One Brother’s Love: William and Fred Hutchinson
Our dedication to changing the course of cancer began with our founder, William “Bill” Hutchinson, MD, and his vision for an institution dedicated to studying and ending cancer.
In 1963, Seattle’s beloved baseball star Fred Hutchinson, a Major League Baseball manager and hometown hero, discovered a lump in his neck while managing a team in Florida. He returned to Seattle and turned to his brother Bill who was a respected surgeon.
Bill confirmed the cancer diagnosis that would change both of their lives forever. Less than a year later, Fred died at only 45 years old, bringing his MLB career and life to an early end. His passing sparked the legacy of our bold pursuit to eliminate cancer.
Though 10 years apart in age, Bill and Fred shared a bond as they grew up in Seattle and had a mutual love for baseball. Bill chose a path in medicine while Fred pursued a future in baseball. This led to renowned careers in their respective fields — Bill as a physician and our pioneering founder, and Fred as a celebrated MLB player and manager.
Before Fred’s diagnosis, Bill had already established the Pacific Northwest Research Foundation to study heart surgery, cancer and endocrine diseases. But after the death of his brother, Bill was driven even further to create a place dedicated to cancer research. In 1975, he founded the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center — a living memorial to Fred with a bold commitment to curing cancer and improving lives.
“The ones who work the hardest are the ones who make it, the ones who win. Sometimes that’s the only difference. If you don’t work hard at this game, you might as well hang them up. Sweat is your only salvation.”
― Fred Hutchinson
There was a time when the mention of “Hutch,” as Fred was known, conjured instant images of winning baseball. He was a top-flight major league pitcher and baseball manager before his career was cut short by cancer.
In the golden era of Pacific Coast League baseball, Fred’s performance for the Seattle Rainiers in 1938 assumed legendary status. He amassed a sterling 25-7 record, winning his 19th game on his 19th birthday in front of a record crowd that lined the outfield fences three rows deep at Sick's Stadium in Seattle.
Fred then earned national fame with the Detroit Tigers, winning 95 games over 11 years and notching 18- and 17-win seasons in 1947 and 1950. He later managed the Seattle Rainiers and the major league Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds, the latter which he piloted to the World Series in 1961.
The man known for his tenacity, winning determination and courage died of cancer in 1964.
Emmett Watson, Fred’s friend and a former high school catcher who became Seattle's preeminent newspaper columnist, once quoted Fred as saying: “The ones who work the hardest are the ones who make it, the ones who win. Sometimes that's the only difference. If you don’t work hard at this game, you might as well hang them up. Sweat is your only salvation.”
The Hutch Award was created in 1965 by his longtime friends in sports media.
Fred at T-Mobile Park
Fred Hutchinson’s legacy and impact on Seattle’s baseball history is honored at the home of the Mariners, T-Mobile Park. At the end of most rows of the ballpark you can find Hutchinson’s image, poised to deliver a pitch on a medallion.