#Harvey May 19

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For today’s 30-Day Baseball Coach4aday Challenge post I am reporting on HARVEY Haddix.

Harvey Haddix, an esteemed MLB pitcher active from 1952 to 1965, achieved legendary status for his remarkable display on May 26, 1959. During that game, he flawlessly pitched 12 consecutive perfect innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates, an unmatched accomplishment in baseball history. Although he lost the perfect game in the 13th inning, Haddix’s extraordinary feat remains widely recognized as one of the most exceptional pitching performances of all time.

Harvey had his love of the game of baseball interrupted twice. He grew up on a farm in Ohio and after high school in 1943 he got to play professional baseball for 2 weeks. When he turned 18 in September 1943 he had to register for the draft. Working on the farm got him a 3-year deferment which meant his only employment could be on that farm. He got back to baseball in 1947 only to get drafted in 1950. During the 1951 and 1952 seasons he served at Fort Dix NJ.

FAQ’s about Harvey Haddix

1. Haddix was known for his exceptional durability as a pitcher. He pitched over 200 innings in a season seven times during his career and led the league in complete games for three consecutive years (1958-1960).
2. He was the NY Mets pitching coach from 1966-67. He would be the first big-league pitching coach for Tug McGraw, Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, and Jerry Koosman. 
3. Despite a career that included 136 wins and three All-Star selections, Haddix never won a Cy Young Award but did win the World Series in 1960 as a player. He was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of that series when Bill Mazeroski homered in the botom of the 9th of a tie game.
4. Throughout his career, Haddix faced several legendary hitters, including Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, and Willie Mays. Despite their formidable reputation, Haddix managed to hold these elite batters to a combined batting average of .214.
5. After the 1960 World Series Harvey Haddix pocketed a check for $8,400 (World Series Winners Share)