He played with two teams in 1967 — the West Palm Beach Braves and Kinston Eagles — and between the two of them he hit .310 in 139 games.

Breeden also attained a power stroke in the minors, hitting 37 home runs in 136 games for the Richmond Braves in 1970.

He was developing himself into a notable prospect - or at least the Chicago Cubs thought so - because on November 30, 1970, he was traded straight up for future Hall of Fame pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm.

Pinch hitting for Earl Stephenson in the bottom of the seventh inning, Hal grounded out in his only at-bat of the game.

In 1973, Breeden tied Joe Cronin for the record for most pinch-hit home runs in a double header, at two.