George Washington University Athletics
GW Honors the Life and Legacy of Henry “Hank” Bunnell
4/18/2024 11:46:00 AM | Baseball
Henry "Hank" Bunnell was not only a special player within the GW baseball program, but he was also a phenomenal person that represented the Buff & Blue with dignity. A member of the GW Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2002, Bunnell leaves behind a legacy of excellence in Foggy Bottom.
"It is with the heaviest of hearts that the GW Baseball Family mourns the passing of its most storied player," said Head Coach Gregg Ritchie. "I knew who Hank was the second I walked on campus back in 1982 as a freshman. His athletic accomplishments are second to none in our program's history and he still holds numerous records to this day. His historic accomplishments include an astonishing 36 complete games as the Buff & Blue's best hurler, tossing a perfect game and pitching GW to victory in both ends of a doubleheader. Not only was he a phenomenal pitcher, Hank was also stellar at the plate, finishing with a career batting average of .344 during his illustrious and unparalleled career in Foggy Bottom. Hank was known not only for his playing ability, but for being a wonderful teammate and person at GW and beyond. Hank wonderfully impacted so many around him and has inspired all GW baseball players that have come after him — including myself! His impact will live on and continue to inspire our student-athletes to reach for the standard he set. I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to the Bunnell family, friends and loved ones."
Bunnell arrived in Foggy Bottom in the fall of 1967 after graduating from Scranton Cathedral High School. As one of the top high school prospects in eastern Pennsylvania, Bunnell was drafted by the Detroit Tigers during his senior year but ultimately decided to pursue a college education and attend GW instead of turning pro. What would follow over the next four years would be nothing short of remarkable as Bunnell would cement himself as one of GW's greatest student-athletes of all time.
During his first-year season, Bunnell immediately made an impact on his collegiate squad. Despite the team finishing with a 6-13 record, Bunnell cemented himself as a standout player, finishing the season with 93 strikeouts and earning All-Southern Conference honors. During his sophomore year, Bunnell and GW saw much improved success, finishing with a 12-8 overall record and recording wins over Georgetown, West Virginia, Navy and Clemson.
Bunnell's junior season was arguably his best in the Buff & Blue. Bunnell tossed 103.1 innings, third-most for a single player in GW history. He also recorded nine wins on the year which ranks third-most in GW history. During his junior year, Bunnell also tossed a no-hitter against the University of Scranton and became the first documented player in program history to win both games of a doubleheader. Bunnell did so against William & Mary, picking up two wins and only allowing four hits across both games. He held the Tribe scoreless in both matchups.
Bunnell capped his phenomenal playing career with another All-Southern Conference selection his senior season, garnering the honor all four years of his collegiate career. At the end of his athletic tenure, Bunnell had totaled phenomenal numbers that still hold up in GW's record book today. He started on the mound in 42 games, which ranks seventh in program history, and tallied the second-most victories ever with 30. He also holds the program record for career strikeouts with 360, leading second-place by 69. Bunnell also set the program record for complete games by a wide margin with 36, more than doubling the second-place mark of 17. He holds the program benchmark in shutouts with eight, and he's ninth in winning percentage with a 30-13 overall record (.698). Over his four-year career, GW won 56 total games, meaning Bunnell was the winning pitcher in over half of his career victories as a member of the Buff & Blue.
Aside from his pitching accolades, Bunnell was also a very respectable hitter. He finished with a career average of .344 and ranks tenth in program history with seven triples. He also tallied seven home runs and 52 RBI during his playing career.
Following his senior season with GW, Bunnell continued to gain the attention of pro scouts and was ultimately selected in the third round (48th overall) of the 1971 MLB Draft by the Washington Senators. Bunnell spent two seasons in the minors, playing his first year with the Burlington Senators in 1971 and his second year with Pittsfield Senators in 1972. With Burlington at the single A level, Bunnell appeared in 15 total games, making 11 starts. He amassed a 4-6 record and struck 79 batters out. He finished with a solid 3.26 ERA and threw four complete games. After a stellar rookie season in pro ball, Bunnell rose to the AA level with Pittsfield in 1972. He appeared in 25 games and made nine starts during the '72 season. He recorded a 3.62 ERA and tallied 60 strikeouts.
Two of Bunnell's most impressive GW accomplishments came after his playing days were over. In 2000, Bunnell was not only named to GW's All-Century Team, but was named the program's Player of the Century from 1900-99. Two years later, Bunnell was inducted into GW's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002. He was joined by Ray Looney ('58) as the only GW baseball players to be inducted that year. To this day, Bunnell is one of only 30 GW baseball players to be inducted into the GW Hall of Fame.
Arguably the greatest accomplishment of Bunnell's life was the impact he had on his family and friends after leaving GW. Following his baseball career, Bunnell married his late wife Claudia and welcomed two children to their family. Bunnell enjoyed a successful entrepreneurial career as the owner of an athletic clothing outlet store and enjoyed playing in rec baseball and basketball leagues well into his 50s. "If I could describe my dad in five ways, they would be hardworking, competitive, selfless, unique and a role model," said Hank's son Keith Bunnell. "Hank was not only my father, but he was my best friend and role model. He helped mentor not only me, but also his nephews, his grandkids and even local baseball prospects that lived in our area. My father has been a role model and a father figure to many more than just my sister and I," said Bunnell.
