Books and articles about Andy Pafko

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Pafko was an excellent outfielder with a strong arm and power who played on pennant winners in three cities. His 110 RBI helped the Cubs win the 1945 NL pennant, and after WWII he compiled three .300 seasons in Chicago, and also hit 36 HR in 1950. He was often used at third base by Cub manager Charlie Grimm, who gave him his "Handy Andy" nickname. Pafko was extremely popular, so his 1951 trade to the Dodgers was very unwelcome in Chicago. He gave Brooklyn its greatest outfield, with Duke Snider in center and Carl Furillo in right. Pafko's 19 homers and 85 RBI helped a powerful Brooklyn club win a pennant in 1952. Brooklyn traded him to the Braves after the 1952 season, moving Jackie Robinson into the vacated left field position for a year, and Pafko platooned on Milwaukee's World Champions of 1957 and pennant winners of 1958. (AA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 24, 1943: A crowd of 314, the smallest in Wrigley Field history, see Andy Pafko make his Cubs debut. Pafko drives in 4 runs with a double and a single in 3 at bats, as the Cubs top the Phillies 7-4 in a 5-inning downpour. » May 30, 1945: Before the biggest Wrigley crowd—42,565 paid—in seven years, the Giants top the host Cubs, 8–6 in the opener, and Mel Ott passes Honus Wagner's career total of 4,888 total bases to set an National League record. Wagner's has since been adjusted to 4868 and both players' totals have been passed. Slim Emmerich is the winner over Ray Prim. The Cubs take the nitecap, 11–2 behind Bob Chipman's 3-hit win over Bill Voiselle. Andy Pafko clouts a 3-run homer in the 3rd. It's Voiselle's 2nd straight pounding after winning his first eight games. » August 25, 1947: The Cubs Billy Jurges, shifted from coach to active player two days ago, smashes a two run homer in the 10th to give Chicago a 9–7 win over the Giants. Also homering are Bob Scheffing and Andy Pafko for Chicago and Willard Marshall (31) and Bobby Thomson (24) for the Giants. » May 31, 1948: At Wrigley Field, the Cubs set a paid attendance record when 46,965 pass through the turnstiles for a doubleheader with the Pirates. The Cubs take the opener, 4–3 behind reliever Bob Rush, then drop the nitecap, 4–2 to Elmer Riddle. Andy Pafko is the hitting star, pounding out five hits, including a homer in each game. » July 18, 1948: In the first of two before 39,623, the Chicago Cubs beat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 3–2. With two outs and the bases loaded in the 9th inning, rookie Robin Roberts hits Phil Cavarretta and Andy Pafko on the back with successive pitches to force home the winner. Chicago's Johnny Schmitz allows just four hits, three by Johnny Blatnik. The Jays (as they are still occasionally referred to in print) win the nitecap, 6–4, collecting 17 hits, including a homer by Del Ennis. Schoolboy Rowe evens his record at 5–5, beating Russ Meyer. » August 26, 1948: The Cubs sweep two from the Braves, 5–1 and 5–2, despite a near-riot that holds up play for 20 minutes in the nitecap. The reaction by the fans comes when Jocko Conlan rules that a drive by Phil Cavarretta in the 3rd inning is a ground-rule double, not an inside the park homer. Conlan makes his call after Braves LF Jeff Heath "loses" the ball in the Wrigley vines, though it is really by his feet. The fans shower the field in protest and Conlan bawls out some of Chicago's finest for not taking any action. When play is resumed, Andy Pafko walks and Peanut Lowrey's hits a bases-loaded triple. » April 30, 1949: Rocky Nelson hits an "inside-the-glove" 2-run HR in short LF to turn a 9th inning 3-1 Cubs' lead into a 4-3 Cardinals' victory. Cubs CF Andy Pafko's catch is ruled a trap by umpire Al Barlick, as Pafko races in, holding the ball high as runners circle the bases. » July 1, 1950: The Reds Ewell Blackwell has to go ten innings but finally beats the Cubs, 5–3, striking out 14 and allowing just two hits. One of the hits is Andy Pafko's 3-run home run in the 9th. » July 2, 1950: At Crosley Field, Monk Dubiel makes his 4-hitter hold up as the Cubs win 16–0 over the Reds. Andy Pafko drives in five runs with a double, triple and home run, Bill Serena adds a 3-run homer, and Hank Edwards has three RBIs on four hits. » August 2, 1950: Andy Pafko of the Cubs hits three HRs in the second game of a doubleheader, but the Cubs lose both to the Giants, 11–1 and 8–6. » June 15, 1951: Just before game time at