Ron Hunt

Ronald Kenneth "Ron" Hunt, born February 23, 1941, in St. Louis, is an American former professional baseball second baseman who played twelve seasons in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1974. He batted and threw right-handed. Hunt graduated from Ritenour High School in Breckenridge Hills, Missouri, where he played football and baseball, then signed with the Milwaukee Braves and spent four years in their minor league system. The New York Mets purchased his contract in October 1962 and added him to the major league roster.

Hunt broke into the majors in 1963 as the Mets' regular second baseman, batting .272 with 10 home runs—his career high—and 42 runs batted in, a figure he tied in 1964. Early on he had served as the bullpen catcher until he approached manager Casey Stengel and asked to be sent to the minor leagues to play second base if the Mets were not going to use him.

Over his career he also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos, and St. Louis Cardinals. In 1971 Hunt set a single-season record for being hit by more pitches—50—than any player since 1900.