Dick Hyde – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Dick Hyde isn’t exactly a household name these days, but he sure made his mark as a submarine-style pitcher over a solid six-year run in Major League Baseball. He wrapped up his career in 1961, after pitching for the Washington Senators and Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1961. Hyde gained a reputation for his quirky sidearm delivery and steady relief pitching, all during a time when the Yankees seemed to rule everything.

Hyde’s best year was 1958, when he went 10-3 with 19 saves and a stunning 1.75 ERA. He even finished 12th in the American League MVP voting. That season really put his unusual style on display. He actually came up with it after hurting his arm during his military service in the Korean War. Being from Illinois, Hyde realized that throwing from a lower angle eased his pain and gave his pitches some wicked movement.

From his early days at the University of Illinois to his last season with the Orioles, Hyde’s baseball journey shows just how much grit and flexibility you need to make it in the big leagues. A career-threatening injury? He turned that into an edge, and suddenly he was facing some of the best hitters in baseball history. He even struck out Ted Williams twice on changeups—how many guys can say that?

Early Life and Amateur Career

Dick Hyde was born August 3, 1928, in Hindsboro, Illinois. He was the youngest of three sons in the family.

He started his baseball path right in his hometown, then took things up a notch at the University of Illinois. That’s where he started building the skills that would eventually land him in the majors.

Family Background in Hindsboro, Illinois

Richard Elde Hyde came into the world in Hindsboro, Illinois, on August 3, 1928. He was the baby of the Hyde family, with two older brothers.

Hindsboro was your classic small Midwestern farming town. That kind of place gave Dick a pretty typical upbringing for the region.

The Great Depression shaped Hyde’s work ethic, no doubt about it. His family taught him to stick with things, a lesson that paid off during his baseball career.

Sports were a big deal in the Hyde house. Dick’s brothers got into athletics too, so there was always a bit of competition pushing him to get better.

Champaign High School Achievements

Dick Hyde went to Champaign High School and that’s where he started showing off his baseball chops. The school had a strong sports program that really helped him hone his pitching skills.

Back then, Hyde pitched overhand like everyone else. He hadn’t even thought about that submarine delivery yet.

College scouts started noticing him while he was still in high school. His fastball and his drive made him stand out.

Those years at Champaign High mattered a lot. His coaches saw something in him and helped polish up his technique.

College Baseball at University of Illinois

After high school, Hyde headed to the University of Illinois. The baseball program there gave him a bigger stage to keep developing.

He kept pitching with a regular overhand form in college. He did well enough to get noticed by professional scouts.

The Washington Senators signed Hyde in 1949 right out of college. That was the official start of his pro baseball adventure.

His college career got interrupted by military service during the Korean War in 1951-52. Oddly enough, that break ended up helping him—he developed his submarine style after hurting his arm in the Army.

He got hurt during a semipro game in Augusta, Georgia. They paid him $10 to pitch, so he kept throwing even though it hurt. That led to real arm damage, but also to his unique pitching style.

Path to the Major Leagues

Dick Hyde’s road to pro baseball started at the University of Illinois. Washington Senators scouts saw his potential and signed him. Then, military service during the Korean War put things on hold and slowed his progress through the minors.

Signing with the Washington Senators

The Washington Senators picked up Dick Hyde in 1949, straight out of college. He was a right-hander, stood 5’11”, and weighed about 170 pounds.

At first, Hyde threw overhand, just like everyone else. He hadn’t come up with that submarine style yet. The Senators liked what they saw in the young pitcher from Illinois.

Back then, teams often recruited directly from college. The Senators wanted to build their farm system, and Hyde looked like a good bet.

Minor League Development

After signing, Hyde went into the minor leagues to work on his game. He spent a few seasons moving through the farm system.

Hyde pitched for several minor league teams during that time. The minors were tough in the 1950s, with loads of talent and not many big-league spots.

He spent some time with the Chattanooga Lookouts, picking up experience and sharpening his craft.

Impact of the Korean War Service

The Korean War changed things for Hyde between 1951 and 1952. Like a lot of guys his age, he had to serve in the military.

