Butch Hobson

Butch Hobson
Third baseman
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
September 7, 1975, for the Boston Red Sox
Last appearance
August 3, 1982, for the New York Yankees
Career statistics
Batting average	.248
Home runs	98
RBI	397
Teams
Boston Red Sox (1975-1980) California Angels (1981) New York Yankees (1982)
Career highlights and awards
Led the American League in strikeouts (162) in 1977

Clell Lavern "Butch" Hobson, Jr. (born August 17, 1951) is a former third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. Hobson played for the Boston Red Sox (1975-80), California Angels (1981) and New York Yankees (1982). He batted and threw right-handed. After retiring, he managed the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Boston Red Sox. Today, he is manager of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (better known as the Atlantic League). He won the International League Manager of the Year award in 1991, and led the Nashua Pride to the Atlantic League Championship in 2000 and the Can-Am League Championship in 2007.

Hobson was a star football player for the University of Alabama team under Bear Bryant. Selected by the Red Sox in the 1973 amateur draft, he made his debut in 1975. His most productive season came in 1977, when he set team season records for a third baseman with 30 home runs and 112 RBI.

In 1978, Hobson hit 17 home runs with 80 RBI. Nevertheless, he posted 43 errors, the most for any American League fielder in that season, and his .899 fielding average also was the first below .900 by a regular player in 60 years. Hobson hit 28 home runs with 93 RBI in 1979, but a year later, an ensuing injury to his right elbow left him inactive for almost two campaigns.

Before the 1981 season, Hobson was sent to the Angels along with Rick Burleson in the same trade that brought Carney Lansford and Mark Clear to Boston. Hobson finished his major league career with the Yankees in 1982. In an eight-year career, Hobson hit a .248 batting average with 98 home runs and 397 RBI in 738 games.

Hobson managed Pawtucket for one season and posted a 79-64 record to lead his team to a first-place finish in the International League. After losing the Governors' Cup to Columbus, he was hired to manage the Red Sox parent club and posted a 207-232 record for Boston from 1992-94. In 1996, while managing the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, then a Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, he was arrested for possession of cocaine and immediately fired. Since 2000, he managed the Pride for eight straight seasons with a record of 508-456.

On July 27, 2007 managing the Pride in a game against the North Shore Spirit, Hobson was ejected after arguing against a call reversed against a Spirit baserunner who was called safe after initially being called out. Hobson reacted by pulling first base from the ground, then going into the stands to give it to a young fan.

Hobson left the Nashua Pride after the 2007 season. On November 19, 2007, Hobson was officially named the first-ever manager of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the Atlantic League. He won manager of the year for the Atlantic League for the 2008 season.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference