Tom Hafey

Thomas Francis Hafey
(Heave-O or The Arm)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.
• High School Oakland Technical High School
• Debut July 21, 1939
• Final Game July 30, 1944
• Born July 12, 1913 in Berkeley, CA USA
• Died October 2, 1996 in El Cerrito, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

California native Tom Hafey spent fifteen active seasons in professional baseball from 1932 to 1948.

Hafey spent parts of two seasons in the major leagues. He appeared in the 1939 season with the New York Giants, making his debut on July 21. He would hold down the third base spot for 70 games, and hit at a .242 clip with six home runs. He was then sold to the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association by the Giants on December 6, 1939. Hafey received one more shot at the big leagues by the St. Louis Browns in 1944, appearing in eight games with 14 at-bats, and picked up five base-hits for a .357 average and his big league time ended on July 30th of that year.

Tom had spent seven seasons in the minors before his first big league look and had three good years on his way up the ladder. He was with the Zanesville Greys of the class C Middle Atlantic League in 1935 when he hit .302 with 15 homers and followed that up in 1936 with a .316 average and 20 four-baggers for the Norfolk Tars of the class B Piedmont League. Tom would then hit for a .284 average with 24 homers for the Knoxville Smokies of the Southern Association in 1938. He played the third base position during this seven-year period.

Hafey spent the last half of his minor league career with several different clubs, mostly in the Pacific Coast League with the Oakland Oaks (1944-1948), playing in the infield or outfield as necessary. He also wound up on the mound in 112 games with a 24-30 record while pitching 455 innings. Tom finished out his minor league career at the age of 34 in 1948 with a .279 batting average and 112 home runs in 1,218 games. In the field, where ever needed, he had a composite .943 fielding percentage.

Tom was the brother of Bud Hafey and Will Hafey and the cousin of Chick Hafey and Albert Hafey.

After baseball, Hafey returned to his native California where he was a consultant for the Georgia Pacific Paper Company. He died from stomach cancer on October 2, 1996 at his home in El Cerrito, CA. He was 83 years old.

Related Sites

• BR Minors page