1994 Topps All-Star Rookie 1B Bob Hamelin

A continuing series on the Topps All-Star Rookie Teams, today we're looking at the 1994 A.L. Rookie of the Year and the First Baseman for the squad, Bob Hamelin.

Nicknamed "The Hammer," 26 year old rookie Bob Hamelin battled leg injuries (and an ignominious arm wrestling defeat) to become a fan favorite in Kansas City. He broke Bo Jackson's team record for Homers by a Rookie, and was the team leader in HR, Slugging, and On-base Percentage. The 1994 season was unfortunately shortened by the player's strike, with Hamelin well on his way to a 100+ RBI campaign.
1994 was the first year in over two decades without George Brett in the middle of the lineup, and it was Bob Hamelin's bat that kept the team in the pennant race. When the strike ended the season, the team was just 4 games back of the Chicago White Sox for the Division lead. His 3 run walk-off bomb against ChiSox closer Roberto Hernandez in August was his 2nd Walk off of the year.

Hamelin was born in New Jersey, but moved out West with his family at the age of 12. He would attend Irvine High School and was a 2-sport star as a linebacker and first baseman. He was named the school's top athlete his senior year and was recruited by Lou Holtz to play LB for Notre Dame.

Hamelin preferred baseball, however, and was willing to work his way up the ladder to get to the major leagues. He played one season of Junior College ball for Santa Ana College - setting single season records for Homers (31), RBI (107), batting average (.520), Slugging (1.187) and runs scored (88). "He was a man among boys," according to the Santa Ana head coach. For his own part, Hamelin credits his season at Santa Ana for the team concept that changed his attitudes towards baseball and helped him make it to the major leagues.

Following his JuCo season at Santa Ana, he attracted the attention of UCLA and the major leagues. The K.C. Royals drafted Hamelin in the 2nd round in 1988, and it was a slow and painful road for Hamelin to the bigs. He had considerable power, drawing comparisons to the Royals' then HR King, Steve Balboni. The injuries to his legs and back (including a stress fracture in 1990) limited him to 1B and more often than not, Designated Hitter.

His 1994 season is the only time a primary DH has won the Rookie of the Year award. Injuries would continue to plague Hamelin's playing time and production, and he was let go by the Royals following a pair of disappointing seasons, neither of which cracked 100 games played.

Hamelin would bounce back in 1997, now with A.L. Central rival Detroit. He would replace the bat of Cecil Fielder in the Tigers lineup. After 109 losses in 1996, there was nowhere for Detroit to go but up, and Hamelin provided 18 homers and set a new career high with 110 games played. The team also improved its fortunes, but was still well behind Cleveland in the standings. 

Hamelin then played a season for Milwaukee, but his limited mobility meant being used almost exclusively as a pinch hitter. He played in 109 games for the Brewers, but only had 164 plate appearances. He famously walked away from baseball the next year after grounding out in a game for the Tigers AAA Affiliate in Toledo. After running out the grounder and touching first, he took a right turn and headed for the clubhouse, telling his coach that he was done. He left the game, then the stadium, and did not returned to professional baseball until joining the Washington Nationals as a scout in the mid 2000s.

For a good write-up on his playing days, check out the "Greatest 21 Days" blog entry, "Bob Hamelin - Mentally Prepared".