Christopher Andrew Hammond... graduated from Vestavia Hills High School (Birmingham, AL) in 1984... attended Alabama-Birmingham College and Gulf Coast Community College where he played baseball... his brother, Steve, played outfield for the Kansas City Royals in 1982... his other brother, Greg, was a catcher in the Reds' system... he and his wife, Lynne, have three children; Andy (1/22/96), Jake (11/6/98) and Alex (11/16/99).
2006
Posted a 6.91 ERA in 29 relief apps before he was designated for assignment on 6/30...the
day after the All-Star Game cleared waivers and became a free agent...didn't pitch again
the rest of the season...in 17g from from 4/15-6/7 posted a 0.92 ERA (19.2ip, 2er)...suffered
blown saves in 2 of his last 4 apps for Cin (3ip, 7er).
2005
Went 5-1, 3.84 in 55 relief apps for the Padres...from 7/20-8/8 was on the disabled list with a strained neck...posted a 2.96era in 37 apps prior to that injury, including a 1.76era in his first 32 apps of the season, and a 6.92era in 18 apps after that injury...posted ERAs of 0.68 in April, 2.84 in May, 1.35 in June and 2.08 during the season's first half...for the season held opposing LH batters to a .164ba...in 6 interleague apps posted a 1.23era...on
4/6 at Col threw 2.0 perfect innings to earn the 14-6 victory, SD's first of the season...won his first 5 decisions...suffered his only loss on 7/19 at NYY (3-1 loss, 11 innings).
2004
BULLISH ON THE PEN: Went 4-1 with one save and a 2.68 ERA (16 ER/53.2 IP) in 41 relief apperances with the Oakland A's... since returning to the Majors as a reliever in 2002, has a 14-5 mark with a 2.06 ERA (44 ER/192.2 IP) in 166 appearances.
FINE TUNING: Opened the season with a 4.61 ERA (14 ER/27.1 IP) in his first 20 appearances through June 11... did not pitch in the next eight games and was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 21 (retroactive to June 12) with a strained left shoulder... reinstated on July 27 and did not allow a run in 18 of his 21 appearances to conclude the season... allowed one run August 15 vs. Kansas City but didn't allow another run over his next 13 outings (15.1 IP) before allowing one in his final appearance on October 1 vs. Anaheim... in 10 appearances in August, had a 0.79 ERA (1 ER/11.1 IP) and followed that up by not allowing a run in
nine September games (12.1 IP)... his 12.1 scoreless innings in September were the most by an A's pitcher in a single month since Jim Corsi tossed 13.1 in May of 1995.
OUR SAVIOUR: Tallied his first and only save of the season, and the third of his career, April 18 at Anaheim... tossed a season-high 3.0 shutout innings in the contest.
THE STREAK: Finished the season with a homerless streak of 27 games (33.2 IP) and 135 batters faced after allowing a home run to Manny Ramirez on May 25 at Boston.
HIGHLIGHTS: Opponents batted .277 against him, .282 (20-for-71) against lefties and .275 (26-for-131) against righties... all four of his home runs allowed came against right-handers and all came in his first 14 games... his ERA was 1.80 (3 ER/15.0 IP) in 15 day games and 3.03 (13 ER/38.2 IP) in 30 night games... picked up the win in his second appearance on April 9 vs. Seattle, striking out a season-high three... in his next appearance, took the loss after allowing a season-high five runs (one earned) in 0.2 innings... the five runs were the second-highest total he has allowed in a relief appearance in his career... suffered a blown save after allowing two runs on four hits in 0.2 innings May 7 vs. Minnesota... with that appearance reached 1,000.0 innings pitched for his career.
