Books and articles about Chick Hafey

One of the hardest-hitting righthanded batters in the game, Hafey had his best years with the Cardinals. It is difficult to assess how great Hafey might have been if not for his ill health, poor eyesight, and constant salary disputes. Hafey had a chronic sinus condition that required several operations and affected his vision. After beanings in 1926, a doctor advised him to wear glasses, and since his eyesight would vary from day to day, he used three different pairs. He became one of the first bespectacled outfielders.

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Hafey was known for his rifle arm and his line drives. He started as a pitcher, but switched to everyday play under Branch Rickey. He was regarded by many as the second-best righthanded hitter of his day, behind Rogers Hornsby. A quiet man, he was somewhat overshadowed by the more colorful individuals who played on the Cardinals' championship teams of the 1920s and early 1930s.

In 1929 Hafey tied a National League record with ten successive hits. After batting .336 in 1930, he held out for $15,000, reporting ten days late to spring training. He eventually signed for $12,500, but Rickey fined him $2,100 for not being in playing shape. Hafey responded by winning the 1931 batting title with a .349 mark. He then demanded $17,000 for 1932, including a return of the $2,100. Rickey offered him $13,000, a raise of just $500. Incensed, Hafey drove home to California and waited until April 11, when he found out he had been traded to the Reds for Bennie Frey, Harvey Hendrick, and $50,000; Rickey had Joe Medwick waiting in the wings.

Hafey was happy to join the Reds, who paid him $15,000, though they were a last-place club. Battling the flu and his sinus condition, Hafey played just 84 games, but hit .344. In 1933 he hit .303, making the first All-Star team (and getting the first hit in All-Star history, a single in the second inning), but his health was not good. His last campaign as an everyday player was 1934. He hurt his shoulder in 1935, but on May 24, played in the first-ever regular season night game. The evening's dampness aggravated his sinuses. He saw the future of night baseball, and realized his career was ending. He retired, sitting out the rest of 1935 and all of 1936, but attempted a comeback in '37, playing in 89 games. He then quit for good, at the age of 34. He was elected to the Hall of Fame 34 years later by the Veterans Committee. (WB)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » October 8, 1909: The Pirates, winners of 110 games, face Detroit in the World Series, which pits the two leagues' top offensive stars, Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb. It is the first of three times that batting champs will face each other in the World Series (Al Simmons and Chick Hafey in 1931: Bobby Avila and Willie Mays in 1954 are the others) Pittsburgh manager Fred Clarke starts 27-year-old rookie righthander Babe Adams against Tigers P George Mullin. There are only 11 hits in the game, but one is a home run by Clarke, and the Pirates win 4-1 before a crowd of 29,264. » October 6, 1926: In game 4, the Yankees tee off on Flint Rhem (20-7) and four other Cardinal hurlers for 10 runs and 14 hits, while Waite Hoyt (16-12) strands 10 Cardinal runners for a 10–5 win. Babe Ruth hits three home runs, to fulfill his October 1st promise to a bedridden 11-year-old, Johnny Sylvester. Ruth's 3rd clout, in the 6th, is the longest blast ever seen in St. Louis. It clears the park and goes through the window of an auto dealer across the street. In the 4th, Taylor Douthit and Chick Hafey collide in the OF as the ball drops; Douthit is sidelined for the rest of the Series. » June 12, 1928: Chick Hafey's HR beats the Braves for St. Louis, moving them into first place for two months as the Cubs, Giants, and Reds stay on their heels. » July 9, 1929: Cardinals OF Chick Hafey, with eight straight hits in his two previous games, gets two more before the Phils' "Fidgety Phil" Collins stops him. His 10-for-10 ties the NL record. The Cards win 7-4. » May 7, 1930: Chick Hafey has five RBI in the 5th inning as the Cards beat the Phils 16–11 to move out of the cellar and begin the climb to an eventual pennant. Pete Alexander makes his first appearance against his old mates and is hit hard. The loss drops the Phils to last place, while the Cards head the other way. » June 9, 1930: Chick Hafey, the Cardinals' bespectacled OF, withdraws from the game because of eye trouble. He soon returns to the lineup, but this signals a constant problem with vision and sinus conditions that will hamper his career. » August 21, 1930: Chick Hafey hits for the cycle, as the Cards beat the Phillies at St. Louis 16–6. » August 23, 1931: In St. Louis, the league-leading Cardinals go to 78–44 by sweeping the Braves. The Birds pound Boston 16–1 in the opener as Chick Hafey drives in eight runs on 5-for-5 hitting, including two home runs. One of the homers is a grand slam. St. Louis takes the nitecap, 1–0, in 11 innings, winning on Jim Bottomley's home run. » September 27, 1931: The most desperately contested battle for individual honors takes place in the race for the NL batting title. Chick Hafey, who reported late due to a contract dispute, goes into the final doubleheader with the Reds batting .353, four points over Bill Terry, last year's champ. Hafey gets only two hits in eight times at bat to drop to .349. Bill Terry's Giants are playing archenemy Brooklyn at Ebbets Field. Brooklyn, in their last game as the Robins, wins 12–3, behind Clark. Terry gets only one hit in four times at bat. The title goes to Hafey, who batted .3488 to Terry's .3486. Jim Bottomley, Hafey's Cardinal teammate, goes 4-for-8 and finishes at .3481. The Cards win 6–2 and 5–3, to win 20 of 22 with the Reds. » April 11, 1932: Holdout Chick Hafey, last year's batting champ, is traded by the Cardinals to the Reds. » April 11, 1933: The Cardinals trade Chick Hafey to the Reds for Harvey Hendrick, Benny Frey, and cash. » May 30, 1933: Detroit OF John Stone is the first major leaguer to collect six long hits in a regulation length doubleheader, as he bangs out four doubles and two homers for Detroit in a split with the Browns. National leaguers Chick Hafey and Mel Ott have collected six long hits, but their games ran more than regulation length. The Tigers take the opener, 8–6, then drop the 2nd game, 3–1. » September 3, 1935: Judge Landis rules against a $1,500 fine the Reds imposed on injured Chick Hafey, who had left the team for his home in California after asking to be placed on the voluntary disabled list. Hafey had chronic sinus and sight problems in addition to an injured shoulder. Landis grants Hafey's request and places him on the list. » May 12, 1937: Chick Hafey is restored to active duty with the Reds after a 2-year retirement. » May 16, 1937: A sac fly by Chick Hafey in the 9th gives the Reds a 3–2 win over the Cubs. Hafey makes his 1st appearance since retiring in May 1935. » January 31, 1971: The Hall of Fame Special Veterans Committee selects seven men for enshrinement: former players Jake Beckley, Joe Kelley, Harry Hooper, Rube Marquard, Chick Hafey, Dave Bancroft, and executive George Weiss. » April 12, 2000: Richard Hidalgo has three hits, three RBI, two doubles and a home run to lead the Astros to a 7-5 win over the Cardinals. The game is tied, 5-5 in the bottom of the 7th, before Hidalgo gives the Astros the lead with a 2-RBI double. Jim Edmonds ties Chick Hafey's club record by reaching base safely 12 consecutive times. Hafey set the record in 1929.