La Marr Hoyt

Dewey La Marr Hoyt
played as Dewey Hoyt from 1979 to 1981

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 222 lb.
• High School W.J. Keenan High School
• Debut September 14, 1979
• Final Game October 3, 1986
• Born January 1, 1955 in Columbia, SC USA
• Died November 29, 2021 in Columbia, SC USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Cy Young Award winner La Marr Hoyt pitched eight years in the majors, twice leading his league in victories.

The son of Dewey Hoyt, a minor league pitcher in 1947 and 1948, La Marr was selected by the New York Yankees in the fifth round of the 1973 amateur draft and was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1977 along with Oscar Gamble and minor leaguer Bob Polinsky for Bucky Dent. In 1978, he went 18-4 with a 2.90 ERA for the Appleton Foxes of the Midwest League.

Hoyt reached the majors in 1979 and bounced between the rotation and the bullpen until 1982, when he became a regular starter for the Sox. That season, he won a league-best 19 games, and the following year he captured the Cy Young Award winner with a record of 24-10. From 1980 to 1982, he won his first 16 career decisions at home, tying a record held by Johnny Allen. That number was not bested until Jose Fernandez won his first 17 home decisions in 2013-2015.

Hoyt pitched a one-hitter on May 2, 1984 against the New York Yankees. The only hit was a 7th inning single by Don Mattingly. Hoyt gave no walks and struck out 8 in the game. He faced the minimum number of batters in the game as Mattingly was erased by a double play. However, overall he struggled that year, going 13-18 with an ERA nearly a run per game higher than his previous average.

After the 1984 season, Hoyt was traded to the San Diego Padres in a seven player deal that brought Ozzie Guillen to the Sox. He returned to form with the Padres, going 16-8 and starting the 1985 All-Star Game and winning MVP honors for that game. However, his career ended in 1986 after he was arrested three times on drug charges. He was suspended for the 1987 season; it was later reduced, but he never returned to the major leagues.

Overall, Hoyt won 98 games in an eight-year career. In his first years in the majors, he was known as Dewey Hoyt. He died in 2021 at the age of 66 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Notable Achievements

• NL All-Star (1985)
• AL Cy Young Award Winner (1983)
• 1985 All-Star Game MVP
• 2-time AL Wins Leader (1982 & 1983)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 3 (1982, 1983 & 1985)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1983)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1982-1985)

AL Cy Young Award
1982	1983	1984
Pete Vuckovich	LaMarr Hoyt	Willie Hernandez

Related Sites

• Obituary