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Garry Hancock played for the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics in parts of six seasons spanning 1978–1984, primarily as a reserve outfielder. He was born on January 23, 1954 in Tampa, FL. In High School in Brandon, Florida, Hancock was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 22nd round of the 1972 MLB Draft, but chose instead to play ball at the University of South Carolina. He was drafted again in the secondary phases of by the Cleveland Indians, Rangers and California Angels, respectively, but did not sign and remained in school. He finally was signed, when the Indians made him the number seventeen overall selection of the 1976, January in the MLB Draft's secondary phase. Hancock batted .302 in two seasons in the Cleveland organization before being dealt to the Red Sox in exchange for Jack Baker following the season. After hit a .303 average for the Pawtucket Red Sox through July 1978, Hancock was called up to Boston. He remained with the club for the rest of the season as a fourth outfielder and pinch hitter. In 1980, Hancock spent all year at Pawtucket and hit .325, to win the International League batting title. He received his second call up to the majors in June and remained with the Bosox through 1981. His most productive season for the Red Sox came in 1980, when he hit for a slash line of .287 BA with four home runs and 19 RBIs in 46 games. Hancock then batted .294 with a career-high 21 home runs at Pawtucket in 1982, and was called up to the majors again late in September. In fifteen plate appearances for the Bosox, he had just one walk to show for it. That winter, he was traded along with third baseman Carney Lansford and a minor leaguer, to Oakland for outfielder Tony Armas and Jeff Newman. Hancock hit .273 for the Athletics in 1983, but hit poorly the following season and was released. He then retired from the game. He was a longtime resident of Valrico, Florida, where he died on October 10, 2015 at the age of 61 |
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