Granny Hamner

Infobox MLB retired
name=Granny Hamner
position=Shortstop
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date|1927|4|26
Richmond, Virginia
deathdate=death date and age|1993|9|12|1927|4|26
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
debutdate=September 14
debutyear=by|1944
debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies
finaldate=August 1
finalyear=by|1962
finalteam=Kansas City Athletics
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.262
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=1,529
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=708
teams=
* Philadelphia Phillies (by|1944-by|1959)
* Cleveland Indians (by|1959)
highlights=
* 3x All-Star selection (1952, 1953, 1954)

Granville Wilbur Hamner (April 26 1927 — September 12 1993) was an American shortstop and second baseman in Major League Baseball. Hamner was one of the key players on the "Whiz Kids," the by|1950 National League champion Philadelphia Phillies. He was born in Richmond, Virginia.

Hamner (whose brother Garvin was also an infielder in the majors) spent 15½ years with the Phillies, coming to the club as a 17-year-old during World War II and becoming one of the team leaders of the 1950 champions at the age of 23. A right-handed hitting shortstop with power, Hamner compiled more than 80 runs batted in four times. In the 1950 World Series, a four-game New York Yankees sweep dominated by Yankee pitchers, Hamner batted .429 (6 for 14) with three extra-base hits.

On May 16, by|1959, Hamner was traded to the Cleveland Indians, but he batted only .164 for the remainder of the campaign. He then became a manager in the minor league system of the Kansas City Athletics, reappearing briefly with the A's as a pitcher during the 1962 season (he had dabbled on the mound for the 1956-57 Phillies). But the change did not prolong Hamner's playing career. He briefly managed in the Phils' farm system in the 1970s and 1980s.

In 17 major league seasons, Hamner compiled a .262 batting average with 104 home runs. He was winless with two losses as a pitcher.

He died at age 66 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

External links

*baseball-reference|id=h/hamnegr01