Ken Hunt – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Ken Hunt’s baseball career ended suddenly in 1964, cutting short what a lot of people thought could’ve been a really impressive major league run. Hailing from North Dakota, Hunt showed real promise as a power-hitting outfielder, especially during his breakout 1961 season with the Los Angeles Angels. That year, he smacked 25 home runs and drove in 84 runs.

A brutal shoulder injury in 1962 derailed Hunt’s career. He hurt himself while stretching with his bat behind his neck, and that moment basically ended his regular playing days. The injury hit during what should’ve been his prime, turning him from a rising star into a struggling bench player who just couldn’t get back to his old form.

Looking at Hunt’s baseball journey, you can see how fast things can change in pro sports. He rose through the Yankees system, became close friends with Roger Maris, and then faced the tough reality of being forced to hang up his cleats at only 30. His story feels both inspiring and a bit cautionary, a reminder of just how fragile athletic careers really are.

Early Life And Background

Kenneth Lawrence Hunt was born on July 13, 1934, in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He grew up in a railroad family, which helped shape his strong work ethic and drive.

He started his journey from small-town athlete to professional baseball player as a teenager. At 14, Hunt began playing organized baseball.

Childhood And Family

Ken spent his childhood in Grand Forks with his parents, Percy L. and Marie (Geatz) Hunt. His dad worked as a railroad fireman, so Hunt had a pretty stable, middle-class upbringing.

Hunt grew up with two siblings—an older brother named Robert and a younger sister, Janice. The Hunt family stayed close to their North Dakota roots throughout Ken’s childhood.

As a kid, Hunt became friends with Roger Maris, who would also go on to be a baseball star. Even after the Maris family moved to Fargo and the two became high school sports rivals, they kept their friendship strong.

Hunt was more than just a baseball guy. In football, during his senior year, his team lost only once—a 7-6 game against Fargo Shanley High. That loss came on a late 70-yard touchdown run by his friend Roger Maris, who was an all-state halfback.

Amateur Baseball Journey

At 14, Hunt jumped into organized baseball in 1948. He played for the Grand Forks American Legion team and also for St. James High School’s baseball squad.

He didn’t just stick to school teams—he also played semipro ball as a teenager. Hunt joined a team in Reynolds, North Dakota, where he got to test his skills against older, more experienced players.

While at St. James High School, Hunt really started to shine as a power hitter and a solid outfielder. Scouts noticed his performances and began tracking his progress.

Hunt’s passion for baseball showed in the way he played on several teams and in different leagues at once. That experience gave him a leg up, helping him build his skills and baseball smarts before he ever went pro.

Path To Professional Baseball

Hunt graduated high school in 1952 at just 17. By then, major league scouts were already watching him closely.

Yankees scout Joe McDermott signed Hunt right after graduation. The Yankees handed him a $10,000 bonus, which was a huge deal for a teenager from North Dakota back in ’52.

They sent him to Olean in the Class D Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League. In just 30 games, Hunt tore up the league, hitting .500 with 29 hits in 58 at-bats.

That kind of performance got him promoted quickly to the Joplin Miners in the Class C Western Association. His rapid rise through the minors really showed how much talent he had and how high his ceiling looked.

Major League Debut And Initial Years

Ken Hunt’s road to the majors started with the Yankees in 1959. He debuted as a defensive replacement, and his path from the Yankees’ packed outfield to a starting job with the new Los Angeles Angels really highlights the ups and downs of pro baseball in the early ’60s.

Joining The New York Yankees

On September 10, 1959, Hunt made his big league debut against Kansas City at Yankee Stadium. He came in late as a defensive sub, officially kicking off his MLB career at 25.

The Yankees had signed him back in 1952 for that $10,000 bonus. Hunt spent years working his way up through their farm system before finally getting the call.

Cracking the Yankees’ outfield was no small feat. The lineup already had stars like Mickey Mantle, Hank Bauer, and Norm Siebern. Casey Stengel, the manager, also liked to use catchers like Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, and Johnny Blanchard out in the field.

In 1960, Hunt played just 25 games with New York. Even with limited at-bats, he managed a .273 average during his September stint. He showed promise, but with so much talent on the roster, Hunt just couldn’t find regular playing time.

Transition To The Los Angeles Angels

The American League expanded in 1961, opening up new chances for Hunt. The Yankees left him unprotected in the expansion draft, and the Los Angeles Angels picked him as their 40th selection on December 14, 1960.

Hunt actually found out about his selection while working at a radio station in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. He saw the news come in on the wire while reading the news on air. That moment told him he’d finally get a shot to play regularly.

