Lendle

Fred Hutchinson is memorialized today by the Hutch Award given annually by Major League Baseball and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, one of the top research centers in the world. The popular manager of the Cincinnati Reds was at the top of his profession when he was suddenly diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in December 1963. This is the story of Fred Hutchinson and his players (including Frank Robinson, a young Pete Rose, Joe Nuxhall and Tony Perez) as they completed his inspirational final season. In 1964, the Reds battled themselves, their opponents and their emotions to mount a late winning streak which, coupled with the historic collapse of the Phillies, allowed the team to enter the final day with a chance to win the pennant for their stricken manager.