Athletic Hall of Fame

Chris Hoiles

Sport(s): Baseball

Induction Class: 2000

Was a three-year veteran of the EMU baseball team (1984-86) who went on to become a 10-year veteran manjor league baseball player with the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles before retiring in 1999. As an EMU senior in 1986 he set single-season records for home runs (19) and RBI (70) and hit .342 to earn unanimous first-team All-American Conference honors... Completed his EMU career with a .335 career batting average to go along with 34 home runs and 130 RBI... One of only four EMU baseball players to have his uniform retired (the others include Bob Welch, Bob Owchinho and Ron Oestrike) when the University held "Chris Hoiles Night" on Jan. 15, 1994... Drafted in the 19th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Detroit Tigers after his junior season in 1986... Signed with the Tigers and played in the minor leagues until being dealt to the Baltimore Orioles in 1988 for Fred Lynn... Went on to enjoy 10 solid seasons with the Orioles before retiring in 1999... His 29 home runs in 1993 were the second highest ever for an Orioles catcher... Honored by the Baltimore are writers and broadcasters as the "Most Valuable Oriole" and was also selected as "Oriole of the Year" by The Baltimore Sun newspaper in 1993... He and New York Yankee catcher Mike Stanley became just fourth and fifth American League catchers in history to hit .300 or better with 25 or more home runs in a season in 1993 when he batted .310 and 29 round trippers.

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