Minor League Career
Hubbs signed as an amateur free agent with the Chicago Cubs prior to the 1959 season.
That year, he played for Morristown, Tennessee in the Class D Appalachian League. He played outfield and shortstop in the all-rookie competition. He was in 59 games, had 198 at bats and a batting average of .298. His 50 runs batted in and 8 home runs were enough to earn a nomination for player of the year in the Appalachian League.
On July 18, 1959, he led the Morristown Cubs to a 20-0 victory over the first place Salem Pirates. Hubbs and teammate Jim Purslow each hit 2 home runs and a double. Each man scored 5 runs while the entire Pirate team was held to 4 hits.
Morristown continued the offensive barrage 5 days later against Wytheville. Hubbs started a 7 run first inning with a home run, and his team won the slugfest, 9-7.
Organized baseball initiated a player draft in 1959, in an attempt to cut down on large signing bonuses given to young players. The Cubs' AAA club in Ft. Worth recalled Hubbs in October and then purchased his contract outright in November. The end result of this maneuvering was to protect Hubbs from being drafted by another club. This was a sign that the Cubs clearly expected Hubbs to make the major league team in the near future.
Hubbs went to the Cubs' rookie camp for spring training in 1960 as a shortstop/outfielder.
Read more about this topic: Ken Hubbs
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