Chet Hajduk

Chester Hajduk

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.
• Debut April 16, 1941
• Final Game April 16, 1941
• Born July 21, 1918 in Chicago, IL USA
• Died July 5, 2006 in Chicago, IL USA

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Biographical Information

"It certainly wasn't glamorous by today's standards, but it was in many ways wonderful. We loved the game and would have done anything to play baseball." - Chet Hajduk, talking about driving all night long on the team bus in order to play a doubleheader the next day in the minor leagues

Chet Hajduk lost four prime years to World War II. He appeared in one major league game before the war, with the 1941 Chicago White Sox. He went on to serve in the Navy during World War II, and was on the service all-star team in 1942 and the all-service all-star team in 1945.

Hajduk was a star hitter in 1940 at Lubbock, hitting .329 with power. He broke his arm in 1941, and spent time in Waterloo while he played back to form.

He played several more years in the minors after World War II, and never hit under .300 during his time in the minors. One year in Double A ball, he batted cleanup with Duke Snider ahead of him in the lineup and Al Rosen batting fifth behind him.

"When I came out (of the service) I was 27-years old without much major league experience and my age was against me . . . There were so many returning players that there were six people at each position." - Chet Hajduk about the post-war situation

Main source: www.baseballhistorian.com/html/american_heroes.cfm?page=100