Wrigley Field, the Cubs and Dodgers make a 4-for-4 trade: OF Andy Pafko, P Johnny Schmitz, C Rube Walker, and IF Wayne Terwilliger go to Brooklyn for C Bruce Edwards, OF Gene Hermanski, IF Eddie Miksis, and P Joe Hatten. To the surprise of fans, the 8 appear in their new uniforms. The Cubs get the best today as Bruce Edward knocks in 4 runs, three on a homer, off Carl Erskine, and Miksis fields well. Pafko hits his 13th homer in a losing cause and will incur an injury in this series that will sideline for three weeks in July. But the New York Post expresses the sentiment of most, calling it "the most barefaced swindle in years." » June 27, 1951: Behind three-run homers by Andy Pafko and Duke Snider, Don Newcombe coasts to an easy win over the Giants. » July 5, 1951: At Ebbets Field, Gil Hodges hits his 27th HR of the year to lead the Dodgers to a 8–4 win over the Giants. Andy Pafko also homers, off Larry Jansen. Don Newcombe notches his 12th win, giving up seven hits. After sweeping the Giants in the 3-game series, Dodger manager Chuck Dressen declares, "We knocked 'em out. They won't bother us anymore." The Dodgers now lead the Giants by seven 1/2 games. » August 22, 1951: The Dodgers sweep a pair of 10-inning games from St. Louis, with Clyde King picking up both come-from-behind victories. King goes three innings in Game One and one inning in game 2. Jackie Robinson is 5-for-6 in the nitecap including a 2-out single in the 10th off Al Brazle. Andy Pafko has a homer in the nitecap, while Stan Musial hits his 29th in game 1. Furillo has three hits on the afternoon and a pair of assists in game 1, bringing his season total to 21. The Dodgers have now won 14 straight from the Cards. » August 26, 1951: The Pirates club the Dodgers, 12–11 to win the opener of two with the league leaders. Brooklyn chases Howie Pollet and takes a 9–2 lead but the Bucs roar back with eight runs in the 7th inning. Clyde King, unscored on in his last eight games, is the loser. The Dodgers load the bases in the 9th, and Murry Dickson walks pinch-hitter Cal Abrams to force in a run and make the score 12–11. But Carl Furillo and Pee Wee Reese fail to deliver. Pete Castiglione has two homers for the Pirates. Brooklyn wins the second game, 4–3, when Jackie Robinson homers in the 10th, off Ted Wilks. Andy Pafko homers in the 8th, off Bob Friend, and Preacher Roe (17-2) goes all the way. » September 7, 1951: Preacher Roe walks six Phils, but pushes his record to 19–2, as the Dodgers win 11–6 over Robin Roberts. Carl Furillo hits two homers, Andy Pafko adds #22, and Billy Cox drives in four runs with a bases loaded triple and two doubles. » September 14, 1951: Preacher Roe wins his 20th game against just two losses, as the Dodgers edge the Pirates, 3–1. Andy Pafko hits his 14th homer for Brooklyn, still six games ahead of the Giants. » October 2, 1951: The Dodgers bounce back as rookie Clem Labine evens the playoff with a 10–0 win, besting the Giants' Sheldon Jones. Home runs are smashed by Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges, Andy Pafko, and Rube Walker. Willie Mays grounds into three double plays. » May 21, 1952: After leadoff batter Billy Cox grounds out against Ewell Blackwell, the Whip loses his snap. The Dodgers then score 15 runs in the first inning as a record 19 consecutive batters reach 1B. Captain Pee Wee Reese walks twice in reaching base safely three times. Andy Pafko is thrown out trying to steal 3B, and Duke Snider mercifully strikes out to end the barrage against the Reds. The Dodgers score 15 runs on 15 RBIs in the frame, and coast at home, 19–1. Winning pitcher Chris Van Cuyk has the most hits with four—two in the first inning off Bud Byerly and Frank Smith, while Bobby Morgan has a pair of two-run homers and Snider another two-run homer. The Reds lone run is a homer by reserve catcher Dixie Howell. » January 17, 1953: The Boston Braves sell OF Andy Pafko back to Brooklyn for Roy Hartsfield and $50,000. » April 13, 1954: Henry Aaron of the Braves makes his ML debut, going hitless in five trips to the plate in a 9–8 loss to the Redlegs. Cincy LF Jim Greengrass bangs four doubles to tie an opening day record. Andy Pafko takes a hit when he's beaned by Joe Nuxhall. Because of the extra seats set up to accommodate the overflow crowd, 12 of the 13 doubles hit in the game are of the ground rule variety. With the rule change, players take their mitts with them at the end of each inning, rather than leaving them on the playing field.