Butch Hobson
Clell Lavern "Butch" Hobson (born August 17, 1951) is an American former professional baseball player and manager, best known for his eight-season Major League Baseball (MLB) career as a third baseman, primarily with the Boston Red Sox from 1975 to 1980, where he hit 30 home runs in 1977, and for managing the Red Sox from 1992 to 1994.[1][2] Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to minor league infielder Clell Hobson Sr., Hobson attended the University of Alabama, where he played college football under legendary coach Bear Bryant before focusing on baseball.[2] The Boston Red Sox selected him in the eighth round of the 1973 MLB Draft out of Alabama, and he debuted with the team on September 7, 1975.[1][3] Over his MLB playing career, which spanned 1975 to 1982 with the Red Sox, California Angels, and New York Yankees, Hobson compiled a .248 batting average, 98 home runs, and 397 runs batted in across 738 games, with his power peaking in 1977 when he led the American League with 162 strikeouts while driving in 112 runs.[1][4] Defensively, he struggled at third base, committing a league-high 43 errors in 1978 for a .899 fielding percentage, which prompted a shift to other positions later in his career.[2] Transitioning to management, Hobson led minor league affiliates of the Red Sox, including the New Britain Red Sox (1989–1990) and Pawtucket Red Sox (1991), before taking over as interim manager of the Boston Red Sox in 1992, posting an overall MLB record of 207 wins and 232 losses (.472 winning percentage) over three seasons, with no postseason appearances; the 1994 season was shortened by a players' strike.[5] After leaving MLB, he managed independent league teams, notably guiding the Nashua Pride to Atlantic League championships in 2000 and a Can-Am League championship in 2007, and the Lancaster Barnstormers to a title in 2014, amassing multiple playoff berths across his post-MLB tenure.[2][6]Early life and education
High school
Clell Lavern "Butch" Hobson Jr. was born on August 17, 1951, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to Clell Hobson Sr., a former University of Alabama quarterback who lettered in football and baseball from 1949 to 1952, and his wife.[1][7] The elder Hobson, who later became a high school football coach and educator in Alabama, including at Bessemer High School, played a significant role in his son's early exposure to sports, fostering a competitive environment rooted in the family's athletic heritage.[8][9] Hobson attended Bessemer High School in Bessemer, Alabama, where his father's coaching position directly influenced his development as an athlete.[5][8] There, he participated in both baseball and football, demonstrating versatility and building core skills that would carry into higher levels of competition.[8] In baseball, Hobson earned recognition as the American Legion Most Valuable Player and the Bessemer High School Most Valuable Player, highlighting his standout performance as a hitter and overall contributor to the team.[8] On the football field, he played quarterback and was selected to the All-Jefferson County team, benefiting from his father's guidance in refining his leadership and physicality.[8] These high school accomplishments underscored Hobson's potential, shaped by the local sports culture and paternal mentorship.[8] After graduating from Bessemer High School, Hobson pursued athletics at the University of Alabama.[5]College
Hobson enrolled at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in the fall of 1969, where he pursued both baseball and football over the next four years. In baseball, he lettered in 1970, 1972, and 1973 under coaches Joe Sewell and Hayden Riley, serving as the starting third baseman. Over his collegiate career, he batted .250 (80-for-320) with 18 home runs and 54 RBI.[8][10] On the football team, Hobson initially started as a quarterback before switching to strong safety, then returned to quarterback as a backup to Terry Davis during his junior year in 1971 under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. He appeared in 11 games that season, including completing two passes for 29 yards, rushing for 154 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, and playing in the 1972 Orange Bowl, but ultimately chose to forgo his senior football season in 1972 to focus on baseball.[11][12][10] The demands of participating in two sports challenged Hobson's time management and physical conditioning, fostering resilience through rigorous coaching from Bryant and his father, a former minor league player, which honed his competitive drive for professional baseball. Following his standout 1973 baseball season, he was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the eighth round (185th overall) of the MLB Draft. Hobson completed his bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama in 2019.[11][13]Professional playing career
Boston Red Sox
