pitching, hoped Hawkins could stabilize their rotation. He arrived in New York with a reputation as a solid starter.

But this wasn’t the Yankees of old—they were in a rebuilding phase, not the dominant force fans remembered. Yankees management needed Hawkins to be steady, even if he wasn’t a superstar.

He made a good impression with his work ethic and professionalism. Still, fans seemed cautiously optimistic, not totally convinced he’d turn things around.

Role in Yankees Starting Rotation

Hawkins became a regular starter, but his results often mirrored the team’s struggles. His most famous moment? On July 1, 1990, he pitched what was first called a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox—even though the Yankees lost 4-0 after some brutal fielding errors. One for the books.

That “no-hit loss” became a weird highlight of Hawkins’ Yankees stint. Later, MLB changed the rules for what counts as a no-hitter, so Hawkins’ game got erased from the official record.

He shared the rotation with a mix of young guys and veterans, but the team kept struggling. Over time, his role shrank, and the Yankees released him early in the 1991 season, ending his run in pinstripes pretty abruptly.

The 1990 Season and Historic No-Hitter

Hawkins’ 1990 season with the Yankees is remembered for a truly bizarre moment—pitching a no-hitter and still losing the game. That’s the kind of luck you just can’t make up.

Pitching the No-Hitter

On July 1, 1990, Hawkins faced the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park. He was lights-out for eight innings, giving up no hits. Both he and White Sox pitcher Greg Hibbard were locked in, retiring the first 29 batters between them.

Then, in the eighth, things got weird. Hawkins walked three batters, and the Yankees’ defense fell apart with three errors. Four runs scored—all unearned.

The Yankees couldn’t rally in the ninth. Final: White Sox 4, Yankees 0. Hawkins had thrown a no-hitter but still took the loss. Not exactly the way you want to make history.

That game stands out as one of the strangest in baseball history. Hawkins became only the second modern pitcher to lose a complete-game no-hitter.

Impact on Career

The no-hitter—well, almost—became the defining moment of Hawkins’ career, even after MLB changed the rules in September 1991 and wiped it from the official books. Since the Yankees only batted eight times, Hawkins’ game didn’t count as a “real” no-hitter anymore.

His 1990 season with the Yankees was rough overall. He finished 5-12 with a 5.37 ERA. That no-hit loss summed up his year: flashes of brilliance, but things just didn’t break his way.

The Yankees let him go in 1991, and the Oakland Athletics picked him up off waivers. Still, fans and baseball historians remember that one-of-a-kind game as a unique slice of baseball weirdness.

Controversy and Record Books

Andy Hawkins’ career features one of baseball’s strangest statistical oddities—a moment that still sparks debate about how Major League Baseball’s official records should recognize achievements.

Official Scoring Changes

On July 1, 1990, Andy Hawkins took the mound and, for a while, it looked like he’d thrown a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox. He didn’t allow a single hit, yet somehow, the Yankees lost 4-0 after a rough eighth inning full of errors.

Things got messy when MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent decided to tweak the official definition of a no-hitter. The new rule? A no-hitter had to last at least nine full innings with no hits allowed.

Because the Yankees trailed and didn’t bat in the bottom of the ninth (home team advantage, go figure), Hawkins’ eight-inning effort vanished from the record books. Now, his outing sits among those quirky “unofficial no-hitters” that baseball fans and historians still love to debate.

Legacy of the 1990 No-Hitter

Losing a no-hitter—especially without giving up a single hit—has to rank as one of baseball’s strangest feats. Out of all pitchers with no-hitters, Hawkins allowed the most runs in a 4-0 loss to the White Sox.

This game sits alongside other oddball unofficial no-hitters from guys like Scott Erickson, Walt Terrell, and Terry Mulholland, all of whom found themselves caught up in shifting definitions of baseball milestones.

Statisticians and fans still argue over whether performances like Hawkins’ deserve special treatment. His bizarre game pops up in trivia and still gets mentioned whenever people talk about baseball’s tangled record-keeping.

After the Yankees released him on May 9, 1991, Hawkins’ unlucky no-hitter pretty much became his calling card, even after a 10-year run in the majors.

Later Career with Other Teams

After the Yankees, Andy Hawkins bounced around a bit, chasing a few more innings with other teams. The last stretch of his career included a short comeback attempt and showed just how determined he was to keep pitching as a veteran.

Playing for the Oakland Athletics

Late in his career, Hawkins signed with the Oakland Athletics. His time there was brief—just a handful of games, mostly out of the bullpen. The A’s, who had a strong roster at the time, brought him in as a veteran arm to help out some of their younger pitchers.

Hawkins didn’t get a ton of innings, but he brought some professionalism and a steady presence to the team. His career ERA hovered around 4.22. Sure, he never really found the magic he had with the Padres, but he still gave Oakland a reliable option for spot relief.

Time with the St. Louis Cardinals

Hawkins’ link to the St. Louis Cardinals was mostly a spring training story. After his official MLB career wrapped up in 1991, he tried to make a comeback with the Cardinals.

He showed up for spring training, hoping to earn a spot, but the team cut him before the season started. Even then, he left an impression with his work ethic and experience, competing alongside much younger arms.

After hanging up his cleats, Hawkins turned to coaching and stuck around baseball for years. Between 2001 and 2015, he worked as a pitching coach, helping to shape the next wave of talent long after his own playing days had ended.

Retirement in 1991 and Career Reflections

Andy Hawkins wrapped up his big-league career in 1991 after short runs with the Yankees and the Oakland A’s. He called it quits after struggling with performance and bouncing between teams—a career marked by some highs and plenty of bumps along the way.

Factors Leading to Retirement

Hawkins stumbled out of the gate in 1991 with the Yankees, going 0-2 in just four games and giving up 14 earned runs. The Yankees cut him early in the season, and the Oakland A’s picked him up in May, hoping he could help out.

But Hawkins just couldn’t get back on track in Oakland. After three months, the A’s released him in August, and that was pretty much it for his major league career. At 31, he was out of options and his numbers were going the wrong way.

A tough year, two releases, and no real opportunities left—Hawkins decided to step away from professional baseball.

Final MLB Statistics

Hawkins finished his 10-year run in the majors with some solid numbers, all things considered. He pitched from 1982 to 1991, mostly with the Padres before joining the Yankees and then the A’s.

Here’s what his career stats looked like:

• Games: 200
• Wins-Losses: 84-91
• ERA: 4.22
• Strikeouts: 667
• Complete Games: 38
• Shutouts: 10

So, Hawkins went 84-91 with 667 strikeouts over a decade in the big leagues. His last season was rough—no wins, two teams, and not much to show for it.

Ironically, one of his most famous moments came just before the end, when he threw a no-hitter for the Yankees on July 1, 1990, only to lose 4-0 thanks to a handful of brutal errors—a weird and memorable footnote in baseball history.

Post-Baseball Life and Legacy

Once he retired in 1991, Andy Hawkins didn’t stray far from the game. He moved straight into mentoring, building a pretty solid career helping young pitchers find their footing. His impact on baseball stretched well past his playing days.

Coaching and Mentoring Roles

Hawkins wasted no time after retiring—he dove into coaching and started sharing what he’d learned from years on the mound. In 1996, he joined the Colorado Rockies as a minor league pitching coach.

He climbed the coaching ladder, eventually landing as the Texas Rangers’ bullpen coach from 2001 to 2002, then as their pitching coach in 2003. He played a big role in shaping several up-and-coming pitchers during his time there.

From 2006 to 2015, Hawkins worked as the pitching coach for the Padres, mostly in the minors. He mentored a ton of young arms, teaching them the mental side of pitching that kept him going during his own career.

After a brief break, Hawkins got back into the game, joining the Salt Lake Bees coaching staff in 2024.

Recognition and Honors

Hawkins never became a household name like Randy Johnson or Pedro Martinez, but folks around the league respected him. That July 1, 1990, no-hitter—where he lost despite not giving up a hit—pretty much guaranteed his place in baseball trivia forever.

Baseball historians still bring up that game as one of the strangest in MLB history.

His old high school, Midway in Waco, Texas, honored him for his journey from local standout to Major League pitcher and coach.

Hawkins’ real legacy isn’t just about stats—it’s about his dedication to coaching and helping pitchers grow, both on and off the field.

Impact on Baseball History

Andy Hawkins left a quirky mark on the game—mostly thanks to his infamous no-hitter loss and his ability to keep going when things didn’t break his way. His story shows how baseball’s odd stats can sometimes overshadow everything else a player does.

Comparisons to Other Pitchers

Hawkins belongs to a pretty exclusive group: pitchers who threw no-hitters that didn’t count or ended up losing. His outing gets compared to other Yankees pitching legends like Dave Righetti, though the outcomes couldn’t be more different. Don Larsen got baseball immortality with a perfect game; Hawkins got a weird kind of fame for his “imperfect” no-hitter.

Unlike fireballers like Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson, who racked up strikeouts, Hawkins relied more on location and getting weak contact. His 1990 no-hit loss stands out, especially when you compare it to the more celebrated no-hitters of his era.

If you look at his 5.21 ERA with the Yankees, Hawkins doesn’t stack up with the best pitchers of his time, but his place in baseball trivia is pretty much set in stone.

Influence on Future Generations

Hawkins’ strange no-hitter loss on July 1, 1990, against the Chicago White Sox keeps popping up as a lesson for young pitchers about how unpredictable baseball can get. That game showed everyone: sometimes a pitcher can do almost everything right, but defensive mistakes can still cost the win.

When Hawkins wrapped up his playing days in 1992, he jumped into coaching. From 2001 to 2015, he spent 15 years working with developing pitchers, passing along what he’d learned from both his wins and his rough patches. Because he’d seen the highs and lows firsthand, he connected with young players in a way that really stuck.

His story keeps bouncing around Major League Baseball, reminding folks that even the best individual performances don’t always lead to team victories. Hawkins didn’t let setbacks define him—after the Yankees released him outright in 1991, he bounced back and kept showing up for the next generation. That kind of resilience? It’s something players still look up to when things get tough.