VERO BEACH — Mickey Hatcher, the very popular former Los Angeles Dodger is returning to his roots in Vero Beach, FL, where he will be part of the bustling activities of Vero Beach Sports Village (formerly known as Dodgertown, Spring Training site of the Dodgers for 60 years, 1948-98), it was announced by Craig Callan, Vice President, VBSV, who oversees the daily operations of the historic, multi-purpose site.
“Mickey Hatcher has many friends in Vero Beach,” said Callan. “He is a longtime friend of Peter O’Malley and Peter asked him to help and Mickey enthusiastically accepted his invitation to join us this Sunday through Wednesday to participate in many activities. We have a full slate of high school baseball teams training here.”
O’Malley, whose partnership manages the site, said, “I asked Mickey, who has always been a fan favorite, to address both coaches and players during his visit and share his expertise. Mickey said ‘count me in.’ He is planning to remain in Major League Baseball and is talking with several clubs about staying in the game after Opening Day.”
This marks Hatcher’s first return to the base since 1999, when he was coach of the Albuquerque Dukes and was an instructor at the Dodger Adult Baseball Camp that fall. Hatcher made regular Spring Training visits there, as he also served as manager of Class-A San Bernardino (1998); manager of rookie-level Great Falls, MT (1996-97) and coach of Great Falls (1995); third base coach at Albuquerque (1992); and player-coach at Albuquerque (1991).
Hatcher played for 12 seasons in the Major Leagues, including six with the Dodgers (1979-80, 1987-90) and six for the Minnesota Twins (1981-86). The versatile Hatcher had a lifetime batting average of .280 with 946 hits, playing several positions. Hatcher made his debut for the Dodgers on August 3, 1979, after winning the Pacific Coast League batting title with a .371 average at Albuquerque.
Dodger fans may best remember him for his stellar 1988 season, where he was the leader of a band of bench players affectionately known as the “Stuntmen,” role players who filled in for the starters when necessary and contributing mightily to the World Championship season. In fact, Hatcher hit .293 in 88 games. He was a hitting star for the Dodgers in the 1988 World Series as he batted .368 (7-for-19) with two home runs and five RBI. In Game 1 at Dodger Stadium against Oakland, he belted a two-run home run in the first inning to put the Dodgers ahead, 2-0. That set the stage for Kirk Gibson’s later heroics to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. Hatcher’s home run in Game 5 at Oakland proved to be the game-winner. In the 1988 NLCS, the Dodgers had lost the first game to the New York Mets and Manager Tommy Lasorda was looking for a catalyst. He inserted Hatcher into the Game 2 lineup and immediately the move paid dividends, as he went 1-for-3 with a double, walk, two RBI and two runs scored as the Dodgers won, 6-3.
Hatcher’s colorful antics include dressing up in funny hats or washing the car that was to be given away on Fan Appreciation Day at Dodger Stadium as it made its way around the warning track in front of home dugout. He sprinted around the bases following his home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Hatcher showed up on baseball trading cards with an enormous glove. On July 23, 1990, he hit a ball down the right field line against the San Francisco Giants and steamed into third base for a triple. But, in trying to throw him out at third, the ball bounced away and the exhausted Hatcher got up, headed to home and literally crawled to touch the plate. Basically, he did anything he could to keep his teammates and the fans smiling.
Since his playing days, he coached in the Major Leagues with the Texas Rangers (1993-94) and with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2000-12). He was hitting coach of the 2002 World Champions. The Angels set club batting average records, first in 2007 with a .284 average and then in 2009 with a .285 average. In 2007, the Angels posted their best-ever home average at .305 under Hatcher’s guidance.
Hatcher has been involved with professional baseball for 36 seasons. He was a former star in baseball and football at the University of Oklahoma in 1976-77, where he earned second team All-America honors in baseball. He played in the 1977 Fiesta Bowl as a punter and wide receiver. Hatcher earned junior college All-America honors in baseball and football at Mesa Community College (1974-76) and graduated from Mesa (AZ) High School in 1974, where he was All-America in baseball and football.
He frequently conducts baseball clinics for charity. Hatcher also served as an instructor in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Adult Baseball Camps at Dodgertown in February, 1996 and November, 1999.
While at Vero Beach Sports Village, Hatcher will have the opportunity to meet and work with the following high school baseball teams in town for training: Johnson Central (Paintsville, KY), Greenup County (Greenup, KY), Boyd County Kentucky (Ashland, KY), Eaton (Eaton, OH), West Jessamine (Nicholasville, KY), Penn Yan (Penn Yan, NY), Sand Creek (Sand Creek, MI), North Shore Country (Winnetka, IL), Poland Seminary (Poland, OH), Henry Clay (Lexington, KY) and Medina (Medina, OH).