Willard Hunter

Willard Mitchell Hunter

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 180 lb.
• School Wake Forest University
• Debut April 16, 1962
• Final Game October 4, 1964
• Born March 8, 1934 in Newark, NJ USA
• Died February 3, 2021 in Omaha, NE USA

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Biographical Information

Poor Willard Hunter gave up 10 runs in his two-inning debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1962. He had signed with the Dodgers in 1955, played with the Montreal Royals in 1960, and came up in 1962. He was a year younger than Johnny Podres and Maury Wills.

The month after his debut he was traded to the New York Mets in their inaugural year when they lost 120 games. He went 1-6 for them and was the same age as Marv Throneberry.

One of his losses in 1962 was a two-hitter he threw against the Milwaukee Braves, in which, unfortunately, the two hits were both home runs given up to Hank Aaron.

In 1963 he was with the Buffalo Bisons, going 10-5.

He came back to the Mets in 1964, going 3-3 on a team that lost 109 games. Two of those three victories were achieved on one day as he won both ends of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs, pitching in relief. He also had 5 saves that season.