YOUR 1966 BRAVES: #24 Herb Hippauf

#24 HERB HIPPAUF
Left-handed Pitcher

What came before: Born in New York, plucked out of Los Angeles by the Braves in 1960, Hippauf seemed to have a resume that insured some measure of success. But every time he got a taste of Triple-A competition, he struggled mightily. His debut season, in the Pioneer League, was a 14-8 campaign.
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He didn't come close to matching that until his 1965 campaign with Class AA Austin in the Texas League: 15-9, 2.87 in 30 starts. He struck out 196 in 235 innings and declared himself worthy of a chance.

That 1966 season: He earned a bullpen berth in spring training – but only after he was optioned and then recalled in time for the season opener. He was envisioned as a bullpen guy, in part because his remarkable pickoff move worked six times in spring training. He pitched in three games, worked just 2.2 innings and allowed six hits and five runs, four earned. He was a respectable 8-7, 3.50 in 22 games (15 starts) upon his return to the minors.

What happened next: He unexpectedly retired as a player following that 1966 campaign, putting him on the shelf at age 27. But he was far from done with baseball. He was soon a fulltime scout, California-based, for the Astros, Braves, Rockies and Expos at various times. He was working as a cross-checker for the Rockies when cancer claimed him in 1995 at the age of 56. The Rockies give out a “Herb Hippauf Scouting Award” towards a scout who has shown exemplary character in his day-to-day life.