Michael Hanson ’03 finished his baseball career as one of the best players to have ever donned the Blue & White.
Hanson was a three-year captain for the Generals, one of just four players in program history to make that claim. He started all 136 of the team’s games as a second baseman, shortstop and pitcher.
Hanson set numerous game, season and career records during his time in Lexington, and he graduated as the program’s all-time leader in games played (136), at bats (519), hits (187), runs (148), doubles (43), triples (13) and stolen bases (51). He also ranked third all-time at W&L with a .360 career batting average and his 18 career home runs were still tied for third all-time as of his induction to the Hall of Fame.
On the mound, Hanson appeared in 40 contests and posted a 13-6 record with four saves. He logged a 3.35 career earned run average, allowing fewer hits (119) than innings pitched (126.1).
Hanson began his career as a second baseman and starting pitcher, comprising a formidable double-play combination with his brother David ’00 who played shortstop. He batted .328 and led the team in runs (30), home runs (5) and stolen bases (10) en route to earning Second Team All-ODAC laurels.
The Atlanta native moved to shortstop for his final three seasons, again earning second team all-league honors as a sophomore, when he batted a career-best .379 with a team-high 15 doubles and nine stolen bases.
Hanson earned First Team All-ODAC laurels as a junior, hitting .364 and posting a career-high 18 stolen bases in 20 attempts. On the mound, he went 2-2 with three saves.
In his final season, Hanson batted .371 and went 2-1 on the mound to earn the ODAC Player of the Year Award. He was also named First Team All-ODAC, First Team All-South Region and garnered Third Team All-America honors, just the second baseball player in school history named to the All-America team.
The team reached unparalleled success during his four seasons, as the Generals posted an 89-46-1 overall record and advanced to the ODAC title game during his senior year.
Following his W&L career, Hanson signed a free agent deal with the Atlanta Braves, playing for his hometown team’s farm system for two seasons. He began his career with the Danville Braves in 2003, earning Appalachian League All-Star honors.
