Grady Hatton Dies: 5 Things To Know About Former All-Star, Astros Manager

Grady Hatton, the former All-Star third baseman and manager of the Houston Astros from 1966 through the middle of 1968, died on Thursday at age 90 from causes related to cancer, according to his granddaughter. The World War II veteran passed away at his home in Warren, the rural East Texas Piney Woods town that had been his home for 40 years. His funeral is scheduled for Monday at First Baptist Church of Warren.

1. He became known as something of a Texas baseball institution.

Hatton was a native of Beaumont, a Gulf port city in Southeast Texas with a reputation as an industrial hub of the state. He attended the University of Texas-Austin before making his major league debut on April 16^th, 1946. He would make his managing debut in Houston, with the minor league Buffs, before joining the expansion Houston Colt .45s (later to become the Astros) in 1962 as their director of player personnel. In 1966 he started managing the Astros while also serving as the team's vice president in those first rough years of the expansion team. From 1966 through 1968, when he was replaced midseason, his record was 164-221.

2. As a manager, he had a reputation for expecting a lot from his players.

The Houston Chronicle wrote upon his death that Bob Aspromonte, a third baseman with the Astros during Hatton's time as manager, remembers players jokingly asking Hatton, "Well, were you that good as a player?" In the same article, pitcher Larry Dierker remembers Aspromonte as "fatherly in a lot of ways with the younger guys".

3. As a player, he was something of a utility man, playing a wide variety of positions.

He played third base for most of his career. But he got his start in the big leagues as a 23-year-old second baseman with the Cincinnati Reds, and his 1952 All-Star nomination came for his capacities as a second baseman. In a 1948 article from the St. Petersburg Times, Hatton is quoted as saying, "I don't care what position I play, as long as I play."

4. He was also a bit of a journey man.

Hatton played in the major leagues from 1946-1960 with the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs. He had a .254 career average, with 91 home runs.

5. Even after his managing days were over, he stayed involved in baseball.

After being removed as manager of the Astros during the 1968 season, he worked as a scout, then as a first base and third base coach with the franchise. Later he scouted for the San Francisco Giants, until the late 1980s, when he retired from baseball for good.