Utah is pushing to someday have a Major League team. While they wait, the Beehive State continues to grow its baseball tradition. The United States of Baseball is important for baseball powerhouses like California and Florida, and for less prodigious baseball states like Utah and its 43 Major League players. The greatest pitcher born in Utah is Bruce Hurst. His 34.52 career WAR is the 42nd highest among state and territory pitching leaders. The greatest position player born in the Beehive State is Duke Sims. His 12.78 career WAR is the 51st highest among state and territory position player leaders. Utah has a combined 47.30 WAR, ranking the Beehive State 50th among all states and territories. 

There is always a first. The first player ever drafted from Utah was Bruce Hurst. The St. George native was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st Round, 22nd overall, of the 1976 MLB Draft. The crafty Lefty pitched 15 seasons with 4 teams: Boston Red Sox (1980-1988), San Diego Padres (1989-1993), Colorado Rockies (1993), and Texas Rangers (1994). Hurst pitched in 379 career Games, made 359 Starts, 5 Games Finished, with 83 Complete Games, 23 Shutouts, 2,417.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 2,463 Hits, 1,143 Runs, 1,052 Earned Runs, 740 Walks, 1,689 Strikeouts, posted a 145-113 record, with a 3.92 ERA, 1.325 WHIP, and 104 ERA+. He has the second most Wins at Fenway Park with 57, behind only Mel Parnell’s 71. Hurst was the third pitcher to record 1,000 career Strikeouts with the Red Sox. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2004. He left Boston in Free Agency after the 1988 season after the Front Office played hardball and told him to test the open market. This was during the Owner’s Collusion to stamp out free agency. Ultimately Hurst signed with the Padres. His 1987 All Star selection remains Utah’s only trip to the Mid-Summer Classic. He is also the Beehive State leader in Wins, Losses, Games Started, Complete Games, Shutouts, Innings Pitched, Hits, Runs, Earned Runs, Home Runs, Walks, and Strikeouts. After retiring he served as a coach and scout internationally for Major League Baseball in Italy and Latin America, and as the Pitching Coach for the Chinese National Baseball team in 2005-2006 and 2012-2013. 

The best season of Hurst’s career came with the 1989 Padres. He pitched in 33 Games, made 33 Starts, threw 10 Complete Games, including 2 Shutouts, in 244.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 214 Hits, 84 Runs, 73 Earned Runs, 66 Walks, 179 Strikeouts, posted a 15-11 record, with a 2.69 ERA, 1.144 WHIP, and 131 ERA+. Hurst led the National League in Complete Games. He also set career bests in Games Started, Innings Pitched, and ERA. The Padres finished just 3 Games Behind the San Francisco Giants for the National League West Division title. 

Hurst pitched in three Postseason series: 1986 and 1988 American League Championship Series and 1986 World Series. He pitched in 7 Postseason Games, made 7 Starts, threw 3 Complete Games, in 51 Innings Pitched, allowed 46 Hits, 14 Runs, 13 Earned Runs, 12 Walks, 37 Strikeouts, posted a 3-2 record, with a 2.29 ERA, and 1.137 WHIP. Hurst nearly pitched the Red Sox to a World Series title against the Mets. He Started Games 1, 5, and 7. He threw 8 Shutout Innings in the Red Sox Game 1 victory. He pitched a Complete Game victory in Game 5. In Game 7, Hurst pitched 6 Innings and allowed 3 Earned Runs. When he left the game the score was tied 3-3, before the Mets pulled away for an 8-5 victory. Boston needed to win one of the final two games, but The Curse of the Bambino was stronger than Hurst’s Left Arm. 

Duane “Duke” Sims made a career as a solid backstop. The Salt Lake City native played 11 seasons with 5 teams: Cleveland Indians (1964-1970), Los Angeles Dodgers (1971-1972), Detroit Tigers (1972-1973), New York Yankees (1973-1974), and Texas Rangers (1974). Sims played in 843 career Games, scored 263 Runs, collected 580 Hits, 80 Doubles, 6 Triples, 100 Home Runs, 310 RBI, 6 Stolen Bases, drawing 338 Walks, 483 Strikeouts, posting a .239 BA, .340 OBP, .401 SLG, .741 OPS, 112 OPS+, and 972 Total Bases. His most famous Home Run came on September 30, 1973 off of Fred Holdsworth. Sims hit the final Home Run at Yankee Stadium before the House That Ruth Built closed for two seasons for extensive renovations. Sims is Utah’s all-time leader in career Games Played, Plate Appearances, At Bats, Runs scored, Hits, Double, Home Runs, RBI, Walks, and Strikeouts. Career success is measured in many ways.  

The best season of Sims’ career came with the 1970 Cleveland Indians. He played in 110 Games, scored 46 Runs, collected 91 Hits, including 12 Doubles, 23 Home Runs, 56 RBI, drew 46 Walks, 59 Strikeouts, .264 BA, .360 OBP, .499 SLG, .859 OPS, 131 OPS+, and 172 Total Bases. Sims set career best in Hits, Home Runs, RBI, SLG, OPS, and Total Bases. That Winter, Cleveland traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Alan Foster and Ray Lamb. 

Sims played in one Postseason series, the 1972 American League Championship Series with the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers lost in five games. Sims played in 4 Games, collected 3 Hits, 2 Doubles, 1 Triple, drew 1 Walk, 2 Strikeouts, with a .214 BA, .267 OBP, .500 SLG, .767 OPS, and 7 Total Bases. October can be a mystery for some teams. 

No Utah native has been elected to the Hall of Fame. Bruce Hurst appeared on the 2000 Hall of Fame ballot and received one vote (0.2%). Duke Sims appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 1980, but received no votes. As the state produces more Major League quality players, Cooperstown should eventually get its first member from the Beehive State. Next the United States of Baseball returns to New England and The Green Mountain State. Vermont is next. 

DJ