Mickey Haefner
From BR Bullpen
Milton Arnold Haefner
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 5' 8", Weight 160 lb.
- Debut April 22, 1943
- Final Game September 28, 1950
- Born October 9, 1912 in Lenzburg, IL USA
- Died January 3, 1995 in New Athens, IL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Left-handed knuckleballer Mickey Haefner pitched eight seasons in the major leagues beginning at age 30 in 1943. As a rookie, his 2.29 ERA was third best in the 1943 American League. He went 16-14 in 1945, and when the pre-war stars returned, he went 14-11 in 1946.
Haefner had pitched in 1941-42 for Minneapolis, going 12-16 and 18-17.
In 1944-45, the Washington Senators had four knuckleballers (including Haefner) on their staff. They finished second in the league in 1945.
On September 24, 1946, Haefner hit Ted Williams with a pitch, a famous HBP because it is supposed to have affected Williams' hitting in the 1946 World Series, his only Series, where he hit .200.
Out of 179 games that Haefner started in the majors, 91 of them were complete games.
Pitched six inning no-hit, no-run game vs. AAMI, 19400526
There have been two major leaguers named Hafner, but Mickey is the only Haefner.
