Throwback Thursday: Hunter and Hawkins
This week two Major League greats and former Salt Lake Buzz-men LaTroy Hawkins and Torii Hunter announced their retirements. The two were good friends from their time together with the Minnesota Twins and it is only fitting that they would call it a career within a week of each other.
Hawkins came through Salt Lake as a young pitching prospect for the Twins in the Buzz's first year in 1994 and was the last member of the inaugural team still active in baseball. Before going on to pitch in 1042 Major League games (10th most all time) he would pitch in 68 games for the Buzz between 1994 and 1997. Hawkins still has his name all over the Bees record book and is in the top 10 in wins (2nd, 32), starts (4th, 68), complete games (1st, 11), complete game shutouts (1st, 3), innings pitched (2nd, 441.1), strikeouts (7th, 264). Hawkins has the fourth and fifth best single season ERAs in 1996 and 1997 when he finished with a 3.55 and 3.92 ERA and is the only player in franchise history to have two seasons with a sub 4.00 ERA.
Hawkins had many impressive games in Salt Lake, but two stand out above the rest during his 1996 season. On June 22 at home against Calgary he pitched a 10-inning complete game, the only one in franchise history. LaTroy took the loss that night as the Buzz fell 2-1, but will likely never be eclipsed in the record book for innings pitched in a single game. The second game came in the 1996 playoffs. The Buzz trailed 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs in Edmonton. Hawkins was battling a sore shoulder and it was a question if he'd be able to make his start. He gritted out a six innings, giving up just five hits and one run as the Buzz went on to win 4-1, their only victory in the series.
"He was a raw kid when he got to Salt Lake and turned himself into a Major Leaguer," Bees radio voice Steve Klauke remembers.
Hawkins got to visit Salt Lake one final time during his 2015 farewell tour, pitching a rehab appearance for Albuquerque this season.
Hunter didn't spend as much time in Salt Lake as Hawkins, but still made his presence felt appearing in 81 total games for the Buzz during the 1998 and 2000 seasons. In 55 games in 2000 Hunter hit 18 home runs and collected 61 RBIs, thanks in part to three grand slams during his limited time. All three slams came within a calendar month hitting the first on June 26, coming back the next day and hitting another on June 27 and then setting the franchise record on July 16. The 2000 team went on to score over 1,000 runs during the season, the only team in the Majors or Minors that year to accomplish the feat and Hunters bat was a big part of that.
"There isn't one play that stands out to me with Torii," Klauke recalls. "I just remember his gracefulness in the outfield. He was amazing to watch out there. He had a hard time and fought through a lot of negativity to make the Majors. At the time he was having a hard time with the Major League coaching staff, but he fought through it."
Hunter would go on to be selected to five All-Star games and won two silver slugger awards, but will likely always be best known for his defense, winning nine consecutive gold glove awards between 2001 and 2009.
A highlight video of Hunter with the Buzz is available from our friends at KSL sports here.
The Salt Lake Bees are incredibly grateful for LaTroy and Torii's contributions to baseball in Salt Lake and beyond and wish them the best in their retirements.