MSL to MLB: Todd Hundley In Hunt for Homer Mark

Mets Catcher Hits 34th Vs. Cubs

NOTE: This story appeared in the Daily Herald on August 6, 1996. It was a huge deal that summer to have two players and catchers from the Mid-Suburban League, Fremd’s Todd Hundley and Barrington’s Dan Wilson, play in the All-Star Game. Hundley was also in the midst of a historic power season for a catcher and would finish with 41 homers, a record that stood until the Braves’ Javy Lopez hit 42 in 2003. The fact his dad Randy was a legendary Cubs figure as the catcher on the memorable 1969 team added to the attention on this trip to Wrigley Field and a pregame interview with Todd in the cramped visitors clubhouse also filled with New York writers. And then he delivered his 34th homer of the season. Sometimes these things just work out.

Sixty-one has been the ultimate magic number for home runs in one season since 1961.

New York Mets all-star catcher Todd Hundley isn’t threatening Roger Maris’ major-league record. However, he is getting a chance to talk about homer history of a different kind.

Hundley’s magic number is 40, the record for homers in a season by a catcher set by Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1953. Thanks to a recent tear, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound switch-hitter came to Wrigley Field with 33 homers and added No. 34 Monday night.

Johnny Bench hit 45 homers with the Reds in 1970 but only 38 came while he was catching.

“I didn’t know much personally about (Campanella) except he’s got the record,” Hundley, the 1987 Fremd graduate, said. “Needless to say it would be something very special and nice. It would be unbelievable to break that record.”

It’s becoming more believable every day for the son of former Cubs catcher Randy Hundley, whose high for homers was 19 in 1966. With a solo homer on Sunday, Todd Hundley broke the Mets’ team record of homers by a catcher (32) set by Gary Carter in 1985.

Hundley’s 11th homer in his last 20 games Monday night puts him second in the National League to the 38 by Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa. But it’s not necessarily a shock to Hundley, who entered this season with 50 homers in 491 games.

“To look up on the leaderboards around the league, to be up there with the (Barry) Bonds, the (Mike) Piazzas and the (Andres) Galarragas, it’s neat to see that,” Hundley said. “But why not, why can’t I be up there? They’ve busted their butts and I’ve busted my butt, so why not?”

Well, just consider the daily demands of a position where bumps and bruises are a common occurrence. Last year Hundley missed five weeks with a sprained left wrist suffered in a home-plate collision.

Plus Hundley has to worry about his own pitchers more than any other position player.

“It is tough to hit as a catcher, period,” Hundley said. “It’s a physically demanding job and mentally demanding job. To hit 40 catching - in my opinion to hit 20 as a catcher is tough to do. It’s such a physically demanding job.”

Hundley hasn’t been a power failure with 16 homers in 91 games in 1994 and 15 in 90 games last year. Now he’s leading the National League with 1 every 11.3 at-bats. Hundley said the power surge hasn’t come from trying to find the seats.

“(My dad) says don’t go up swinging for home runs, they’re gonna come,” Hundley said. “It’s something (Mets hitting coach) Tom McCraw tells me, too. Don’t go up swinging for home runs. A home run is just a result of a good swing.”

What Hundley wants more than homers out of good swings are runs batted in. He has 90 and is closing in on Carter’s team mark for a catcher of 105.

Hundley said his emphasis on RBI - he has 23 in his last 20 games - came from watching Eddie Murray drive in 93 and 100 with the Mets in 1992 and ‘93 respectively.

“I’d like to get 100 RBI,” Hundley said. “That’s more on my mind than anything, to tell you the truth.

“To drive in 100 is something special. It’s something I don’t think people realize how tough it is to do.

“Before this year, it was something I thought can be reachable. But it wasn’t so much a goal. I don’t like to put goals or set goals to limit myself.”

As for the home run record, Hundley said he’s trying to avoid getting caught up in the Campanella chase.

“It’s a fine line,” he said. “You definitely don’t want to jinx yourself … by sitting there and thinking about it so much that it doesn’t happen.”