Bert Haas – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Berthold John Haas built a solid nine-year Major League Baseball career between 1937 and 1951. He played for five teams, including the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox.

Born in Naperville, Illinois in 1914, he made a name for himself as a first baseman, third baseman, and outfielder. He played through an era marked by World War II and big shifts in professional baseball.

Haas hit his stride in 1947, earning National League All-Star honors with the Cincinnati Reds. That year, he batted .286 and ranked second on his team in average.

He stepped away from the game for military service in Italy during World War II. The interruption likely cost him some of his prime playing years.

Bert Haas’s journey says a lot about what players faced in his era. Military service pulled many away. Baseball careers bounced players from city to city, especially in the 1940s.

He moved through multiple organizations and racked up solid stats. After retiring, he stayed involved in baseball management. His story really shows the grit it took to last in pro sports during a changing time in American baseball.

Early Life and Background

Berthold John Haas was born on February 8, 1914, in Naperville, Illinois. He grew up there before chasing a professional baseball dream.

His Midwest upbringing set the stage for what turned into a notable 14-year journey in Major League Baseball.

Birth and Family

Berthold John Haas arrived in Naperville, Illinois, on February 8, 1914. He went by Bert Haas throughout his ballplaying days.

Naperville, still a small town back then, shaped his early years. The community gave him a classic Midwestern start.

Not much is known about his parents or siblings. Still, his family clearly supported his push toward professional sports.

Growing Up in Illinois

Haas spent his childhood and teens in Illinois during the 1920s and early 1930s. That era brought big changes to American life and the baseball world.

Baseball was everywhere in Illinois. Local leagues and school teams gave him plenty of chances to play.

In small Midwestern towns like Naperville, summer revolved around baseball. The sport was a big part of community life.

He grew up during the Great Depression. That tough time taught him hard work and perseverance, values that stuck with him.

Chicago wasn’t far away, so he saw big-league games with the Cubs and White Sox. Like a lot of Illinois kids, he found inspiration watching the pros in the city.

Beginnings in Baseball

Haas sharpened his skills in local youth leagues and high school ball. His natural ability at first base stood out early.

Professional scouts started noticing him in his late teens. By the mid-1930s, he was ready to jump from amateur to pro baseball.

Those Illinois years gave him the foundation he needed for the majors. He hit and threw right-handed, something that became his signature.

Local coaches and mentors helped polish his defensive skills at first base. Their guidance shaped his approach to the game and helped him succeed in the big leagues.

Major League Baseball Career

Bert Haas played nine seasons in the majors from 1937 to 1951. He built a reputation as a versatile player who handled several positions.

He spent time with five teams, but his best years came during four seasons with the Cincinnati Reds.

MLB Debut and Early Years

Haas made his Major League debut on September 9, 1937, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was 23 years old.

He played just 16 games that rookie year but batted .400, collecting 10 hits in 25 at-bats.

He made a strong impression in those limited chances. He drove in 2 runs and struck out only once in 26 plate appearances.

The next year, he played only one game for the Dodgers. After that, he spent a few years in the minors, developing his game as an infielder and outfielder.

Cincinnati Reds Tenure

Haas landed with the Cincinnati Reds in 1942 and really found his groove. He became a regular, playing 154 games his first year with them.

In 1946, he enjoyed his best statistical season. He played 140 games and knocked out 141 hits, batting .264 with 50 RBIs.

He also stole 22 bases that year, though he got caught 12 times. Not bad for a guy not known for speed.

The 1947 season was his peak. Haas made the National League All-Star team, batting .286 with 67 RBIs in 135 games.

He drew 42 walks that year and kept up his reputation as a reliable contact hitter.

Post-War Return and Playing Positions

After his military service, Haas came back as one of the league’s most versatile players. He played first base in 311 games, third base in 241, and made 97 appearances in the outfield.

In 1948, he joined the Philadelphia Phillies. He kept producing, batting .282 in 95 games.

Managers valued his defensive flexibility. He could fill in at several positions, which mattered a lot when teams had smaller rosters.

Final Seasons and Retirement

In 1949, Haas split time between the Phillies and New York Giants. His stint with the Giants ended his National League days.

The Chicago White Sox picked him up for the 1951 season—his only year in the American League. He played 23 games and hit .163 before calling it quits.

Haas played his last game on August 26, 1951, against the Yankees. He went out with a bang, notching a hit and a home run for 2 RBIs in his final at-bat.

He wrapped up his nine-year career with a .264 batting average, 644 hits, and 263 RBIs in 721 games.

He retired at 37, having played for five teams during baseball’s golden age.

Statistical Highlights

Bert Haas finished with a .264 batting average over 721 games, adding 22 home runs and 263 RBIs. He did his best hitting with the Cincinnati Reds, where he became a dependable first baseman and outfielder.

Batting Average and Offensive Metrics

Haas kept up steady offense throughout his career. That .264 average shows he could make contact consistently.

His best year at the plate came in 1937 with Brooklyn, when he hit .400 in just 16 games.

