When Hunter's playing career ended, he scouted for the Indians and Orioles. He managed the Bluefield Orioles to Appalachian League championships in 1962 and 1963. He was promoted to Baltimore on November 20, 1963 as third-base coach by former Yankees teammate Hank Bauer, who had become the team's manager one day earlier. He performed that role for almost 14 seasons for four AL champions and two World Series winners. Hunter declined an offer from former Orioles general manager Harry Dalton to manage the California Angels on November 23, 1971.
Hunter left the Orioles on June 27, 1977 to become the Texas Rangers' fourth manager that season, succeeding Connie Ryan, who had served in the interim for six games. His appointment ended the Rangers' bizarre search for a new manager, which had begun five day prior with Frank Lucchesi's dismissal, followed by Eddie Stanky's one-game stint. Despite the team trailing by 5+1⁄2 games in fifth place in the AL West, he stated upon his arrival, "I am accepting this job because I think the Texas Rangers have a contending team." Under Hunter, the Rangers won 60 of their final 93 games and climbed from fifth to second place.
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Apr 11, 1978Apr 11, 1978
On a crisp evening at Arlington Stadium on April 11, 1978, the Detroit Tigers faced...
1978 Detroit Tigers vs Texas Rangers - Radio Broadcast / On a crisp evening at Arlington Stadium on April 11, 1978, the Detroit Tigers faced the Texas Rangers in what promised to be a compelling matchup. The Tigers, with Dave Rozema on the mound, were looking to capitalize early in the season against the Rangers, who countered with starter Doc Medich. Both teams were eager to set the tone for their respective seasons, each carrying aspirations of climbing their division standings. The Rangers, with a lineup that blended speed and power, aimed to leverage their home-field advantage to overcome the visiting Tigers.
The game began quietly, with both teams held scoreless through the first three innings. The Tigers broke through first in the fourth inning, signaling a shift in momentum, as they capitalized on key hits and a crucial double by Milt May that brought in two runs. The fifth inning proved pivotal, with the Tigers extending their lead by four runs, highlighted by a three-run homer from May that decisively swung the game in Detroit's favor. Texas struggled to respond, managing only a solo home run by Richie Zisk in the ninth inning, which was too little too late.
Detroit's victory was marked by effective pitching from Rozema, who went the distance, allowing just two runs on six hits while the team's defense turned in a solid performance despite an error. The Tigers' offense was led by strong performances from Ron LeFlore and Rusty Staub, providing the necessary run support. This game was indicative of the challenges Texas faced early in the season, struggling to convert opportunities into runs. For Detroit, the win was a positive step in building momentum as they aimed to be competitive in their division.