The San Francisco Giants learned today that longtime Giants third baseman Jim Ray Hart passed away yesterday at the age of 74 in Acampo, California after a long illness.
“Everyone in the Giants organization is deeply saddened by the news of Jim’s passing,” said Giants President & Chief Executive Officer Larry Baer. “Our condolences go out to the Hart family for their tremendous loss and we extend our thoughts to Jim’s teammates, his friends, and to all those touched by his passing.”
Hart spent 11 seasons in a Giants uniform from 1963 to 1973 and during that span he hit .282 with 488 runs scored, 135 doubles, 27 triples, 157 home runs and 526 RBI in 1,001 games. He had one of his best seasons in 1966 when he was named to the N.L. All-Star team while batting .285 with a career-best 33 home runs and 93 RBI in 156 games. He finished within the top 20 of MVP voting in 1964, 1965 and 1967 and placed second in Rookie of the Year voting in 1964, a season in which he hit 31 home runs while driving in 81 RBI in 153 games. He played his final two seasons with the New York Yankees.
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There will be a moment of silence prior to tonight’s Giants-Cubs game in honor of Mr. Hart.
Hart is survived by his former wife Janet Hart-Ayala, his four children Justin, Ryan, Schineese and Heather, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services are pending.
San Francisco Giants media services