| Mule Haas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born:(1903-10-15)October 15, 1903 Montclair, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| Died: June 30, 1974(1974-06-30) (aged 70) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 15, 1925, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 1, 1938, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .292 |
| Home runs | 43 |
| Runs batted in | 496 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
George William "Mule"Haas (October 15, 1903 – June 30, 1974) was an American professionalbaseball player.[1] He played as acenter fielder inMajor League Baseball from 1925 through 1938, most notably as a member of thePhiladelphia Athletics dynasty that won three consecutiveAmerican League pennants from 1929 to 1931 and won theWorld Series in 1929 and 1930.
Haas was born inMontclair, New Jersey and attendedMontclair High School.[2] He left school to play for a local semi-pro team.[2][3] Haas was signed by thePittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1923 and, after three seasons spent playing in theminor leagues, he made his major league debut with the Pirates on August 15, 1925 at the age of 21.[1] He appeared in four games for the Pirates but, was not on the team's roster when the Pirates defeated the Washington Senators in the1925 World Series. His contract was then sold to theAtlanta Crackers of theSouthern Association and he returned to the minor leagues for two more seasons.[1]
In 1928, Haas joined the Philadelphia Athletics and became a member of one of the most fearedbatting orders in the history of baseball featuring three futureBaseball Hall of Fame members (Al Simmons,Jimmie Foxx, andMickey Cochrane).[4] He was one of six Athletics players to post batting averages above .310 during the1929 season when he produced career-highs in batting average (.323), home runs (16) and runs batted in (82).[1][4] The Athletics won the 1929 American League pennant by 18 games over the vauntedNew York Yankees ofBabe Ruth andLou Gehrig.[4]
Haas is notable for his hitting performance during the1929 World Series against theChicago Cubs.[2] In Game 4 at Philadelphia, as the Athletics trailed 8–0 in the seventh inning, Haas hit a three-runinside-the-park home run as the Athletics rallied by scoring ten runs in the inning to win, 10–8. This was the ninth inside-the-park home run in World Series history, and the last untilAlcides Escobar did so in Game 1 of the2015 World Series. Two days later, in what was to be the final game of the Series, Haas hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the score, 2–2, as the Athletics later won the game onBing Miller's RBI-double.[2]
With the onset of theGreat Depression and declining attendance,Connie Mack sought to reduce expenses by selling or trading his best players.[4] In September1932, he sold Haas, Simmons andJimmy Dykes to theChicago White Sox for $100,000.[4] After five seasons in Chicago, Haas ended his career back in Philadelphia, playing in his final major league game on September 1, 1938 at the age of 34.[1]
In a twelve-year major league career, Haas played in 1,168games, accumulating 1,257hits in 4,303at bats for a .292 careerbatting average, along with 43home runs, 496runs batted in and a careeron-base percentage of .359.[1] Haas had a careerfielding percentage of .983; he played at all three outfield positions and first base.[1]
Haas died inNew Orleans, Louisiana on June 30, 1974, at the age of 70.[2] He was buried in the Roman CatholicImmaculate Conception Cemetery in his native Montclair, New Jersey.[5][6]
