The Senators optioned Hinton to the Indianapolis Indians of the Class AAA American Association before the regular season began.[3] They promoted Hinton from the minor leagues on May 14, 1961,[4] and he made his MLB debut the next day. He finished the 1961 season with a .260 batting average.[2] In 1962, he had a .310 batting average, good for fourth in the American League,[1] and finished second in stolen bases to Luis Aparicio.[2] Hit in the head with a pitch on September 5, 1963, Hinton was unconscious when he was carried off the field. He returned to the lineup eight days later, but felt limited by symptoms of the concussion.[1] Hinton was named to represent the American League in the 1964 MLB All-Star Game.[5]
After the 1964 season, the Senators traded Hinton to the Cleveland Indians for Bob Chance and Woodie Held.[6] He was dealt to the California Angels for José Cardenal on November 29, 1967.[7] Hinton batted .195 in the 1968 season with the Angels. Just before the 1969 season, the Angels traded Hinton back to the Indians for Lou Johnson.[8] The Indians released Hinton after the 1971 season. In all, Hinton played six years with the Indians.
In 1982, he founded the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA), a non-profit organization that promotes the game of baseball, raises money for charities, inspires and educates youth through positive sport images and protects the dignity of the game through former players.[1]
Personal
Hinton and his wife, Irma, lived in Washington, D.C. They had four children.[1][7] He died from complications of Parkinson's disease on January 27, 2013.
Three times led the Washington Senators in batting average (1962–64), four times in triples and stolen bases (1961–64), and was the last Senator to hit .300
