R.I.P. Hal Breeden

Former Montreal Expos first baseman Hal Breeden passed away on May 3 at the age of 76.

May 8, 2021

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Hal Breeden was a rarity.

"One of Harold's unique qualities was that he batted right-handed and threw left-handed which made him a great first baseman,'' his obituary from this week said.

The former Expos player from the 1970s died at his home in Leeburg, Ga., on May 3 but news of his death is slowly getting out. He was 76.

Breeden, who spent 20 years as a sheriff in Georgia, was signed by the Milwaukee Braves on April 19, 1963 but his first taste of the big leagues came with the Cubs, who acquired him from the Braves Nov. 30, 1970 in exchange for knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm.

In 1971, Breeden and his brother Danny both played for the Cubs.

On April 7, 1972, the Expos sent early-franchise hero Dan McGinn and Hector Torres to the Cubs for Breeden and a player to be named later -- Bill Kelso.

Although he wasn't a regular in his time with the Expos, Breeden got more playing time than he did with the Cubs. He shone in 1973 for manager Gene Mauch when he slugged 15 homers and six triples, drove in 43 runs and batted .275 in only 258 at-bats.

"My best game was in Veterans Stadium,'' Breeden told a Georgia reporter a few years ago. "I drove in five runs, three-run homer, two triples and a double.''

As Retrosheet confirmed, that performance came on Sept. 2, 1973 as the Expos routed the Phillies 12-0 in support of a great pitching effort by Mike Torrez, who spun a seven-hitter.

"Gene loved Hal because he was a lefty glove, righty bat,'' teammate Don DeMola said in an interview after hearing of Breeden's passing. "He was a funny guy.''

Breeden wasn't quite as productive in 1974 with two homers and 20 RBI. By 1975, his playing time was next to nothing so he tried his hand in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers from 1976-79.

"Sorry to hear about the passing of Hal,'' Ken Singleton said in an email. "Good teammate. I do remember he was the hitter at the plate when Tommy John walked off the mound at Dodger Stadium (1974) and eventually underwent what is now Tommy John surgery. I remember because I was the on-deck hitter.’’

In 1988, Breeden became a sheriff in Georgia's Lee County and held the position until 2008.

Breeden’s survivors include his wife Linda, daughter Janis, son Shaun, brother Danny and sisters Sue, Ruth and Theresa.