From 1942 to 1947 with Cincinnati, his averages ranged from .239 to .286. He hit .286 in 1947, which got him that All-Star nod.

He posted a career .323 on-base percentage. His .355 slugging percentage suggests he mostly hit singles, though he’d drive the ball for extra bases now and then.

Home Runs and RBI

Haas wasn’t a power hitter. He finished with 22 career home runs over nine seasons.

His single-season best was six homers in 1942 with Cincinnati.

He made more of a mark as a run producer, with 263 RBIs. In 1947, he drove in 67 runs while batting .286.

Doubles were more his thing—he hit 93 of them. He became a solid middle-of-the-order guy, even if he didn’t go deep often.

Stolen Bases and Bases on Balls

Haas had some speed, swiping 51 bases in his career and getting caught 33 times. His busiest year on the basepaths was 1946, with 22 steals.

He showed patience at the plate, drawing 204 walks in his career. In 1942, he walked 59 times, a personal best.

He struck out just 188 times, which speaks to his disciplined approach and knack for putting the ball in play.

Notable Achievements and Recognition

Bert Haas earned his place in baseball history through consistent play and staying power. He received National League All-Star recognition in 1947.

His final career moment was unforgettable—he hit a home run in his last major league at-bat.

National League All-Star Selection

Haas made his only All-Star team in 1947 with the Reds. He batted .286 and drove in 67 runs over 135 games.

That year marked the high point of his career performance. He played mostly first and third base but also filled in around the diamond.

At 33, Haas had become a steady veteran presence for Cincinnati.

Memorable Plays and Moments

Haas’s most famous moment came in his final game, August 26, 1951. Playing for the White Sox against the Yankees, he homered in his last at-bat, driving in two runs.

He was 37 and hitting under .200 that season, so the homer was a real surprise.

That farewell shot capped a career that ran from 1937 to 1951. Haas played for five teams in his 14-year career, always ready to help wherever he was needed.

Later Career and Post-Retirement Involvement

After retiring from the majors in 1951, Haas moved into managing minor league teams. He even spent time managing in the Mexican League, sharing his baseball know-how abroad.

Minor League Managerial Positions

Haas started managing in 1955 with the Albany Senators in the Eastern League. The team didn’t do well, finishing 53-88.

Things got better in 1956 when he managed the High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms in the Carolina League. They finished 91-63 and took the regular season title, though they fell in the first playoff round.

In 1957, Haas began the year managing the Clovis Redlegs in the Southwestern League. The team started strong at 36-12, but the franchise folded on June 16.

Mid-season, he took over the Wenatchee Chiefs in the Northwest League. He replaced Don Lundberg and led the team to a 48-32 record.

The Chiefs went on to win the league championship that year.

Haas returned to Wenatchee in 1958, guiding them to a 76-60 record and a second-place finish.

His last minor league managing job came in 1962 with the Lakeland Giants in the Florida State League. He was replaced by Max Lanier partway through the season.

Time in the Mexican League

In 1961, Haas managed the Sultanes de Monterrey in the Mexican League. That was his only managing gig outside the U.S.

The team finished 59-73, good for fourth place. After that one season in Mexico, he returned to the States for his final managing job with Lakeland.

Legacy and Personal Life

Bert Haas left behind a modest but respectable baseball career that stretched across nearly two decades. He died in Tampa, Florida, in 1999 at age 85, having lived a full life after his playing days.

Retirement and Legacy

Haas officially retired from Major League Baseball on August 26, 1951, right after his final game with the Chicago White Sox. In his last at-bat, he actually hit a home run and drove in two runs against the New York Yankees.

After he hung up his cleats, Haas stayed close to baseball by coaching and managing. He managed in the minor leagues from 1955 to 1958, then again in 1962. In 1961, he also took on a managing role in the Mexican League.

His career stats show he was a solid utility player who could fill in at several positions. Over nine seasons and 721 games, Haas kept a .264 batting average with 22 home runs and 263 RBIs.

Career Highlights:

• All-Star Selection: 1947 National League All-Star
• Teams Played For: 5 different MLB franchises
• Versatility: Played first base, third base, and outfield positions

Personal Life and Passing

Berthold John Haas was born on February 8, 1914, in Naperville, Illinois. He stood 5’11” and weighed 178 pounds during his career.

Haas batted and threw right-handed. After his baseball days, he settled in Tampa, Florida.

He lived there for many years before passing away on June 23, 1999, at 85. There’s not much out there about his family or personal relationships, at least in public records.

After his death, his body was cremated. The move from Illinois to Florida kind of mirrors the path a lot of former players took after they retired.

Related Searches and References

You can find Haas’s career stats and biographical details in several baseball databases. Baseball Reference and a few other sites keep thorough records of his time on the field.

People still talk about his All-Star selection in 1947 with the Cincinnati Reds. That honor really put him among the top National League players that year.

If you dig into research about Haas, you’ll notice it often ties into bigger studies on 1940s baseball. He played during World War II, a time that changed the careers of a lot of players.

These days, baseball historians mention Haas when they talk about utility players and how roster construction shifted in the mid-20th century.