2003
Was 3-2 with a 2.86 ERA in 62 relief appearances with the Yankees in 2003...opponents batted .270 (65-for-241, 5HR); LH .289 (26-for-90, 3HR), RH .258 (39-for-151, 2HR)...retired 39-of-62 first batters faced (63%)...prevented 27-of-42 inherited runners from scoring (64%)...converted one-of-three save opportunities (33%)...made appearances in consecutive games five times, three consecutive games twice, and pitched in four straight games twice...made first appearance as a Yankee in 3/31 Opening-Day win at Toronto, allowing 1H in 0.1 IP...had his 34-game scoreless streak snapped in 4/5 loss at Tampa Bay, suffering blown save by allowing 2R (2ER) in 0.2IP in relief of Weaver...streak began on 6/30/02 (w/Atlanta) at Boston (included 32 straight scoreless appearances in 2002 and two in 2003)...On 4/26 win at Texas, tossed scoreless ninth to record first win as a Yankee...made first appearance since 7/20 vs. Cleveland on 7/27 at Boston, allowing back-to-back home runs in seventh (Varitek, Damon) to suffer blown save and the loss (0.0IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER)...allowed one earned run in last 14 appearances, going 1-1 with a 0.55 ERA (16.1IP, 12H, 4BB, 10K)...signed as a free agent on December 12, 2002 to a two-year contract with a club option for a third year. Contract extends through the 2005 season.
2002
Opened season with Cleveland's AAA affiliate...Won first 3 starts, allowing only 4 ER in
16.0 IP (2.25 ERA)...Fanned a season-high 10 in his first start, a 7-2 win over Syracuse (5.0 IP, 2 ER)... After
taking the loss in his next start, was switched to a relief role exclusively...Went 3-1 in June in 14 appearances with
a 2.53 ERA (21.1 IP, 6 ER, 20 Ks)...Compiled a 2.16 ERA over final 18 appearances with Bisons May 25-July
2 (6 ER in 25.0 IP)...Released by Buffalo July 5...Signed by Braves as a free agent July 17 and assigned to AAA
Richmond...Didn't allow an ER in 11 of his first 12 appearances with the R-Braves, going 1-0 with a 1.56 ERA
(12 G, 17.1 IP, 3 ER, 20 K) July 17-Aug. 9...With Buffalo and Richmond posted a composite 1.91 ERA in 26
games May 25-Aug. 9 (9 ER in 42.1 IP).
2000
Did not play.
1999
Did not play.
1998
Signed by Marlins as a free agent March 27 and assigned to AAA Charlotte...Made 5 starts at AAA,
dropping 3 of 4 decisions, before having contract purchased by Florida May 7...Went 0-2 in 3 starts before being
optioned to Charlotte May 20...Cleared waivers June 2, elected not to report to AAA, and became a free agent.
1997
Made 29 appearances for Red Sox, including 8 starts...Compiled a 3.07 ERA over first 11 outings
through May 5 (29.1 IP, 10 ER), but struggled rest of the way (33 ER in 36.0 IP, 8.25 ERA)...Best stretch came
over 3 starts April 24-May 5 (1-1, 1.42, 19.0 IP, 3 ER)...Longest outing of campaign came in a 2-0 loss vs. Kansas
City May 5 (8.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K)...The 9 Ks were also a season high...Placed on the D.L. June
30 (retro to June 28), with a bone spur in his left elbow...Transferred to emergency 60-day D.L. Sept. 9...Reinstated
from D.L. Oct. 17...Elected free agency Oct. 30.
1996
Made a career-high 38 appearances...Went 1-5 in 6 starts before first career relief win May 7 vs.
Mets...Placed on 15-day D.L. June 9 with inner ear infection...Assigned to Class A Brevard County July 1 and
made 1 rehab start...Recalled and reinstated July 14...Overall compiled a 10.60 ERA in 9 starts with Florida,
while recording a 3.38 ERA in 29 relief appearances...Signed by the Red Sox as a free agent Dec. 17.
1995
Tied for Marlins' staff lead with 126 Ks and 2 SHO...Averaged 7.0 K/9.0 IP (10th in NL)...Began
season on 15-day D.L. with strained muscle in right side ...Assigned to Class A Brevard County May 4 and made
1 rehab start...Assigned to AAA charlotte May 9 and made 1 rehab start... Recalled and reinstated May 13 from
the D.L...Pitched that night vs. Rockies (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) in his only relief appearance of season and his first since
July 29, 1992, with Reds...Lasted 8.0 innings in 7 of his first 11 starts (6-2, 2.31) and none in his final 13 starts
(3-4, 5.42)...Hit .271 (13 x 48) with 1 HR, a grand slam May 29 vs. Astros' Shane Reynolds, the first slam by
a pitcher since Cardinals' Bob Forsch Aug. 10, 1986...Fired a 4-0 shutout at Mets June 14 (7 H, 3 BB, 8
K)...Won a 12-hit CG at Colorado June 19, 7-2 (2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K)...Posted a career-high 10 K (7.0 IP, 3 H, 2
R, 2 ER, 2 BB) in a 4-2 loss July 23 vs. LA...Held opponents to a .184 BA with RISP (26 x 141), 2nd in the NL
to Greg Maddux at .157...Allowed no steals in 7 attempts.
