Tommy Hutton

Hutton played at South Pasadena High School and in the major leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers, in 1966 and 1969, Philadelphia Phillies, from 1972 to 1977, Toronto Blue Jays, in 1978, and the Montreal Expos, from the latter part of the 1978 season to his final game on September 3, 1981. He appeared in the 1976 and 1977 National League Championship Series (NLCS), with the Phillies.

Hutton was highly regarded as a standout fielder at first base. He gained considerable notoriety during his Phillies career for his success against Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver of the New York Mets; in 62 plate appearances against Seaver, Hutton batted .320, with 11 walks, three home runs, and 15 runs batted in (RBI).[2][3]

Hutton is also notable for never having been hit by pitch during his professional career, in 1,920 plate appearances. (Contrast that with Ron Hunt, who was hit by a pitch 243 times during his career, approximately once every 25 times at the plate.)[4]

In 952 games over 12 seasons, Hutton posted a .248 batting average (410-for-1655) with 196 runs, 22 home runs and 186 RBI. He was good defensively, recording a .995 fielding percentage playing primarily at first base and at all three outfield positions.[1]

After being released by the Expos, Hutton moved from the dugout to the broadcast booth. He worked as a color commentator with ESPN, the Expos (1985–1986), New York Yankees (1987–1989), Blue Jays (1990–1996), and Marlins (1997–2015). In 1995, Hutton called Games 1–2 of the American League Division Series between the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees alongside Gary Thorne for NBC and Game 3 of the ALDS between the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox alongside Steve Zabriskie for ABC.

Owing in great part to an organizational reshuffle, Hutton retired from his 19-season-long broadcasting position with the Marlins following the 2015 season.[5]

Hutton and his wife Debby have competed in the Boston Marathon and reside in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

His brother-in-law Dick Ruthven was an MLB pitcher from 1973 to 1986.[6] The two were teammates on the Phillies from 1973 to 1975.

A cousin, Bill Seinsoth, was a star baseball player at the University of Southern California before he was killed in a 1969 automobile accident.[7]

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball-Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
• Tommy Hutton at SABR (Baseball BioProject)
• Tommy Hutton at Baseball Almanac
• Tommy Hutton at Baseball Library