Dave Hillman, a longtime Kingsport resident who played eight seasons in the major leagues with four teams, died Sunday. He was 95.
The Dungannon, Virginia, native was the oldest living member of both the 1962 New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds. A right-handed pitcher who also batted right handed, he never played high school or college baseball. He didn’t play organized baseball until a 21-month stint in the Air Force.
Hillman attended high school in Dungannon. Upon his return from the Air Force, he played in the old Tri-County League.
Hillman’s big break came while playing for a team from Coeburn. A scout from the Chicago Cubs heard about the players and attended a game at St. Paul.
The scout signed Hillman to a deal after the game and he played in the Cubs’ minor league system from 1950-55. Stops included Rock Hill, South Carolina, Springfield, Illinois, Des Moines, Iowa, Beaumont, Texas and finally Los Angeles in the Pacific Coast League.
Hillman made his Major League debut in 1955, appearing in 25 games with the Cubs. He returned to Los Angeles and the Pacific Coast League in 1956 and posted a 21-7 record before being called back to the majors. He remained with the Cubs until the end of the 1959 season.
He was traded to the Boston Red Sox, for whom he played the next two seasons. He appeared in two games for the Reds and 13 for the expansion-team Mets in 1962. During his time with the Mets, he played for legendary manager Casey Stengel and threw 15 2/3 innings without getting a decision.
Overall, he appeared in 188 Major League games with 64 starts, and played with legendary figures such as Ted Williams, Ernie Banks and Don Zimmer, who would gain more fame as a manager.
Hillman recalled at the time of Banks’ death how the hall of fame shortstop knew how Hillman was going to pitch, and would offer him encouragement.
Hillman compiled a 21-37 Major League record with a 3.87 ERA and 296 strikeouts.
In a 2020 interview, Hillman told the Kingsport Times News that he had a chance to extend his baseball career by going back to the minor leagues in Hawaii. Instead, he opted to return home — where his uncle gave him a job at a local department store, where he enjoyed a lengthy career.
Former Kingsport Mets general manager Roman Stout remembered Hillman for his class and love for the game.
“He was a legend in local baseball. He was a gentleman, still very fit for his age,” Stout said. “Unfortunately, we’re losing the players from that era. He was always happy to be around the ballpark and he had a love for the game. He liked watching the game and being anonymous, which suited his personality.”
Jeff Birchfield is a sports writer for the Johnson City Press with a lifelong passion for motorsports. The father of two attended ETSU and served in the Tennessee Army National Guard.