1994
Began season at 1-3, but won 3 straight starts May 5-15...Led NL starters with a 24.0 inning scoreless
streak May 5-21, leaving him ranked 2nd in the NL with a 1.79 ERA (55.1 IP, 11 ER)...Hurled first M.L. shutout
in a 5-0 win vs. the Phillies May 5 (7 H, 1 BB, 5 K)...Marked the first by a Marlin at home...Tied N.L. record
(most pitchers used in a SHO by combining with 5 other pitchers in a 3-0 win at Cubs May 15 (5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 BB,
2 K)...Placed on 15-day D.L. June 11 with a lower back strain...Assigned to AA Portland June 24 and made 1
rehab start...Recalled on June 25 but kept on D.L...Assigned to Class A Brevard County July 25 and made 2 rehab
starts...Recalled July 30 and reinstated from D.L. Aug. 3...Suffered hairline fracture in left fibula on a line drive
off the bat of Cubs Derrick May Aug. 3 at Chicago and missed 1 start.
1993
Led Marlins with a career-high 11 wins...Acquired by Florida March 27 from Cincinnati in exchange
for INF Gary Scott and a PTBNL (Hector Carrasco, Sept. 10)...Member of Marlins' original Opening Day
roster...After a 2-4, 5.03 mark through 9 starts, rebounded to reel off a career-high 8-game winning streak in 8
starts May 26-July 2 (58.1 IP, 17 ER, 2.62 ERA)...Fortunes were reversed over balance of campaign, in which he
went 1-8 with a 5.87 ERA in 15 starts...Lost first M.L. CG Sept. 14 vs. Pirates, 1-0, in a rain-shortened contest
(6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K), after allowing a leadoff HR to Carlos Garcia.
1992
Was 5-2 with a 3.23 ERA through June 17, then slumped to a 2-8, 5.10 finish...Knocked first M.L.
homer June 17 vs. Giants' John Burkett in a 6-4 win.
1991
Started all but the first and last of his 20 appearances...Recorded first M.L. win in a 5-1 victory April
17 at San Diego (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)...Went 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his first 3 starts (20.0 IP, 3
ER)...Placed on D.L. July 27-Sept. 1 with left elbow tendinitis.
1990
Began season with AAA Nashville...Led the American Association with a 2.17 ERA, 15 wins, 149 Ks
and 3 SHO...Became first pitcher since Herb Score in 1954 to lead that circuit in wins, ERA, and Ks...Named
team MVP and selected to league's post-season All-Star team...BASEBALL AMERICA ranked him the best
pitching prospect in the Amer. Assoc....Called up July 16 and made M.L. debut that night ..Started and received
ND in an 8-3 Reds victory (2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K)...Optioned to Nashville July 21...Recalled Aug.
18 and optioned again to Nashville Aug. 28...Recalled again Sept. 11 but did not pitch the rest of the season due
to a sore left shoulder.
1989
His 11 wins with AAA Nashville were 2 shy of league lead...Also ranked 3rd with 8.1 K/9.0 IP, 5th with
142 Ks, and 10th with a 3.38 ERA.
1988
Helped AA Chattanooga to Southern League title...Led league with 16 wins and a 1.72 ERA...Won
opening games in both playoff rounds...Was named team MVP and selected to league's post-season All-Star
team...Ranked by BASEBALL AMERICA as the 4th best pitching prospect in the Southern League.
1987
Hurled a career-high 6 CGs in first full season with Class A Tampa.
1986
Began career with Class A Sarasota, where he averaged 11.45 K/9.0 IP...Promoted to Tampa July 24.
