All-Time Indians: Mel Hall

Mel Hall was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs at the age of 17 in 1978. A second round pick, Hall had high expectations, but his age would keep him out of the Majors for awhile. After three seasons in the Cubs minor league season, Hall made his debut in 1981, but would play just 34 MLB games in his first two years. Hall’s first full season would be in 1983 and it was an impressive one, smashing 17 home runs in 112 games and coming in third in the Rookie of the Year voting as the Chicago center fielder.

Now a legitimate prospect, Hall had real value and after batting .280 through 48 games in 1984, he was traded to Cleveland in a block buster deal that gave the Indians hope for play-off contention for the rest of the decade. To Chicago were Ron Hassey, George Frazier and Rick Sutcliffe in exchange for Hall, Don Schulze, Darryl Banks and most importantly, Joe Carter. Of the three sent to Chicago, only Sutcliffe made any difference and for the Tribe, Carter and Hall would turn into the core of the Indians outfield through 1988 and accumulate 200 home runs between them with Hall becoming one of the greatest Indians left fielders of all time..

After the deal, both Hall and Carter moved into the starting line-up and Hall knocked in 30 runs with 21 extra base hits in 83 games. Unlike with the Cubs, Hall was now used primarily in left field with Brett Butler more qualified to remain in center. He began the next season as the starting left fielder as well, but after batting .318 through his first 23 games (his only season average to end above .300) Hall broke his collar bone when he crashed into the outfield wall. That year, the Indians lost 102 games for just the third time in franchise history, but with the newcomers along with younger stars like Julio Franco and Brook Jacoby, there was plenty of hope for the future.

The following season would be a resurgence for both the Indians and Hall. In 140 games, he batted .296 with career highs in home runs (18) and RBI (77). Combined with Butler and Carter, the group was one of the best outfields in Indians history as the trio recorded 82 doubles, 25 triples, 51 home runs and 249 RBI. From 60 wins in 1985, the Indians advanced to 84 in 1986, although they moved up just two places from seventh to fifth in the standings.

If the 1986 outfield was one of the best offensively, the 1986 version was the best ever defensively. By adding Cory Snyder as the starting right fielder and moving Carter into the infield at first base, the Tribe dramatically improved their defensive efficiency. Offensively, Hall repeated his previous year’s efforts almost identically with another 142 games played, 18 home runs, 76 RBI and a .280 average. Unfortunately for the Indians, the pitching staff didn’t produce at the level of the outfield as every starter who made at least ten starts finished with an ERA above 4.65. This included future Hall of Famers Phil Neikro (5.92 ERA through 22 starts) and Steve Carlton (5.34 ERA in 14 starts) who were both finishing out their illustrious careers.

In 1988, Hall would play more games than ever before in his career (150) and bat .280 again, but it would be his final year in an Indians uniform. Although his average stayed at the same level, Hall’s power essentially disappeared with his slugging percent dropping just over 100 points from his career high in 1986. The Indians finished under .500 again that year, back in last place in the American League East and with another sixth place finish in 1989, the Indians would go from 1977 until 1990 without a finish better than fifth place.

Without power or much hope for the future, the Indians moved Hall during Spring Training of 1989. This was one of many moves at the time that saw the franchise rebuilt at the hands of GM John Hart with Carter, Hall and Franco among others, getting moved for future pieces. In return for Hall, the Yankees sent future Indians third base coach Joel Skinner and Turner Ward to Cleveland. Again, the team trading Hall got the worst of it as Skinner would be a poor back-up catcher for three seasons and Ward would bat just .267 across 54 games.

On the other side, Hall gained a bit of super stardom in New York. During his four seasons there from 1989 through 1992, Hall averaged more than 15 home runs and 66 RBI per season. While never quite at All-Star status, he did play in play in more than 140 games in each of his final two seasons, scoring 67 runs each year with at least 80 RBI. After playing his final year under his original deal in 1989, Hall had re-signed as a free agent long term for the 1990 season. Following the 1992 campaign, he felt his services were being undervalued and requested a trade. Without any way to leave the franchise and remain in baseball, Hall moved to Japan.

In his early 30’s, Hall destroyed Japanese pitching, crushing 52 home runs and 172 RBI in his first two seasons. After a third, less successful year in 1995, Hall returned to the United States and made another attempt to return to Major League Baseball. After three years away, he was able to sign on with the San Francisco Giants as a pinch hitter and part time outfielder. He batted just .120 in 25 games and was released in late May. He signed with the White Sox but played just four games in AAA before being released again. Even after this, Hall didn’t hang up his cleats however, as he moved into the independent leagues where he played from 2002 to 2003 at the age of 42. After a split season with the Fort Worth Cats and Springfield/Ozark Mountain Ducks and a final year with the Coastal Bend Aviators Mel Hall finally retired from baseball for good.