|
100%, 1st Ballot, Class of 1997
Dayton(1978~1982), Duluth(1983~1994), South Bend(1995~1996)
Steven Hembrow was a throwback from the 1950s. "He could close a bar at four AM and roll into the clubhouse thirty minutes before a game," said one former teammate, "and if we needed him to take the mound he was happy to do it." For 15 years Hembrow did what he loved as often as he could. From 1980~1994 he failed to make 30 starts just twice and they were both due to injuries. He started his career in the Dayton bullpen but turned a lot of heads when he won a rotation spot out of spring training in '80 and won his first Pitcher of the Year Award with a 21-8 record. He would finished with a career best 2.93 ERA following the 1981 season but a lack of run support held him to a 9-13 record. He had one bad start and one spectacular start in the 1981 Heartland Series but the Dawgs lost in six games to Oshkosh.
Following a 92 win season in 1982 with the Dawgs Hembrow took a chance on free agency and signed a contract to pitch for Duluth where he would man the bump at Danger Stadium for the next 12 seasons. After two rocky seasons in Duluth Hembrow hit his stride in 1985 leading the Danger to their first ever Heartland Series appearance winning the North by seven games and taking home his second Pitcher of the Year Award for his 17-10, 3.14 season. Hembrow finished just .010 behind the North ERA leader and was that close to winning a Pitching Triple Crown. The Canton Kernels would defeat Hembrow and the Danger in the Heartland Series.
Hembrow would again lead the Danger to the Hearland Series in 1989 when he set a Heartland Baseball League record with 23 victories. The Danger would win 87 games but again would not capture the crown as they were defeated in seven games by Jefferson City. After the 1989 season Hembrow would collect his third Pitcher of the Year trophy.
He would go on to pitch for the Danger for five more seasons before being cut loose after the 1994 season at the age of 40. The South Bend Silver Sox gave him a shot in 1995 but a torn rotator cuff in April of 1995 finally ended his playing career.
In addition to his three Pitcher of the Year Awards Hembrow was named to six HBL All-Star teams. He led the league in starts seven times, strike outs four times, and wins and innings pitched three times each. At the time of his retirement he was second all time behind future Hall of Famer Zane Carver in wins(219), GS(533), IP(3613), K(2867), and WAR(93.32).
Career Highlight
Hembrow won an HBL record 23 games in 1989.
Fun Fact
Hembrow lost three Heartland Series but following each one he was seen celebrating with the opponents well into the night.
|