His time in the Army ended up changing his career. He hurt his arm pitching a semipro game in Augusta, Georgia, but kept going because he needed the $10. That decision did some real damage.

Hyde had to switch up his pitching style after the injury. He found that throwing sidearm hurt less. That’s how he developed the submarine delivery that made him stand out later.

When he finished his military service, Hyde came back to the minors. He spent the rest of the 1950s perfecting that submarine style before finally getting his shot with Washington in 1955.

Major League Career Overview

Dick Hyde played six seasons in the majors, suiting up for the Washington Senators from 1955 to 1960 and then the Baltimore Orioles in 1961. His best year was 1958, when he went 10-3, saved 19 games, and posted a 1.75 ERA, good enough for 12th in the AL MVP vote.

Debut and Early Years with the Senators

Hyde made his big league debut on April 23, 1955, at age 26. He was the first Champaign Central High School grad to reach the majors.

He came up with his submarine delivery after hurting his arm in the Army in 1952. Throwing sidearm eased the pain and gave his pitches more movement.

Hyde didn’t get a ton of chances at first. He pitched a bit in 1955, then went back to the minors.

Washington brought him back in 1957, and that’s when he really started to shine as a reliever. His funky delivery threw hitters off, especially since most of them hadn’t seen anything like it.

Breakout 1958 Season

Hyde’s top season was 1958, no question. He tore through the American League with a 10-3 record, 19 saves, and a 1.75 ERA.

That year, he landed 12th in the AL MVP voting, which was pretty rare for a reliever back then.

Hyde credited his submarine delivery for his success. “I was totally different with my delivery and the way the ball moved, so it took them a while to adapt,” he said.

He relied on three main pitches: fastball, curveball, and changeup. All of them sank naturally thanks to his arm angle. Hyde even struck out Ted Williams twice on changeups.

Trades and Move to the Baltimore Orioles

After three more seasons with Washington, Hyde ended up with the Baltimore Orioles in 1961. That turned out to be his last year in pro baseball.

Arm trouble started to slow him down after 1958. He couldn’t quite keep up his old level of dominance.

Hyde’s final game came on August 4, 1961, against the Los Angeles Angels. He pitched an inning, didn’t give up a hit, and struck out two.

His career numbers: 17 wins, 14 losses, and a 3.56 ERA over 169 games. He finished with 25 saves and 144 strikeouts during his six years in the American League.

Pitching Style and Accomplishments

Dick Hyde went from a regular pitcher to one of the game’s best submarine-style relievers. He ended up with a 3.56 ERA and 25 saves over six seasons. His odd delivery and knack for closing games made him a real asset for both the Senators and Orioles.

Development of Submarine Delivery

Hyde didn’t choose his style—it kind of chose him. In 1952, while serving in the Army during the Korean War, he hurt his arm pitching a semipro game in Augusta, Georgia.

“They paid me 10 dollars to pitch and expected me to finish the game, so I kept throwing even though I was in pain and ended up seriously injuring my arm,” Hyde said. That injury made him try out different arm angles.

He realized sidearm pitching hurt less and made his pitches move more. After coming back to the minors, Hyde kept working on the submarine delivery until it felt right.

He got inspired watching Ewell Blackwell’s motion at an All-Star game in Chicago. Johnny Sain later helped Hyde fine-tune his arm angle for the best results.

His submarine delivery worked especially well against right-handed hitters, who just couldn’t get used to the weird angle and the way his pitches sank.

Key Pitching Statistics and ERA

Hyde’s career stats show how effective he was as a relief specialist. He finished with a 17-14 record and a 3.56 ERA over 169 games from 1955 to 1961.

His breakout year, 1958, looked like this:

• 10-3 record
• 1.75 ERA
• 19 saves

That season got him 12th in the American League MVP voting. Hyde struck out 144 batters during his career, mostly coming out of the bullpen.

Because of his submarine style, Hyde stuck to three main pitches: fastball, curveball, and changeup. All of them had natural sink, making him tough on righties.

His approach was pretty simple: throw sinkers down in the zone to right-handed hitters, and mix in curveballs up and in or sinkers away to lefties.

