Former San Francisco Giant outfielder Mel Hall seen here at Tarrant County Court House in Fort Worth Texas on June 15, 2009 (AP News photo)
Mel Hall – OF – 1996 – # 2
He was a Giant?
By Tony the Tiger Hayes
A flamboyant, ego-centric player whose persona was part Randy “Macho Man” Savage and part Deion Sanders – the marriage between the swaggering Mel Hall and the Giants was mercifully annulled after the veteran outfielder appeared in 25 games during the dismal 1996 season.
Why was he a Giant?
After spending 1993-95 playing in Japan, the left-handed hitting journeyman signed with the Giants on a make good contract as a pinch-hitter and backup outfielder for 1996.
Hall in essence would replace “Neon Deion” himself after the short term Giant and dual Super Bowl winning 49ers cornerback decided to focus on football only.
During spring training, the 35 -year -old Hall proved he could still rake, slugging three long balls in Arizona exhibitions. But it was also clear the bombastic ball player didn’t have much else to contribute.
Hall’s knees were shot, making him a liability in the field and on the base paths.
One Giants beat writer described watching Hall try to leg out a spring training double as “painful.”
But the Giants, who were on their way to a 94-loss season, needed some type of spark.
Hall’s 134 career MLB HRs were a tantalizing gravitational pull for San Francisco. The Giants also didn’t have much in the cupboard as far as backup outfielder options, with Mark Leonard, the slowest rising prospect in baseball, being Hall’s main camp competitor.
“I knew Mel Hall could hit. He’s dangerous at the plate. Clearly he could be a magnificent DH somewhere,” said Giants manager Dusty Baker, wondering aloud if he could justify carrying Hall on a National League roster. “His bat’s as quick as ever. It’s a matter of if we can afford his lack of running.”
But Hall, hobbled as he was, was adamant he was the man for the job.
“Barry Bonds has been the only left-handed hitter on this team with power. I could add to that,” Hall proclaimed. “I add a little depth. If somebody goes down I can come in.”
The Giants would up keeping Hall as strictly a pinch-hitter. In two months with the club, Hall appeared on defense in just three games.
But Hall wasn’t exactly Johnny Clutch off the bench, hitting just 2-for-19 in a pinch-batter role.
In his waning days in Orange & Black, Hall complained that his relegation to bench duty was to blame for his anemic results in the batter’s box.
After striking out with the bases loaded as a pinch-hitter in one game, Hall said sitting on the bench had left him rusty and inefficient.
What’s more, Hall decided he was more than just a pinch-hitter.
“Pinch-hitting is a vital role,” Hall said. “ But I will never accept it.”
With that, Baker’s patience with Hall had reached its apex.
“I don’t want to hear anymore Mel Hall complaints,” an exasperated Baker said. “Every man has to find a way to stay sharp for his particular job. We all agreed Mel would be a pinch-hitter. He assured me he could do it.”
Hall was sent packing soon after. After mouthing his way out of San Francisco he was out of pro ball for good.
Before & After
Hall’s reputation as a malcontent blotted out much of his usefulness over his career. He was a clubhouse bully (as a Yankee, he reportedly terrorized a young Bernie Williams) and his opinion of himself was always three times greater than his actual value.
As a rookie with the Cubs, Hall he carried extra batting gloves in his back pocket to waive “good bye” to opposing players after he hit home runs. And he loved playing the eccentric star role. As a Yankee he lived in Trump Tower and kept a baby tiger as a pet.
Hall also carried on a long term sexual relationship with an underage teen girl during his playing career. The affair was later documented in an extensive ESPN investigation.
Overall Hall was a career .276 hitter for the Cubs, Indians, Yankees and Giants.
He Never Had a Giants Bobblehead Day. But…
In his Giants debut, Hall punched a pinch-hit RBI single off Marc Wohlers and scored a run in a 12-10 loss at Atlanta (4/1/96).
Giant Footprint
In 2009, Hall was convicted of three counts of aggravated sexual assault after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl he coached on an elite basketball team. He is currently serving a 45 -year federal prison term.
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