St. Louis Browns UTIL Tom Hafey was born on July 12, 1913 in Berkeley, California. Hafey would enjoy a 16-season professional baseball career. Although he would reach 1192 hits in his career, he would fall shy of brother Bud Hafey's 1250 hits, and Hall of Fame cousin Chick Hafey's 1466 hits. He would play for 15 different teams, including
St. Louis Browns UTIL Tom Hafey was born on July 12, 1913 in Berkeley, California. Hafey would enjoy a 16-season professional baseball career. Although he would reach 1192 hits in his career, he would fall shy of brother Bud Hafey's 1250 hits, and Hall of Fame cousin Chick Hafey's 1466 hits. He would play for 15 different teams, including the Browns and New York Giants.
Throughout his career he would be known by two color nicknames "Heave-O" and "The Arm". After lengthy research, there have been no explanations found for these "fun" names.
Tom Hafey would begin his career at the age of 18 when he signed with the Mission Reds of the Pacific Coast League in 1932. He would miss the 1933, but returned to the Reds in 1934-35. Over the next five seasons, he would play for the New Orleans Pelicans (1935), Zanesville Grays (1935), Binghampton Triplets (1936-37), Norfolk Tars (1936), and Knoxville Smokies (1938).
Hafey would split the 1939 season between the Jersey City Giants and the MLB New York Giants. He would play a solid 70 games with New York where he batted .242.
Tom Hafey joined the Browns organization in 1942, and assigned to the San Antonio Missions. He would miss the 1943 season, but then make the Browns regular season roster for the 1944 campaign. Hafey would make his Browns debut on May 28, 1944, as a pinch hitter for RHP George Caster in the bottom of the ninth inning. A few weeks later, on June 16, he would enjoy his best game with the Browns when he goes 2-for-2 with a double, a runs scored, and an RBI against the Tigers. Hafey would be able to play multiple positions, but was never able to reach consistent playing time in the Browns lineup. He would only see action in eight games, while recording just five hits, including two doubles, one run, and two RBIs. His .357 batting average would not prevent him from being moved to the Oakland Oaks on July 30.
Tom Hafey would play five seasons with the Oaks (1944-48), before finishing up his career with the Los Angeles Angels (1948), and Vallejo Chiefs (1949).
Tom Hafey would settle down in El Cerrito, California, a suburb of San Francisco. He would work for the Georgia Pacific Paper Company, and compare baseball stories with his brother and cousin.
HEADLINES
"BROWNS PITCHING AND OFFENSE CONBINES FOR SWEEP OF BOSOX IN TWIN BILL"
FEATURED GAME
1942 - The Browns would take both games of a double header from the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park. GAME 1 - In a classic pitching match, Browns RHP Denny Galehouse would outduel Boston's RHP Dick Newsome by the score of 1-0. The Browns only run cam
HEADLINES
"BROWNS PITCHING AND OFFENSE CONBINES FOR SWEEP OF BOSOX IN TWIN BILL"
FEATURED GAME
1942 - The Browns would take both games of a double header from the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park. GAME 1 - In a classic pitching match, Browns RHP Denny Galehouse would outduel Boston's RHP Dick Newsome by the score of 1-0. The Browns only run came in the top of the sixth inning, when 2B Don Gutteridge leads off with a double, 3B Harlond Clift singles, and 1B George McQuinn walks to load the bases. CF Wally Judnch would drive in the only run with a slow ground out to the first baseman. Galehouse would win his eighth game of the season, scattering eight hits while striking out three in the first game of the double header. GAME 2 - Both offenses come alive with 11 hits a piece, and the Browns scoring six runs in the ninth inning as they comeback with a 10-6 victory. Chet Laabs would lead the Browns with five RBIs, three of them coming on his ninth inning home run. SS Vern Stephens would go 2-for-5 , with three RBIs while scoring two runs himself. Stephens would be one of five Browns batters who would double in the game. 1B George McQuinn, 2B Don Gutteridge, 3B Harlond Clift, and PH Glenn McQuillen would be the other St. Louis hitters to double against Boston pitching. RHP Steve Sundra started the game for the Browns and would scatter six runs on eight hits. LHP Stan Ferens would eneter the game in the seventh innings and earn the win, while RHP Pete Appleton would earn the save.
BROWNS RECORD ON THIS DAY
Overall Record on July 12
15 Wins, 30 Losses, One Tie (.326)
1902-09: 2-3
1910-19: 4-4-1
1920-29: 5-6
1930-39: 1-7
1940-49: 2-6
1950-53: 1-4
DOUBLE HEADERS
Sweeps: 2
Splits: 5
Swept: 1
TRANSACTIONS
1917 - After spending 15 years with the Browns, Bobby Wallace returns to the Cardinals. Wallace would become a St. Louis baseball icon
1921 - Browns traded infielder Tom Sheehan and cash to Richmond for Luke Stuart . Sheehan was a career minor leaguer and never played for the Browns in St. Louis (not to be confused with the RHP Tom Sheehan of the same era). Stuart would appear in four games with the Browns in St. Louis. He would have one hit and score two runs in his three "big league" plate appearances.
DEBUTS
1910 - LHP Bill Crouch would play in his only MLB game, as he gets the start, pitches a complete game, but fails to earn a decision. How is this done? The game ended in a 4-4 tie.
1947 - LHP Bud Swartz pitches the 9th inning in relief of Sam Zoldak a 12-2 Browns loss to the Yankees. He would give up a walk in the four batters her would face in the inning
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS
1907 - RHP Bob Cooney (1931-32)
1913 - UTIL Tom Hafey (1944)
The 1923 St. Louis Browns had one of the best starting lineups in the franchises history. They were in an era where they suited up the best hitting outfield in the history of the game. They had one of the best catchers in the game, and one of the best infield combinations in the American League. The pitching staff was solid and the field
The 1923 St. Louis Browns had one of the best starting lineups in the franchises history. They were in an era where they suited up the best hitting outfield in the history of the game. They had one of the best catchers in the game, and one of the best infield combinations in the American League. The pitching staff was solid and the field management was complete. The production from first base was down from their accustomed MVP levels, but it was better than most of their rivals. This Browns team was one of the best in the league. But they were missing their leader and soul.
Starting Lineup