Baseball career

He is known for being the first (and thus far, the only) San Diego Padres pitcher to win a World Series game. Hawkins earned a victory pitching in relief in Game 2 of the 1984 World Series, which the Padres lost to Detroit in five games. His best season was 1985, when he threw a career-high 2282⁄₃ innings, compiled an 18-8 record, (winning his first 10 starts) and finished with a 3.15 ERA. Hawkins is the only pitcher to win his first 10 starts since the advent of divisional play in Major League Baseball which started in 1969. In 3 career starts at Fenway Park, Hawkins managed a total of just one inning, giving up 18 earned runs in those starts.

No-hit game

On July 1, 1990, Hawkins pitched a game for the Yankees against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park in which he allowed no hits, but lost the game having dominated the White Sox into the eighth inning, but after retiring the first two batters, Sammy Sosa reached on a fielding error by Yankees third baseman Mike Blowers. After Hawkins loaded the bases by walking the next two batters, Robin Ventura lofted a fly ball to left field. Rookie Jim Leyritz, fighting a blustery wind, had the ball glance off his glove for an error, allowing all three baserunners to score. The next batter, Ivan Calderón, hit a high fly ball to right field, which Jesse Barfield lost in the sun, dropping it for another error, allowing Ventura to score. The Yankees could not score in the ninth, giving Hawkins the loss despite not allowing a hit.

Major League Baseball does not consider this effort an official no-hitter, listing Hawkins as having only completed 8 innings pitched. On September 4, 1991 the Committee for Statistical Accuracy, appointed by Commissioner Fay Vincent, changed the definition of a no-hitter to require that a pitcher must throw at least nine full innings and a complete game for the no-hitter to be official. Since Hawkins played for the visiting team, the White Sox never batted in the ninth inning, meaning Hawkins lost credit for a no-hitter. The game was also notable for being a double no-hitter into the sixth inning (and a double perfect game into the fifth), as White Sox starter Greg Hibbard also pitched very well.

A high-priced free agent in the second year of a three-year deal, Hawkins struggled for a very poor Yankees team in 1990.

On May 8, with just one win and an ERA of 8.56, Hawkins was offered his outright release, which he accepted, although an injury that night to pitcher Mike Witt changed his mind. Hawkins pitched much better in his next three starts, although he still had only a 1-4 record prior to the no-hit game.

In his next appearance, he faced the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium in the opening game of a doubleheader. Hawkins pitched a shutout into the twelfth inning but wound up losing 2-0 - the last time a starting pitcher has pitched in an MLB game into the twelfth inning or later.

In his following appearance, the Yankees lost a six-inning no-hitter to Mélido Pérez and the White Sox. Likewise, that game is not considered an official no-hitter, as the game was shortened to seven innings due to rain; Hawkins was still on the mound when the game was delayed, and then called off.

Coaching

Hawkins was the bullpen coach of the Texas Rangers, having served as the interim pitching coach following the firing of previous pitching coach Mark Connor during the 2008 season. Before being promoted as the interim coach, Hawkins was the pitching coach for the Oklahoma RedHawks.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]