Chick Hafey

[EvanAparra]

Why is Hafey in the HOF? I dont mean this as a knock, just really would like to know.

I looked at his numbers, and i just dont see it. Was he just really good defensively?

He had a pretty good 6 year period, high average, high batting average, from '27 to '32. But he only played for 13 years, and only played above 100 games 7 times. Any help guys? What am i missing?

[538280]

Hafey was basically elected because he was a teammate of Frankie Frisch, and he stocked up the HOF with all the halfway decent players he played with on the Cards and Giants. Hafey was also close to blind though, and there are certain people who make the case that he should be in simple because of what he was able to accomplish with the disability. I'm not one of those, I think he was a definite mistake. He was not considered to be particularly great defensively either, he had a very strong arm but was not great in other defensive areas.

[EvanAparra]

Close to blind? How could you POSSIBLY be good at baseball that way?

But even then, i dont think that warrants a HOF selection.

[hubkittel]

http://www.cooperstownglory.com/images/players/hafey_chick_1.jpg

"One of the hardest-hitting righthanded batters in the game, Hafey had his best years with the Cardinals. It is difficult to assess how great Hafey might have been if not for his ill health, poor eyesight, and constant salary disputes. Hafey had a chronic sinus condition that required several operations and affected his vision. After beanings in 1926, a doctor advised him to wear glasses, and since his eyesight would vary from day to day, he used three different pairs. He became one of the first bespectacled outfielders." (source: BaseballLibrary.com (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/homepage/))

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/wallpaper/hafey_chick.jpg