Books and articles about Stan Hack

Genial Stan Hack, with his famous smile, was one of the most popular players of his day. He batted .352 in 1931, his first year in pro ball, and William Veeck personally went to Sacramento to sign him to a Cubs contract. By 1934 Hack was a fixture at third base in Wrigley Field. He exhibited a smooth, easy style, twice leading the NL in fielding and assists, and five times in putouts. At bat, he slashed singles and doubles, rarely swinging for the fences. He topped the 100 mark in runs scored seven times (six consecutive), had league-high stolen base totals in 1938 and 1939, and league-high hit totals in 1940 and 1941.

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Hack retired in 1943, in part because he didn't get along with Cubs manager Jimmy Wilson. When Wilson was fired early in 1944, Charlie Grimm returned and coaxed Hack out of retirement. In 1945 Hack hit a career-high .323 in helping the Cubs to a pennant for a fourth time. When he finished playing in 1947, he had tied the then-record for most years as a NL third baseman (16). He began managing the Cubs in 1954, in three years never finishing higher than sixth. He coached for the Cardinals, and managed in the minors until 1966.

An opposing player once said that Hack "has more friends than Leo Durocher has enemies." Hack was known to party in his early career, and reportedly was often carried home by drinking partner Pat Malone. Bill Veeck turned Hack's captivating smile into a promotion; he once walked the Wrigley bleachers selling an item featuring a grinning picture of Hack on the back of a mirror, with the slogan, "Smile with Stan Hack." The fans began shining the mirrors into opposing batters' eyes, which prompted the umpires to confiscate the gimmicks and threaten to forfeit the game. (DB)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 15, 1935: The Cubs rattle 18 hits off four Brooklyn pitchers to win, 9–4. Bill Lee allows no earned runs in the victory. Stan Hack is 4-for-4 + getting hit with a pitch; he had three straight hits to end yesterday, giving him seven straight. Rookie Ken O'Dea belts a 3-run homer. » May 5, 1938: Hal Kelleher of the Phillies faces 16 batters in the 8th inning, as the Cubs score 12 runs. Both marks are National League records off one hurler in a single inning. The Cubs win 21–2 with Joe Marty tallying four runs, four RBI, and four hits and Augie Galan adding a homer and triple and another four ribbies. The loss goes to Wayne LeMaster who throws just three pitches to leadoff batter Stan Hack before leaving the game with a pain in his throwing arm. Tommy Reis relieved and allows four runs to score, but the first is charged to LeMaster. Al Epperly wins the laugher. » May 17, 1940: Chicago's Stan Hack, is struck by a foul line drive off the bat of teammate Hank Lieber and suffers a concussion. Hack was the runner at 3rd base and in foul territory when he was struck. The Cubs top the host Giants, 4–0, with Claude Passeau outdueling Hal Schumacher. Passeau allows just two singles, both by Joe Moore. » August 17, 1940: Stan Hack's 4th hit of the game, a 2-out single in the 13th, gives the Cubs a 6–5 win over the Pirates. Claude Passeau, the last of five Cub pitchers, is the winner. Veteran Danny MacFayden takes the loss for the Bucs. » January 8, 1941: The BBWAA in TSN poll names the 1940 All Star team: Hank Greenberg, LF; Joe DiMaggio, CF; Ted Williams, RF; Frank McCormick, 1B; Joe Gordon, 2B; Luke Appling, SS; Stan Hack, 3B; Harry Danning, C. The pitchers are Bob Feller, Bucky Walters, and Paul Derringer. » August 9, 1942: The Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 10–8 in 18 innings at Cincinnati. The Reds tie the score in the 9th, 10th, and 12th innings before the Cubs hang on. Stan Hack collects five hits and three runs for Chicago. Both teams combine to notch 25 base on balls for the match, and the Cubs strand 23 runners, while the Reds leave 21, a major-league record until 1974. Each team uses six pitchers, a ML record. The Reds take game two by a 2–1 score. » August 5, 1945: The Cubs bang out 22 hits in Game One of a pair to overwhelm the Reds, 12–5. Stan Hack has three doubles and a single, and Phil Cavarretta has four hits. The Cubs take the nitecap, 2–1, behind Claude Passeau's 6-hitter. Chicago has won 17 of their last 18 games. » August 30, 1945: Stan Hack of the Cubs becomes No. 82 in the 2,000-hit club when he collects a first inning single off Pirate pitcher Preacher Roe. Earlier in the season the Senators' Joe Kuhel and Red Sox OF Bob Johnson made the list. Hack scores after his safety, but the Pirates win, 6–4 over the first-place Cubs. » October 8, 1945: Stan Hack's double takes a tricky bounce over LF Hank Greenberg's shoulder with 2 outs in the 12th inning to give the Chicago Cubs an 8-7 win in the 6th game of the WS. Borowy pitches 4 scoreless innings in relief. » March 29, 1954: After the Cubs go 5–15 in spring training, Phil Cavarretta gives Cubs owner Phil Wrigley an honest assessment of the team's chances, and is fired for his "defeatist attitude." He's the first manager to be given the gate during spring training. Stan Hack replaces him. Cavarretta is right; the Cubs will drop to 7th.