Notable Saves and American League Leadership

Hyde piled up 25 saves in his career, with 19 of them coming in that monster 1958 season. That made him one of the more dependable closers in the AL at the time.

He could come into games and keep a lead safe until the final out. His unorthodox style and the way the ball moved made life tough for hitters.

Hyde even got the best of some legends, like striking out Ted Williams twice on changeups. “Both times he shook his head and stared me down,” Hyde remembered.

The 1958 Senators leaned on Hyde’s closing ability. The team didn’t have much offense beyond Roy Sievers’ 39 home runs, but Hyde’s delivery kept them in games.

He finished his big league career in 1961 with the Orioles, after they bought his contract from Washington in July 1960.

Retirement and Life After Baseball

Dick Hyde stepped away from baseball in 1961 after six major league seasons. He tried a few different jobs after retiring, and even when health issues forced him out of work in the 1980s, he stayed involved in his Illinois community.

Transition to Working at Illinois Power Company

After baseball, Hyde bounced around a bit before finding a steady job. He started out by getting his stockbroker’s license and spent some time in finance.

He also managed a gas station for a while, then moved on to his final career. Hyde joined the Illinois Power Company and stuck around there for years.

That move showed how Hyde could adapt after leaving baseball. A lot of former players struggled to find work, but he managed to build a new life in Illinois.

The job at Illinois Power gave him some stability. He stayed there until health problems forced him to retire in the mid-1980s.

Health Challenges and Heart Attack

Hyde’s working years ended suddenly when he faced serious health problems. He had a heart attack in the mid-1980s, and that changed everything for him.

The heart attack hit hard and forced Hyde to retire early. He just couldn’t keep working at Illinois Power Company after that.

Once he recovered, Hyde started splitting his time between two places. He kept homes in Champaign, Illinois and Tucson, Arizona.

That setup gave him a chance to enjoy different climates while taking care of his health. I’d guess the Arizona home made those tough Illinois winters a little easier.

Community Involvement and Legacy

Even with his health struggles, Hyde stayed connected to his hometown. He always felt proud of his ties to Champaign Central High School.

He kept supporting local baseball long after he stopped playing. His family asked for memorial donations to go to the Champaign Central baseball booster club.

“It’s humbling that he would think of us,” said John Staab, the Maroons baseball coach since 2001. “To give back to kids today in the hopes that they too can have a similar experience as he did, it speaks a lot about him as a person.”

His son Rich Hyde remembered his dad’s loyalty: “He was a proud Maroon until the very end.”

Hyde died on April 15, 2020, at 91, after complications from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Legacy and Recognition

Dick Hyde’s odd submarine pitching and that crazy 1958 season still get people talking. His deep roots in the community and his reputation as a trailblazer from Champaign Central High School secured his spot in local baseball history.

Influence on Future Pitchers

Dick Hyde’s submarine delivery made him a go-to example for pitchers with arm problems. When he switched from overhand to sidearm after hurting himself in 1952, he showed others that you could adapt and keep going.

He didn’t choose his style at first—he needed it. After hurting his arm in a semipro game, he realized sidearm pitching hurt less and made the ball move more.

Hyde worked with just three pitches—a fastball, curve, and changeup—and showed that location could beat speed. He even struck out Ted Williams twice with changeups, which is pretty wild if you think about it.

Johnny Sain stepped in and helped Hyde fine-tune his submarine mechanics. That partnership proved that the right coaching can make a weird pitching style work wonders.

Honors and Community Contributions

Hyde picked up AL Sophomore of the Year honors after his fantastic 1958 season. He went 10-3, posted a 1.75 ERA, and racked up 19 saves, which even got him up to 12th in MVP voting that year.

He was the first Champaign Central High School grad to make it to the majors. People back in Illinois felt a lot of pride in seeing someone from their own community reach that level.

Hyde kept close ties with the University of Illinois, where he played before he signed with Washington in 1949. His path—from college ball to the big leagues—definitely inspired plenty of local players.

Even in his later years, the pitcher stayed involved in baseball conversations. He gave interviews that offered some real insight into 1950s baseball and what it was like to face those powerhouse Yankees teams.