Angels GM Fred Haney liked Hunt’s versatility, saying, “He can do everything. He’s fast, covers a lot of ground in center field, has a good arm, and hits with power.”

The Angels played at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, a park that really favored right-handed hitters like Hunt. With a 340-foot left-field line and a 345-foot left-center alley, it was tailor-made for his pull power.

Hunt took over as the Angels’ starting center fielder in 1961. He played 149 games, batting .255 with 25 homers and 84 RBIs. He also racked up 29 doubles and scored 70 runs, quickly becoming a key player for the new franchise.

Career Highlights And Achievements

Ken Hunt’s pro baseball career had its high point during his fantastic 1961 rookie season with the Los Angeles Angels. Even though shoulder injuries cut his time short, Hunt hit some notable milestones and came through with clutch performances against tough opponents.

Breakout 1961 Season

Hunt’s 1961 season with the Angels was the best of his career. As the team’s main center fielder in their first year, he became their top offensive threat.

He hit .255, blasted 25 home runs, and tallied 84 RBIs over 149 games. Those power numbers were pretty impressive, especially for a rookie on a brand-new team. Hunt also had 29 doubles and scored 70 runs, helping the Angels outperform expectations.

Wrigley Field in LA turned out to be a great fit for Hunt’s right-handed swing. That short 340-foot left-field line let him hit 17 of his 25 home runs at home.

He held the Angels’ rookie home run record for more than 30 years. His 25 homers stayed at the top until Tim Salmon broke the record in 1993. By August, people saw him as a serious contender for AL Rookie of the Year.

Memorable Performances

Hunt had some memorable moments during his short time in the majors. One of his best came at Yankee Stadium on June 11, 1961, against his old team.

He hit a home run off Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry in the ninth, breaking up Terry’s shutout bid. That clutch homer showed Hunt could deliver against top pitching.

Back in the minors, Hunt set an International League record on June 5, 1960. Playing for Richmond, he went 7-for-7 in a doubleheader against Montreal. That kind of hitting just doesn’t happen every day.

During spring training, Hunt caught scouts’ eyes with his athleticism. His mix of speed, power, and defensive skills made him a hot prospect for several teams.

Significant Milestones

Even with a short career, Hunt hit some important marks. Over six seasons, he collected 177 hits, scored 107 runs, and hit 33 home runs in 310 games.

He made his debut on September 10, 1959, as a defensive sub for the Yankees against Kansas City. That game capped off years of grinding through the Yankees’ farm system.

The Angels picked him 40th overall in the 1960 expansion draft. GM Fred Haney called him a cornerstone for the new franchise and praised his all-around game.

A shoulder injury during a 1962 exhibition game pretty much ended his career. He hurt himself trying to throw out a baserunner, limiting him to just 13 games that year. That injury really put a dent in his playing time from then on.

Ken Hunt’s 1964 Season And Retirement

Ken Hunt wrapped up his major league career with the Washington Senators in 1964, appearing in 51 games before calling it quits. His last game came on October 4, 1964, closing out a six-year run that saw him play for three different teams.

Final Season With Washington Senators

Hunt joined the Senators for the 1964 season after three years with the Angels. At 29, he played in 51 games during what would be his final campaign.

His numbers took a dip that year. Hunt hit just .136 with 13 hits in 96 at-bats. He drove in 4 runs and scored 9 times.

1964 Season Stats:

• Games: 51
• At-bats: 96
• Hits: 13
• Home runs: 1
• RBIs: 4
• Batting average: .136

Hunt split his playing time between home and road games. At home, he played 22 games with 41 at-bats and hit .146. On the road, he played 29 games, had 55 at-bats, and hit .127.

His last major league game came on October 4, 1964, against the Boston Red Sox. Hunt went 1-for-1, picking up his final big league hit.

Retirement Decision

After the 1964 season, Hunt decided to retire. At 30, he’d spent six years as a utility player with three organizations but never really locked down a starting spot.

His career numbers reflect his time as a bench guy. Hunt finished with a .226 batting average, 33 home runs, and 111 RBIs in 310 games. For someone who never got regular at-bats, those stats aren’t too surprising.

Probably, the lack of opportunities in the majors pushed him to step away. Hunt bounced around as a utility outfielder, playing for the Yankees, Angels, and Senators.

After leaving baseball, Hunt returned to civilian life. He was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on July 13, 1934, and passed away in Gardena, California, on June 8, 1997, at age 62.

Hunt’s career fits the story of a lot of players who make it to the majors but never quite reach stardom. He still left his mark on three different teams during the late ’50s and early ’60s.

