Doug Hansen

Douglas William Hansen

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lb.
• High School John C. Fremont High School
• Debut September 4, 1951
• Final Game September 11, 1951
• Born December 16, 1928 in Los Angeles, CA USA
• Died September 16, 1999 in Orem, UT USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Doug Hansen signed as an amateur free agent with the Chicago Cubs before the 1947 season. The 18-year-old infielder spent the first 31 games of his initial season with the class C Visalia Cubs of the California League, hitting at a .248 clip. In June, the Cubs sent him to the El Paso Texans of the Arizona-Texas League, and Doug appeared in 56 games and hit for a .291 average.

He stayed at El Paso for the 1948 season where he appeared in 141 contests and hit at a .276 average. Then, before the 1949 season, El Paso sent him to the Cleveland Indians. The second baseman had a decent year in 1949, hitting .241 with 11 homers in 141 games, for the Harrisburg Senators of the class B Interstate League.

This showing led up to his breakout season in 1950 with the Wilkes-Barre Indians of the class A Eastern League. The 21-year-old second sacker had a career high 17 homers with 107 RBI and a .289 batting average. He also was chosen for the league All-Star team. This performance got the young infielder a September call-up to Municipal Stadium. Doug was used as a pinch runner in three games and he came around to score twice, but he never got a chance to swing the bat or field the ball and this would be his only chance in the major leagues.

The United States Army required Hansen's services in 1951 and 1952, at the time of the Korean War. In 1953, Doug was with both the Reading Indians and the Indianapolis Indians, hitting a combined .235 with 6 home runs in 91 games. He was with three different high minors clubs in 1954, appearing in 129 games but hit only .221 with 11 homers.

Hansen was out of baseball in 1955, tried a brief comeback in 1956 with the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League but decided after seven seasons of pro baseball to seek other avenues. While in the minors Doug appeared in 725 games, hit 56 home runs and had a .259 minor league career batting average. Hansen passed away September 16, 1999 at age 70 in Orem, UT.

Sources

Baseball Players of the 1950s
Minors page

Related Sites

• Doug Hansen at the SABR Bio Project