Hobson made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox on September 7, 1975, at the age of 24, entering as a pinch runner against the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park.[8] He recorded his first hit on September 28, 1975, a single off Cleveland Indians pitcher Jim Strickland.[8] Hobson appeared in only two games that season, primarily as a third baseman, before establishing himself as a regular the following year.[1] From 1976 to 1980, Hobson saw regular playing time with the Red Sox, primarily at third base and as a designated hitter, appearing in 621 games over his tenure with the team.[1] In that span, he compiled a .262 batting average with 84 home runs and 342 runs batted in, providing solid power from the lower part of the lineup.[1] His peak performance came in 1977, when he played all 159 games, batting .265 with 30 home runs and 112 RBI, setting a Red Sox single-season record for home runs by a third baseman that stood for over two decades; he also led the American League with 162 strikeouts that year.[14] For his contributions, Hobson was named the BoSox Club Man of the Year in 1977.[8] Hobson played a significant role in the Red Sox's intense 1978 American League East pennant race, appearing in 147 games with a .250 batting average, 17 home runs, and 80 RBI.[15] However, his defensive performance at third base drew criticism, as chronic elbow issues from bone chips caused erratic throws, leading to a league-high 43 errors and a .899 fielding percentage—the lowest for any position player with over 100 games since 1916.[8] Despite these challenges, manager Don Zimmer kept him in the lineup, and Hobson started as the designated hitter in the AL East tiebreaker game against the New York Yankees on October 2, 1978, going 1-for-4 in Boston's 5-4 loss.[8]California Angels
On December 10, 1980, Hobson was traded from the Boston Red Sox, along with shortstop Rick Burleson, to the California Angels in exchange for third baseman Carney Lansford, outfielder Rick Miller, and pitcher Mark Clear.[16][8] The deal aimed to bolster the Angels' infield with Hobson's power-hitting potential at third base, following his productive but error-prone tenure in Boston.[17] In the strike-shortened 1981 season, Hobson appeared in 85 games for the Angels, primarily at third base and as the designated hitter.[8][1] He batted .235 with a .321 on-base percentage and .336 slugging percentage, recording 63 hits, 4 home runs, and 36 RBIs in 268 at-bats.[1] His performance was hampered by ongoing elbow injuries and a separated shoulder, which limited his playing time and contributed to diminished productivity compared to his peak years.[8] At age 30, Hobson faced increased competition for playing time at third base and in the outfield-DH roles, exacerbated by the Angels' roster depth and his injury setbacks.[8] Following the 1981 season, the Angels traded him to the New York Yankees on March 24, 1982, in exchange for pitcher Bill Castro.[16]New York Yankees
Hobson joined the New York Yankees via trade from the California Angels on March 24, 1982, in exchange for pitcher Bill Castro.[1][8] He appeared in 30 games that season, primarily as a designated hitter and first baseman, compiling a .172 batting average with no home runs and three RBI.[1] His performance was hampered by ongoing struggles at the plate and in the field, resulting in limited playing time and an overall WAR of -0.8.[1] Hobson's final major league appearance came on August 3, 1982, against the Chicago White Sox, after which he did not play further in the majors.[1] At age 30, he retired from professional baseball as a player following the 1982 season.[8]Career statistics
Over his eight-season Major League Baseball career from 1975 to 1982, primarily as a third baseman for the Boston Red Sox, California Angels, and New York Yankees, Butch Hobson appeared in 738 games, compiling a .248 batting average with 634 hits, 98 home runs, and 397 runs batted in.[1] His on-base percentage stood at .294, with a slugging percentage of .422, resulting in an OPS of .716 and an adjusted OPS+ of 91, indicating slightly below-average offensive production relative to league standards during his era.[1] Hobson's power output peaked in 1977, when he hit a career-high 30 home runs and drove in 112 runs, contributing to one of the most prolific home run seasons by a Red Sox third baseman at the time.[1] He also received minor MVP consideration that year, finishing 23rd in American League voting with one point.[1] Earlier accolades included American League Player of the Week honors on July 17, 1977, and April 23, 1978.[1] Defensively at third base, where he played 651 games over 5,601.1 innings, Hobson handled 1,877 total chances with a .926 fielding percentage, committing 138 errors—reflecting below-average glovework compared to contemporaries like Mike Schmidt (.947 career fielding percentage) or Graig Nettles (.963), who set higher standards for power-hitting third basemen.[1] His defensive metrics, including a total zone rating of -51 runs, underscored challenges in range and error prevention, contrasting with his offensive contributions.[1]| Statistic | Career Total |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 738 |
| At Bats | 2,556 |
| Hits | 634 |
| Home Runs | 98 |
| RBI | 397 |
| Batting Average | .248 |
| On-Base Percentage | .294 |
| Slugging Percentage | .422 |
| OPS | .716 |