The baseball world lost a real character this week with the passing of former San Francisco Giants infielder Ron Hunt at the age of 85.
Hunt was a gritty, fearless second baseman who wore the orange and black with unmistakable toughness during a key stretch of his career.
Hunt came to the Giants in 1968 after stops with the Mets and Dodgers, arriving in a trade that brought his unmistakable style to our lineup. What stood out immediately was his incredible willingness to put his body on the line for the team.
While many players tried to avoid getting hit by pitches, Hunt turned it into an art form. Those seasons in San Francisco saw him leading the charge in that department, getting plunked time after time—often 20 or more in a year—as he crowded the plate and refused to give an inch.
It was old-school baseball at its finest, the kind that earned him respect from teammates and fans alike.
Before joining us, Hunt had already made a name for himself as a scrappy infielder who rarely struck out and found ways to get on base. He broke in strong with the Mets back in 1963, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting and earning All-Star nods later on.
But it was during his time in the National League West that his reputation for durability and hustle really shined. He played hard every single day, the type of player who embodied the blue-collar spirit that Giants fans have always appreciated.
After his stint with us, Hunt moved on to the Expos, where he set a modern record by getting hit by 50 pitches in a single season—a number that still turns heads today. He wrapped up his playing days back home with the Cardinals, but those years in San Francisco remain a special chapter.
In total, across 12 major league seasons, he stepped to the plate over 6,000 times, collected nearly 1,500 hits, and racked up 243 hit-by-pitches, placing him among the all-time leaders in that unique category.
Off the field, Hunt stayed connected to the game through coaching clinics for young players, passing along that same competitive fire to the next generation. He also ran businesses like a liquor store and sporting goods shop, living life with the same straightforward approach he brought to the diamond.
As an organization, the Giants tip our caps to Ron Hunt’s family and everyone who knew him. He represented an era when players gave everything to the game—sometimes quite literally, as he famously joked about donating his body to baseball.
San Francisco fans will remember him as a tough competitor who became part of Giants history, and whose legacy of hustle continues to inspire.