Playing Style And Statistics

Ken Hunt played six seasons in the MLB from 1959 to 1964, building a reputation as a solid power hitter and a dependable outfielder. His stats show a guy who could drive in runs and hit for power, even if his batting average stayed on the modest side throughout his career.

Batting Performance

Hunt’s offensive numbers really leaned into the classic power-over-average profile you see sometimes in the majors. He put together a career .226 batting average with 33 home runs and 111 RBIs in 310 games.

He found his stride in 1961 with the Los Angeles Angels, showing up for 149 games. That year, Hunt hit .255, popped 25 home runs, and drove in 84 RBIs.

That season was the only time he got to be a regular starter for a full year.

Hunt’s power stood out, with a career slugging percentage of .417. Over six seasons, he collected 177 total hits and crossed the plate 107 times.

Driving the ball was really his main offensive weapon.

He swung aggressively, which led him to strike out 222 times while walking just 85 times. That 2.6-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio says a lot about his approach at the plate.

Defensive Skills

Hunt played mostly center field and right field during his career. He showed decent defensive abilities.

In 1961, he handled 281 total chances in the outfield and finished with a .950 fielding percentage.

He committed 14 errors during that busy season. Hunt’s range factor hit 1.99 per game, just a bit below the league average of 2.22 for outfielders.

He moved around the outfield when needed. That year, Hunt played 111 games in center field and 22 games in right field.

Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 205 pounds, he had decent arm strength and okay speed. His defense wasn’t flashy, but he got the job done—he fit the profile of a serviceable big-league outfielder.

Overall Career Statistics

Hunt’s career stats show a player who had some promise but couldn’t quite find consistency. He played 310 games over six seasons with the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, and Washington Senators.

He found his best years with the Angels between 1961 and 1963, piling up most of his offensive stats then.

Hunt’s OPS of .720 sat below league average, which shows he struggled to get on base as often as teams might’ve hoped.

He wrapped up his career with the Washington Senators in 1964, where he hit just .135 in 51 games. His last big league appearance came on October 4, 1964, facing the Boston Red Sox.

If you project his numbers to a 162-game average, you get 17 home runs and 58 RBIs. The power was there, but he just never put it all together for a full season.

Later Life, Legacy, And Net Worth

After retiring in 1966, Ken Hunt switched gears and went to work in the aerospace industry. People still remember his baseball legacy, especially that 1961 rookie season with the Los Angeles Angels. Unfortunately, shoulder injuries cut his career short.

Life After Baseball

Hunt chose not to play baseball in 1965 and moved back to Los Angeles. He joined the Screen Actors Guild and worked as an extra in a couple of movies.

Early that year, he showed up in an episode of The Munsters filmed at Wrigley Field called “Herman the Rookie.” He played a baseball catcher who was terrified of Eddie’s TV dad, Herman Munster.

In 1966, Chicago Cubs manager Leo Durocher traded for Hunt from Washington on April 2. The Cubs sent him to Tacoma in the Pacific Coast League, but after hitting just .235 with 8 home runs, Hunt decided to retire from baseball for good.

He returned to Southern California and landed steady work in the aerospace field. While working at a plant, he met Sherry Conklin, and they got married on October 18, 1969.

They had three kids and even opened a neighborhood bar close to where they worked.

Legacy In Baseball History

People mostly remember Hunt for his 1961 rookie year with the Los Angeles Angels. That season, he hit .255 with 25 home runs and 84 RBIs in 149 games. He held the Angels’ rookie home run record until Tim Salmon broke it in 1993.

One sportswriter called his career the start of the “Angel Jinx.” Supposedly, Hunt’s 1962 shoulder injury started a curse that haunted the team for years. He hurt himself by flexing his bat behind his neck in the on-deck circle and ended up separating his right shoulder.

Growing up in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Hunt was childhood friends with Roger Maris. They stayed close for life and even shared a room when both played for the 1960 New York Yankees.

Hunt’s high school football team only lost once his senior year—a 7-6 game against Maris’s Fargo Shanley High School.

Estimated Net Worth And Personal Life

Hunt didn’t leave behind a huge fortune when he died in 1997. His bank account mostly reflected a short baseball career and later, some steady work in aerospace.

He married Patty Lilley back in 1962. By doing so, he became stepdad to her 8-year-old son Patrick. That kid, years later, became known as Butch Patrick—the actor who played Eddie Munster in The Munsters TV show.

Hunt and Patty eventually divorced, but he kept in touch with his stepson. That relationship seemed to matter to him.

In 1969, Hunt married Sherry Conklin. They stuck together until he passed away on June 8, 1997, in Gardena, California.

Together, they raised three kids. At the same time, they ran a neighborhood bar and juggled jobs in the aerospace industry.