Kent W. Hadley

March 11, 2005
The Pocatello Idaho State Journal

POCATELLO - Kent W. Hadley, 70, lifelong resident of Pocatello, passed away March 10, 2005, at a local hospital.

He was born Dec. 17, 1934, in Pocatello. He graduated from Pocatello High School in 1952. Kent graduated from the University of Southern California in 1957.

Kent was named First Team All-American playing first base in 1956. He also played professional baseball for 13 years. In 1959, he played for the Kansas City A's, in 1960, for the New York Yankees, and also played six years for Japanese teams in Osaka, Japan. Following his professional baseball career, Kent was in the insurance business in Pocatello for over 30 years until his passing.

Surviving him are a son, Kirk B. Hadley of Pocatello; a daughter, Lynn H. Ingram of Boise; grandsons, Connor Hadley, Sander Hadley, Nicholas Ingram and Alec Ingram.

Graveside services will be Monday, March 14, 2005, at Mountain View Cemetery, Section 42 East at 1 p.m., with Pastor Eric Brown conducting services. Arrangements are under the direction of Downard-Hansen Funeral Home, 241 North Garfield.

Recalling Pocatello's N.Y. Yankee

March 12, 2005
The Pocatello Idaho State Journa

Pete Iorizzo - Sports Commentary

Around 8:30 a.m. one recent morning at Oliver's Restaurant, four men sat around a table sipping coffee and engaging in their usual banter. They talked about doctors and health issues and politics, the kinds of things you'd expect from folks in their 60s, 70s and 80s.

It seemed, on the surface, like any other morning for this coffee klatch. Except, these days, someone's missing.

Once, Pocatello's greatest baseball player, who played in the major leagues and could tell stories about Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Casey Stengel, sat with the group. Now, his seat is empty.

Kent Hadley, Pocatello's own New York Yankee, died March 10. He was 70.

During a recent coffee meeting, friends remembered Hadley for his kindness, his soft-spoken humor and his humility. They remembered a modest, shy man. Most of all, they remembered that even after everything Hadley accomplished in life and in baseball, he remained a great friend.

"He was a kind, gentle person," Ron Johnson said. "Never even talked about himself much."

Of course, had he chosen to, lots of people would have listened. His story, though he seldom told it, commanded attention.

After a successful career at the University of Southern California, Hadley played in the Detroit Tigers organization and with the Kansas City A's. On Dec. 11, 1959, in one of baseball's most famous trades, the A's packaged Hadley with Roger Maris in a deal to the New York Yankees.

Maris, we all know, went on to flourish.

But what started as a promising pro career for Hadley hit a pot-hole in a lesser role on the Yankees' 1960 squad. Hadley spent less than a season with those Bombers, listening on the radio as they lost to Pittsburgh on Bill Mazeroski's Game Seven, ninth-inning home run.