Hank Small

George Henry Small

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 205 lb.
• School University of South Carolina
• High School William F. Dykes High School
• Debut September 27, 1978
• Final Game September 27, 1978
• Born July 31, 1953 in Atlanta, GA USA
• Died March 3, 2010 in Atlanta, GA USA

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Biographical Information

First baseman Hank Small was a star at the University of South Carolina and later played in just one big league game.

With the Gamecocks, Small hit .379 with 4 home runs as a freshman in 1972. The following year, his average dropped to .282 but his home run production jumped to 8. After aluminum bats were allowed in 1974, he hit .360 with a school-record 17 homers as a junior. Then, in his final year, he hit .390 and broke his record with 19 home runs. South Carolina finished second at the College World Series that year, and he was an All-American at first base. His 19 homers in a season was a school record until Joe Datin hit 23 in 1985; the 48 home runs during his college career was the USC record until Justin Smoak hit 62.

Selected by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 1975 amateur draft, Small advanced through their organization. With the Richmond Braves in 1978, he led the International League with 25 home runs and 101 RBI, while hitting .289 and making the IL All-Star team. He earned a call up to the Braves that September, and appeared in one game on September 27 against the Houston Astros. He was hitless in four at-bats, grounding into a double play against Joe Sambito to end the game.

Following his baseball career, Small worked in the insurance industry for many years. He later worked for a groundskeeping company that maintained baseball diamonds. He died at age 56 as a result of a fall in 2010.