Harvey Haddix

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Pitcher Harvey Haddix on a 1963 Topps Baseball Card

Harvey Haddix, Jr. (September 18, 1925 - January 8, 1994) was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played with the St. Louis Cardinals (1952-1956), Philadelphia Phillies (1956-1957), Cincinnati Redlegs (1958), Pittsburgh Pirates (1959-1963) and Baltimore Orioles (1964-1965). Haddix was born in Medway, Ohio, located just outside of Springfield, Ohio. He was nicknamed "Kitten" in St. Louis for his resemblance to Harry "The Cat" Brecheen, his pitching coach on the Cardinals.

Haddix enjoyed his best season in 1953 pitching for St. Louis. He compiled a 20-9 record with 163 strikeouts, a 3.06 ERA, 19 complete games and six shutouts. After five-plus seasons with the Cardinals, he was traded to the Phillies. He also pitched for Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, and finished as an effective reliever with the Orioles.

Haddix will always be remembered for taking a perfect game into the 13th inning of a game against the Milwaukee Braves on May 26, 1959. He retired 36 consecutive batters in 12 innings, but his Pittsburgh teammates didn't score, as Braves pitcher Lew Burdette was also pitching a shutout. After an error by Don Hoak ended the perfect game, the runner advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, followed by an intentional walk to Hank Aaron. Joe Adcock then hit a home run (although because Adcock passed Aaron on the basepath for the second out, it was by ruling of National League president Warren Giles a double, ending the no hitter also). Only the first run counted, but the game ended with the Pirates and Haddix losing 1-0. Haddix's 12 and 2/3-inning, one-hit complete game, was the majors' longest ever and is considered by many to be the best pitching performance in major league history.

In 14-year career, Haddix had a 136-113 record with 1575 strikeouts, a 3.63 ERA, 99 complete games, 21 shutouts, 21 saves, and 2235 innings pitched in 453 games (285 as a starter). He was in the spotlight in the 1960 World Series against the Yankees. After winning Game Five as a starter, Haddix relieved in Game Seven and won when Bill Mazeroski hit his famous homer. The rest is history.

Harvey Haddix later followed his mentor Harry Brecheen into the ranks of major league pitching coaches, and died in Springfield, Ohio, at the age of 68.

[edit] Highlights

3-time All-Star (1953-55)
3-time Gold Glove Award (1958-60)
Co-Player of the Month for May 1959.

[edit] 12 perfect innings

May 26, 1959: In a singular performance, Harvey Haddix of the Pirates pitches a perfect game against Milwaukee for 12 innings, only to lose in the 13th. Felix Mantilla opens the last inning by reaching base on an error. A sacrifice and an intentional walk to Hank Aaron brings up Joe Adcock, who hits one out of the park in right-CF for an apparent 3–0 victory. Thinking that the hit was inside the park, Aaron pulls a "Merkle," leaving the field, and Adcock passes him on the basepaths. Both are called out as Mantilla scores (later Giles ruled only Aaron was out and credited Adcock with a game-ending double). Lew Burdette goes all 13 innings for his 8th win, scattering 12 hits. As a consequence of the baserunning in the 13th, the Braves leave an National League-record one runner on base. Haddix's gem makes him the 9th pitcher to lose a no-hitter in extra innings; A combined effort of three Reds pitchers on May 26, 1956, was the last. Making Haddix's effort even more remarkable is the fact that the Braves' hitter knew what was coming. In 1993, Bob Buhl admitted that the Braves pitchers were stealing the signs from Smoky Burgess, who could not crouch down all the way. They would place a towel on the bullpen fence in such a way to signal fastball or breaking ball, the only two pitches Haddix used all day. From the Baseball Chronology, at Baseball Library