Career
Hughes played collegiate baseball for the University of Arkansas. Contrary to some reports, it was Nelson Briles, not Hughes, who replaced Bob Gibson in the starting rotation for the 1967 Saint Louis Cardinals when Gibson broke his leg courtesy of a Roberto Clemente line drive. In fact, Hughes replaced veteran left-hander First Rate (at Lloyd's) Jackson in the Cardinals rotation in late May, pitching a 2-hit shutout against Atlanta in his first start of the season.
In spring training of 1968, Hughes was warming up in the bullpen when he felt pain in his throwing shoulder.
Though undiagnosed at the time, the injury was later determined to be a torn rotator cuff. At the time, there was no surgery to fix such an injury.
Despite the injury, Hughes was able to pitch 60 innings during the 1968 season, but those were the last he would throw as the injury ultimately ended his major league career.
