Elliott: Remembering 3B coach Rich Hacker
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
When the minor-league seasons ended in the 1960s and 1970s Whitey Herzog would return home to New Athens, Ill.
And waiting for him -- to ask questions, to talk ball and to play catch -- was Rich Hacker, 16 years younger than Herzog. The two would spend hours on the front porch.
Herzog played on the same town team with Hacker’s father and he liked what he saw in the youngster.
After attending Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Hacker was an eighth-round pick of the New York Mets in 1967. After four seasons in the Mets organization he was dealt to the Montreal Expos in 1971 under Gene Mauch. He made his debut July 2 -- doubling off Philadelphia Phillies Woody Fryman -- and played in 15 more games.
Hacker became a manager in the Cardinals’ system for four seasons, three at rookie-class Johnson City. Herzog promoted him to coach first base for the Cardinals -- now that is a rarity rookie ball to the majors -- in 1986 and after two years, moved across the diamond to coach third for three years.
From 1991-93 Hacker coached third for the World Series winning Blue Jays. However, he was not around for the second half of the 1993 season. While manager Cito Gaston, 2B Robbie Alomar, DH Paul Molitor, RF Joe Carter, 1B John Olerud, CF Devon White. RHP Pat Hentgen. LHP Jimmy Key and RP Duane Ward flew to Baltimore for the all-star game at Camden Yards, reliever Danny Cox and Hacker caught a commercial flight from Pearson to St. Louis. Hacker reached the rental car counter before Cox, which made Cox wonder “what if?” because minutes later Hacker was involved in a serious car crash on the Martin Luther King Bridge.
His van was rammed head-on by one of two cars which were drag racing in the wrong lane. Hacker suffered brain trauma and serious damage to his right ankle, and never coached again although he did scout for the San Diego Padres.
Now in those days I was chairman of Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of American. Steve Milton of the Hamilton Spectator suggested we buy Hacker a gun to help motivate his rehab process. Hacker was an avid hunter. But how were the two of us going to get a gun from Pearson to Missouri?
Aha! Cox. I asked Cox. He could buy the gun at home and give it to Hacker as a gift from the Toronto writers. Our budget was $400. Cox reported back he had a gun for $200. Then, he asked since we had money left over “did we want a scope too?”
Sure. How much could a scope cost? Well, it was a long time ago but if memory serves the cost of a scope was three times that of the gun. We paid it. My only hope was that Cox did not appreciate constant teasing. Every time he’d talk hunting I’d always ask what calibre of guns were the deer (moose, ducks, etc.) were packing this hunting season.
The Blue Jays opened the American League Championship Series at Comiskey Park II. Former Philadelphia Phillies manager Nick Leyva had taken over for Hacker. Someone told me that Hacker would be showing for the first time since the all-star break. Walking behind the batting cage someone grabbed me, hugged me and wept. It was Hacker.
The popular Hacker thanked me and all the writers for the gift. Three days later at SkyDome, Hacker threw out the first pitch. There were people in the dugout and pressbox wiping their eyes.
I thought of all that on Thursday.
Rich Hacker passed away Wednesday at age 72.
Good hunting if you find the forest.