Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Jamar Hill

A combination of power and speed, Anchorage’s Jamar Hill was a dynamic dual threat on the baseball field who rose through the pro ranks to become one of just 12 Alaskans to reach the Double-A level.

A two-time MLB draft pick by the New York Mets, Hill had a 10-year professional career during which he asserted him as the greatest hitter from Alaska, a state better known for pitching.

He is the state’s lone member of the 20-20 club, when in 2004 with the Single-A Capital City Bombers he hit .272 with 26 homers, 89 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 121 games.

Hill, of Bartlett High fame, is the only Alaskan to reach the century mark in home runs, doubles and stolen bases in his career that stretched from 2002 to 2011.

A late-bloomer who was never all-conference in high school, Hill developed into a great player. He put in long hours of sweat and sacrifice. The late Dennis Mattingly of the Anchorage Bucs used to rave about Hill’s work ethic.

In 2007, Hill batted .300 in 58 games with Double-A Binghamton.

By 2008, he was playing independent ball, and in 2009 with the Victoria Seals he hit .292 with 19 bombs and 64 RBIs in 75 games.

Hill finished his career with 891 hits, the most for an Alaskan. Kodiak’s Cliff Anderson ranks No. 2 with 546 hits from 1992 to 1998.

Friday Flashback is a series created by Alaska Sports Hall of Fame blog editor Van Williams that looks back on great Alaska athletes from the past. To read about other Alaskans featured in this series, click here.