All You Need To Know About Harvey Haddix

The sports world is full of fame and glory, but some are only in it for the love of the game. Harvey Haddix was one such athlete. Haddix is best known for his legendary pitch of 12 perfect innings against the Milwaukee Braves on May 26, 1959.

Harvey was compared to Cardinals pitcher Harry “The Cat” Brecheen by George Sisler Jr. As a result, Haddix earned the moniker “Kitten.”

What is the Net Worth of Harvey Haddix? Salary, Earnings

His net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million to $5.5 million, in addition to his achievements as a successful baseball player.

Where was Harvey Haddix born? Ethnicity, Nationality, Family, Education

Harvey Haddix, the legendary pitcher, was born on September 18, 1925, in Medway, Ohio. Unfortunately, he died on January 8, 1994, in Springfield, Ohio. Harvey Haddix, Jr. was the son of Harvey Haddix, Sr. and Nellie Mae Greider Haddix. The Haddix family was a farming family from Westville, Ohio.

Harvey grew up on the farm with his older brothers Ed and Ben, as well as his younger brother Fred, as the children of farmers. They had to get creative because there wasn’t much to keep them entertained and began to play baseball, two on each side. They were even inventive enough to create their first glove out of a leather horse collar.

Harvey enrolled at Catawba High School in South Vienna, Ohio, in 1940. Here, he and his older brother Ben played on a successful baseball team.

Quick Facts

How did Harvey Haddix start his Professional Career?

Harvey had to get creative again after joining the Catawba High baseball team. Because he lacked proper baseball equipment, such as cleats. To make his own, he punched holes in the bottom of his shoes and riveted spikes to the bottom. He took over the pitching duties as a senior in high school and led his team to the country championship.

His father was already a well-known amateur pitcher at the time, so he had every reason to continue playing.
Ben Haddix, his older brother, and his teammate were also making moves. Ben was a minor-league baseball player for the Springfield Cardinals, a Class C Middle Atlantic League team managed by Walter Alston.

He was pitching semi-pro after graduating when a scout from the Philadelphia Athletics offered to refer him to Connie Mack.
He waited two weeks with no results. So, when he saw an article about Redbird tryouts in Columbus, he jumped at the opportunity.

HARVEY WAS CALLED TO GIVE THREE TO FOUR CURVEBALLS AND FASTBALLS, AND HE WAS IMMEDIATELY OFFERED TO SIGN IN.

Harvey was approached to sign right away after impressing the Cardinals. But he declined because he was still waiting to hear from the Philadelphia Athletics scout. However, after receiving no response, he returned to Columbus and signed with the Cardinals.

Harvey Haddix | Work

However, before he could begin his career, the Second World War destroyed all of his chances. He had a three-year military deferment, which forced him to return to farming. When the war ended, he returned to the Cardinals. They tried to send him to Idaho after two weeks of idle time, but he refused because it was too far away from home.

So they assigned him to Winston-Salem of the Caroline League’s class C, where he met the team in Lynchburg, Virginia. He met manager Zip Payne, who was not impressed with his 5’6″ 175-pound frame. Harvey Haddix met manager Zip Payne, who was not impressed with his 5’6″ 175-pound frame.

He went on to have 19 wins, 275 strikeouts, and a batting average of over.300 (including a pinch-hit homer). Harvey probably managed to sway Payne’s opinion of him after that. He pitched a seven-inning no-hitter on August 11th. Later, he threw a nine-inning one-hitter with 19 strikeouts.

He went on to be a League All-Star, the left-handed pitcher of the year, the Rookie of the Year, and the MVP. His 1.90 ERA (Earned Run Average) even outperformed the second-best pitcher (3.18). Harvey later played Triple-A baseball for three years until 1950. He attempted to return to the Cardinals, but they turned him down because they already had five good left-handed pitchers.

Haddix was an all-star for the second time in 1948, with 11 wins and a.337 batting average. Instead, he went on to play for teams like the Red Birds, Milwaukee Brewers, Batters, Fort Dix, St Louis, and others.
In 1949, he won 13 games for the Red Birds and was named to the all-star team for the second time.

Harvey Haddix’s Career Statistics

To say the least, the game on May 26th was extraordinary. Haddix, who was playing for the Pirates on this day, pitched 12 innings against the Braves. There were two Hall of Famers in the lineup: Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron. Harvey Haddix’s 12 innings were so perfect that it was 36 up and 36 downs. However, the error in the 12th inning resulted in an IBB to Aaron, which resulted in an HR.

Because of his legendary pitching, this day became known as ‘Harvey Haddix Day.’

Harvey’s perfect game was the second most famous. However, the Braves pitcher later admitted that the Pirates’ steal sign was insignificant.

Harvey Haddix | Achievements

1947:

• National League All-star,
• The left-handed pitcher of the year
• The year’s rookie
• The most valuable of the year

1948:

• National League All-star (Second year in a row)

1949:

• National League All-star (Third year in a row)
• Won 13 games for Red Birds all-star

1950:

• 18 wins,
• and another National League All-Star selection (the Fourth year in a row).

This was also the year Haddix change up his repertoire as not just a pitcher, but also a fastball and slider.

1952:

• won a complete-game five-hitter, 9-2 against the Boston Braves.

This was the year he made a major-league debut with the Cardinals after his Army Service. By the end of 1952, he had three complete games, a 2-2 record, and a 2.79 ERA.

1953:

• won three pitchers’ batting awards: collecting the most hits, scoring the most runs, and stealing the most bases. (And comically, he also won a box of cigars.)
• the second spot on the National League All-Star.

1954:

• ranked among the elite National League pitchers.

1958:

• won his first Golden Glove Award.
• broke the record for consecutive perfect innings to start a game.

Harvey received three ‘Gold Glove Awards for his fielding and winning ten consecutive games. The story of a star player who was once a young boy playing on his farm with his leather horse-shoe collar is quite touching.

Harvey Haddix | Accident

Haddix was named a National League All-Star shortly after the game in 1954. Unfortunately, at the peak of his career, he had to be replaced on the team due to a minor injury. A line drive from someone’s bat struck Haddix below the right kneecap. Joe Adcock, Milwaukee’s first baseman, was that someone.

Haddix even admitted that after the injury, he “didn’t have the same spring off the mound.” He also stated that he couldn’t run well, which hampered his gameplay.

Despite his injury, Haddix went on to win six more games. However, his post-injury career was inconsistent, leading to the Cardinals’ slow start.

The Fame of Harvey Haddix

Haddix was nothing but hardworking and humble throughout his baseball career. One could even argue that he was too preoccupied with chasing the ball to care about fame.

He once turned down appearances on the television shows, To Tell the Truth,h and The Ed Sullivan Show, preferring to stay and celebrate with his team instead. Harvey was interested in baseball because he enjoyed playing, according to his wife, Marcia Haddix. That’s all.

Harvey was so well-known that the Cardinals honored him with a banquet in September 1949. Baseball fans who bought his autographed baseballs and jerseys adored him as well. They were even reselling them at a premium, but Harvey made no fuss about it. Harvey even purchased a farm for himself, staying true to his roots.

He thought that perfect pitching was just a part of his job. Well, Harvey has always been the best in the game and has always given his all to win.

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