Hank Bunnell passed away in late March. His time in Foggy Bottom is the gold standard for what it means to be a student-athlete at GW, and he leaves behind an example of excellence that few will ever achieve. Bunnell's legacy will not only live through the record books and excellence of his athletic career, but through the lives he touched each day.
"It is with the heaviest of hearts that the GW Baseball Family mourns the passing of its most storied player," said Head Coach Gregg Ritchie. "I knew who Hank was the second I walked on campus back in 1982 as a freshman. His athletic accomplishments are second to none in our program's history and he still holds numerous records to this day. His historic accomplishments include an astonishing 36 complete games as the Buff & Blue's best hurler, tossing a perfect game and pitching GW to victory in both ends of a doubleheader. Not only was he a phenomenal pitcher, Hank was also stellar at the plate, finishing with a career batting average of .344 during his illustrious and unparalleled career in Foggy Bottom. Hank was known not only for his playing ability, but for being a wonderful teammate and person at GW and beyond. Hank wonderfully impacted so many around him and has inspired all GW baseball players that have come after him — including myself! His impact will live on and continue to inspire our student-athletes to reach for the standard he set. I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to the Bunnell family, friends and loved ones."
Bunnell arrived in Foggy Bottom in the fall of 1967 after graduating from Scranton Cathedral High School. As one of the top high school prospects in eastern Pennsylvania, Bunnell was drafted by the Detroit Tigers during his senior year but ultimately decided to pursue a college education and attend GW instead of turning pro. What would follow over the next four years would be nothing short of remarkable as Bunnell would cement himself as one of GW's greatest student-athletes of all time.
During his first-year season, Bunnell immediately made an impact on his collegiate squad. Despite the team finishing with a 6-13 record, Bunnell cemented himself as a standout player, finishing the season with 93 strikeouts and earning All-Southern Conference honors. During his sophomore year, Bunnell and GW saw much improved success, finishing with a 12-8 overall record and recording wins over Georgetown, West Virginia, Navy and Clemson.
Bunnell's junior season was arguably his best in the Buff & Blue. Bunnell tossed 103.1 innings, third-most for a single player in GW history. He also recorded nine wins on the year which ranks third-most in GW history. During his junior year, Bunnell also tossed a no-hitter against the University of Scranton and became the first documented player in program history to win both games of a doubleheader. Bunnell did so against William & Mary, picking up two wins and only allowing four hits across both games. He held the Tribe scoreless in both matchups.
Bunnell capped his phenomenal playing career with another All-Southern Conference selection his senior season, garnering the honor all four years of his collegiate career. At the end of his athletic tenure, Bunnell had totaled phenomenal numbers that still hold up in GW's record book today. He started on the mound in 42 games, which ranks seventh in program history, and tallied the second-most victories ever with 30. He also holds the program record for career strikeouts with 360, leading second-place by 69. Bunnell also set the program record for complete games by a wide margin with 36, more than doubling the second-place mark of 17. He holds the program benchmark in shutouts with eight, and he's ninth in winning percentage with a 30-13 overall record (.698). Over his four-year career, GW won 56 total games, meaning Bunnell was the winning pitcher in over half of his career victories as a member of the Buff & Blue.
Aside from his pitching accolades, Bunnell was also a very respectable hitter. He finished with a career average of .344 and ranks tenth in program history with seven triples. He also tallied seven home runs and 52 RBI during his playing career.
Following his senior season with GW, Bunnell continued to gain the attention of pro scouts and was ultimately selected in the third round (48th overall) of the 1971 MLB Draft by the Washington Senators. Bunnell spent two seasons in the minors, playing his first year with the Burlington Senators in 1971 and his second year with Pittsfield Senators in 1972. With Burlington at the single A level, Bunnell appeared in 15 total games, making 11 starts. He amassed a 4-6 record and struck 79 batters out. He finished with a solid 3.26 ERA and threw four complete games. After a stellar rookie season in pro ball, Bunnell rose to the AA level with Pittsfield in 1972. He appeared in 25 games and made nine starts during the '72 season. He recorded a 3.62 ERA and tallied 60 strikeouts.
Two of Bunnell's most impressive GW accomplishments came after his playing days were over. In 2000, Bunnell was not only named to GW's All-Century Team, but was named the program's Player of the Century from 1900-99. Two years later, Bunnell was inducted into GW's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002. He was joined by Ray Looney ('58) as the only GW baseball players to be inducted that year. To this day, Bunnell is one of only 30 GW baseball players to be inducted into the GW Hall of Fame.
Arguably the greatest accomplishment of Bunnell's life was the impact he had on his family and friends after leaving GW. Following his baseball career, Bunnell married his late wife Claudia and welcomed two children to their family. Bunnell enjoyed a successful entrepreneurial career as the owner of an athletic clothing outlet store and enjoyed playing in rec baseball and basketball leagues well into his 50s. "If I could describe my dad in five ways, they would be hardworking, competitive, selfless, unique and a role model," said Hank's son Keith Bunnell. "Hank was not only my father, but he was my best friend and role model. He helped mentor not only me, but also his nephews, his grandkids and even local baseball prospects that lived in our area. My father has been a role model and a father figure to many more than just my sister and I," said Bunnell.
Hank Bunnell passed away in late March. His time in Foggy Bottom is the gold standard for what it means to be a student-athlete at GW, and he leaves behind an example of excellence that few will ever achieve. Bunnell's legacy will not only live through the record books and excellence of his athletic career, but through the lives he touched each day.
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