Ike Hampton: Early Seventies Mets Catching Prospect (1974)

Isaac Bernard Hampton was born August 22, 1951, in Camden, South Carolina. In 1970 on his 19th birthday, he signed a contract with the New York Mets.

Hampton appeared regularly to us young Mets fans as being a future star in the early 1970's yearbooks. 

A Catcher with Glasses: Ike was a seen in many early photographs sporting glasses, which was rare in those days, especially for a catcher.

At A ball in beautiful Pompano Beach, Florida he showed power early on hitting 11 HRs with 71 RBIs in 1971. The next year he was promoted to AA Visalia at where he continued to hit for power; 21 HRs with 77 RBIs although he struck out 134 times & only batted .252. 

In 1973 & 1974, his numbers dropped significantly off when he got to AAA Tidewater 

In 303 at bats for the Tides in 1974, he only hit six HRs (although it was good enough to be tied for second on a weak hitting club) 8 doubles & 29 RBIs while striking out 82 times & batting .241. 

MLB Debut: He got a September call up, making his debut on September 12th at Shea Stadium, as a pinch hitter in a 12-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he hit a fly ball out.  

Ike got to pinch hit in four games that month, going hitless. 

On September 26th at Shea, he drove in Duffy Dyer with a sac fly off veteran Pirates pitcher, Juan Pizzaro in an 11-5 Mets loss.  o

On September 14th, at Shea Stadium, Hampton got to catch a few innings behind the plate, as a battery mate for two other September call ups, Jerry Cram & John Strohmayer.

Hampton remained down in the minor leagues, with the big-league club casting such talented catchers like Jerry Grote, Duffy Dyer, & Ron Hodges, there wasn’t much opportunity for him. 

With the arrival of John Stearns in 1974 his days were certainly numbered & in Spring Training of 1975 he was traded to the California Angels for relief pitcher Ken Sanders.

Post Mets Career: Hampton would spend parts of five seasons with the Angels where he would play in 91 games, being used mostly as a third string catcher & occasional designated hitter. Hampton even a played handful of games at short & third base.

In 1977 he had his best season batting .295 with 3 HRs 9 RBIs in 52 games played. 

Nippon Professional League: In 1981 he went to play in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes before
retiring from baseball.

Career Stats: In a six-year career, Ike batted .207 with 28 hits 4 HRs 4 doubles & 18 RBIs. He posted a .275 on base % & .616 OPS.

Retirement: After baseball Hampton worked for UPS in Southern California for 29 years.

He also was a baseball instructor for the MLB Urban Youth Academy.