| Harvey Haddix | |
|---|---|
 Haddix in 1953 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1925-09-18)September 18, 1925 Medway, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: January 8, 1994(1994-01-08) (aged 68) Springfield, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 20, 1952, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 28, 1965, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 136–113 |
| Earned run average | 3.63 |
| Strikeouts | 1,575 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Harvey Haddix Jr. (September 18, 1925 – January 8, 1994) was an American professionalbaseballpitcher andpitching coach, who played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theSt. Louis Cardinals (1952–1956),Philadelphia Phillies (1956–57),Cincinnati Redlegs (1958),Pittsburgh Pirates (1959–1963), andBaltimore Orioles (1964–65).[1]
A left-hander, Haddix is most notable forpitching 12 perfect innings in a game against theMilwaukee Braves on May 26, 1959; the Pirates lost the game in the 13th inning.[2][3]
Haddix enjoyed his best season in1953, pitching for the Cardinals. He compiled a 20–9 record with 163strikeouts, a 3.06earned run average (ERA), 19complete games, and sixshutouts.[1] After five-plus seasons with the Cardinals, Haddix was traded to the Phillies. He also pitched for Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, and finished his pitching career as an effectivereliever with the Orioles.[1][4]
Haddix picked up the Game Seven win in the1960 World Series, pitching in relief when Pirates second basemanBill Mazeroski'swalk-off home run earned Pittsburgh the title.[5]
Haddix was born inMedway, Ohio, located just outsideSpringfield. He was nicknamed "the Kitten" in St. Louis for his resemblance toHarry "The Cat" Brecheen, a left-hander on the Cardinals during Haddix's rookie campaign.[4]
Haddix took aperfect game into the 13thinning against theMilwaukee Braves on May 26,1959. He retired 36 consecutive batters in 12 innings, essentially relying on two pitches: fastball and slider.[2][6] However, Braves pitcherLew Burdette was also pitching ashutout,[4] which was seriously jeopardized on only three occasions: the 3rd inning, when a Pittsburgh base-running blunder negated three consecutive singles; the 9th, when Pittsburgh finally advanced a runner as far as third base;[3] and the 10th, when Piratespinch hitterDick Stuart came within a few feet of a two-run homer.[7]
A fieldingerror by third basemanDon Hoak ended the perfect game in the bottom of the 13th, with the leadoff batter for Milwaukee,Félix Mantilla, reaching first base. Mantilla then advanced to second on asacrifice bunt byEddie Mathews, which was followed by an intentionalwalk toHank Aaron.Joe Adcock then hit an apparent home run, ending theno-hitter and the game. However, in the confusion, Aaron left the basepaths and was passed by Adcock for the second out and the Braves won 2–0. Eventually the hit was changed from a home run to a double by a ruling fromNational League (NL) presidentWarren Giles; ultimately, only Mantilla's run counted, resulting in a final score of 1–0, but the Pirates and Haddix still lost.[4][8][9]
I could have put a cup on either corner of the plate and hit it.
— Harvey Haddix[4]
Haddix's12+2⁄3-inning, one-hitcomplete game, against the team that had just represented the NL in the previous two World Series, is considered by many to be the best pitching performance in MLB history.[4][10] Mazeroski later said of Haddix's dominance in the game, "Usually you have one or two great or spectacular defensive plays in these no-hitters. Not that night. It was the easiest game I ever played in."[4]
After the game, Haddix received many letters of congratulations and support, as well as one from aTexas A&M fraternity which read, in its entirety on university stationery, "Dear Harvey, Tough shit." "It made me mad," recounted Haddix, "until I realized they were right. That's exactly what it was."[4][11][12][13]
In 1991, Major League Baseball changed the definition of a no-hitter to "a game in which a pitcher or pitchers complete a game of nine innings or more without allowing a hit." This retroactively disqualified Haddix, which some had considered to have thrown a perfect game because he retired the first 27 batters in order. Despite his having thrown more perfect innings than anyone in a single game, Haddix's game was taken off the lists of perfect games and no-hitters. Haddix's response was "It's O.K. I know what I did."[4]
In May 1989, Milwaukee'sBob Buhl revealed that the Braves pitchers had beenstealing signs from Pittsburgh catcherSmokey Burgess, who was exposing his hand signals due to a high crouch.[14][15] From their bullpen, Braves pitchers repeatedly repositioned a towel to signal for afastball or abreaking ball, the only two pitches Haddix used in the game. Despite this assistance, the Milwaukee offense managed just one hit.[4][16] All but one Milwaukee hitter, Aaron, took the signals.[4]
Over his 14-year career, Haddix had a 136–113 record with 1,575 strikeouts, a 3.63 ERA, 99 complete games, 21 shutouts, 21saves, and 2,235innings pitched in 453 games (285 as astarter).[1] He was in the spotlight in the1960 World Series against theYankees. After winning Game 5 as a starter, Haddix relieved late in Game 7 and was credited with the win whenBill Mazeroski hit his famous Series-endingwalk-off home run.[4] Haddix went 2–0 in the 1960 Series, with a 2.45 ERA.[1]
In 1964, Haddix served solely as a relief pitcher for the Orioles, pitching89+2⁄3 innings, with five wins, ten saves, and a 2.31 ERA. He was the runner-up for the Gold Glove Award.[17]
As a hitter, Haddix was better than average, posting a .212batting average (169-for-798) with 95runs, 37doubles, 9triples, 4home runs, 64RBI, 4stolen bases and 46bases on balls. Defensively, he recorded a .957fielding percentage, which was the league average at his position.[1]
Jim Palmer said he learned a lot about pitching from Haddix during the veteran's time with the Orioles.[18]
Haddix later followed his former teammate Harry Brecheen into the ranks of major league pitching coaches, working with theNew York Mets, Cincinnati Reds,Boston Red Sox,Cleveland Indians, and Pirates for 14 years spanning 1966 to 1984.[19]
A heavy smoker in his playing days, Haddix died fromemphysema in 1994 inSpringfield, Ohio, at age 68.[4][20]
Haddix Field, the Little League baseball park inNew Carlisle, Ohio, is named for Haddix.
Haddix's near-perfect game is memorialized byThe Baseball Project, whose song, "Harvey Haddix", appears on their debut album,Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails (2008).
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Major League Player of the Month May, 1959 (withHank Aaron) | Succeeded by |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by | New York Metspitching coach 1966–1967 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Cincinnati Redspitching coach 1969 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Boston Red Soxpitching coach 1971 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Cleveland Indianspitching coach 1975–1978 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Pittsburgh Piratespitching coach 1979–1984 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |