Jack Hiatt

Jack E. Hiatt (born July 27, 1942) is an American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1964 to 1972, most prominently as a member of the San Francisco Giants. After his playing career, he managed in the minor leagues before serving as the Giants' director of player development.

Playing career Hiatt graduated from San Fernando High School and then attended Los Angeles Pierce College. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Angels in 1961. He was signed by the Los Angeles Angels as a free agent in . Hiatt made his debut on September 7, at the age of 22. He played the catcher position for 312 games, but was also called upon to play first base for 70 games and went into the outfield for 2. He gave credit to his hitting coach, Hank Sauer, for the remarkable stretch. Hiatt noted that all of his home runs came on outside corner fastballs. "It's a pitch I'd been taking until Sauer suggested that I swing at it."

On April 24, Hiatt hit his first home run of the season off Atlanta Braves pitcher Milt Pappas, an opposite field 360-foot shot that also drove in Willie McCovey. The next day, April 25, Hiatt had a mammoth performance against the Houston Astros, hitting two home runs and driving in seven runs. In the first inning, Hiatt homered off Astros starter Denny Lemaster to drive in teammate Willie Mays. In the eighth inning, he roped a single to left to score Bobby Bonds from third base. In the bottom of the 13th inning, Hiatt dramatically hit a walk-off grand slam off Astros pitcher Dan Schneider to end the game.

Minor league career Hiatt played in 744 games over the course of nine seasons in the minor leagues. He batted .299, hit 61 home runs and had 275 RBIs in 2288 at-bats. Hiatt's best season was in 1964 with Hawaii of the PCL where he had a .308 batting average, 23 home runs, 83 RBIs, and a .557 slugging average in 406 at-bats.

Post-career After his playing career, Hiatt managed minor league teams for the Chicago Cubs organization, including the GCL Cubs (1975), the Pompano Beach Cubs (1976–1978), and the Wichita Aeros (1979–1980). Under the California Angels farm system he managed the Holyoke Millers in 1982. With the Houston Astros, he managed the Columbus Astros in 1983. The final managerial position he took in the minors was with the San Francisco Giants farm team, the Pocatello Giants in 1988. Over the course of his minor league managerial career Hiatt amassed a 501–599 record with only three winning seasons.

Hiatt was the Giants' director of player development for 16 seasons, before his retirement in October .