Where Are They Now: Marc Hill (SF Giants 1975-79)

Marc who? Yeah, you're not gonna find Marc Hill's plaque on the Giants Wall of Fame on the exterior wall of AT&T Park on King Street. However, he's one of those obscure players that we remember fondly while growing up following the Giants. Maybe its because of his 1979 Topps baseball card  (see below). We don't know where that photo was taken, but that field needs a huge John Deere lawn mower for a good cut.

Hill arrived to the Giants via a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals in October 1974 for Ken Rudolph (C) and Elias Sosa (RHP). Sosa actually ended up having a 12-year career as a middle reliever and had some solid seasons playing for the Dodgers and Expos.

Hill played six years for the Giants and usually split catching duties with Mike Sadek and or Milt May. His best year was in 1977 where he belted nine home runs and 50 RBI while batting .250. In 1980, he was purchased by the Seattle Mariners and played sparingly. After that year, as a free agent he signed with the Chicago White Sox, and would spend the next six years with the Southsiders as a backup catcher. He retired after the 1986 season.

In the subsequent years, Hill managed and coached at the following clubs and locations:

1987 - manager of White Sox's minor league team in Daytona Beach
1988 - coach with Houston Astros
1989-1991 - bullpen coach for New York Yankees
1992 - manager of New Port News (White Sox minor league club)
1993-1994 - manager of Seattle Mariners AA team
1995-1997 - manager of Carolina Mudcats (Pittsburgh Pirates minor league club)
1998-2002 - roving catching instructor for Pittsburgh Pirates
2003 - manager of the River City Rascals

After the 2003 season, Hill officially retired from the game and currently resides in Elsberry, Illinois. Hill lists Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan as close friends, most notably because he played for LaRussa when he played in Chicago.

Marc Hill's 1979 Topps Card

Marc Hill Taking BP at Dodger Stadium