Hank Majeski – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Hank Majeski spent 16 years in professional baseball, from 1939 to 1955. He played for six major league teams, including the Boston Braves, Philadelphia Athletics, and Cleveland Indians.

Most people remember Majeski as a third baseman. He stood out as one of the best defensive players of his time and posted a solid .279 career batting average over 1,069 games.

Majeski retired in 1955 after his last season with the Baltimore Orioles. He wrapped up his career after appearing in the 1954 World Series with Cleveland.

He started with the Boston Bees in 1939 and finished in Baltimore. The Orioles released him at age 38 when he hit just .188 in limited games.

Born and raised on Staten Island, Majeski set an American League record for fielding percentage by a third baseman in 1947. He also hit a memorable three-run pinch-hit home run in Game Four of the 1954 World Series.

His story is full of challenges. He played through the Great Depression and World War II, served in the Coast Guard, and faced constant team changes and time in the minors.

Early Life and Background

Henry Majeski was born on December 13, 1916, on Staten Island, New York. Times were tough for his Polish-American family, and those struggles shaped his drive to make it in baseball.

Family and Staten Island Roots

Henry grew up in a working-class home on Staten Island. His dad worked at the U.S. Gypsum Co. plant making wallboard and paint.

When Henry was 8, his father died. That left five kids and a lot of financial pressure. Walter, his oldest brother, stepped up and became a father figure to Henry, Eddie, Sadie, and Sophie.

Despite everything, the Majeski family stayed close. Henry always remembered his humble beginnings and kept ties to Staten Island throughout his life.

A family friend gave Henry his first baseball glove. The man had saved it for his own son, who’d died young, and told Henry, “Take it and become a big leaguer.” Those words stuck with him.

Education and Early Baseball Experience

Henry went to Curtis High School on Staten Island, the same school that produced Bobby Thomson. He played under coach Harry O’Brien, who saw promise in him.

In high school, Henry was pretty small—about 5-foot-5. The neighborhood kids called him “Shorty” because of his legs. Later, he somehow picked up the nickname “Heeney.”

His size limited his options. “In high school I was too small to play anything but baseball,” Henry once said. Coach O’Brien’s faith in him made all the difference.

By age 6, Henry was obsessed with baseball. He remembered getting his first pair of baseball shoes at 11. Even in pouring rain, he greased them up and ran around the block five times, too excited to care.

Professional Baseball Career Overview

Hank Majeski played pro ball from 1939 to 1955. He became known as one of the era’s top defensive third basemen.

Early in his career, he switched positions, and World War II interrupted his progress with a stint in the military.

Major League Baseball Debut and Early Years

Majeski made his major league debut with the Boston Bees in September 1939. The team also went by the Boston Braves during his time there from 1939 to 1941.

His rookie year looked promising. He played 106 games, batted .272, and hit seven home runs—third on the team behind Max West’s 19.

But things got bumpy. He broke his toe after his rookie season, clashed with management, and ended up demoted to Newark in the International League in 1940. Even after hitting well in the minors, Boston only called him up for three games that year.

In 1941, Majeski struggled at the plate. He batted just .145 in 19 games before getting sent back to Newark. The New York Yankees bought his contract from Boston that May, but he stayed in the minors.

Position Transitions and Defensive Development

Manager Casey Stengel made a career-changing move for Majeski in 1939. He shifted him from second base to third base.

Majeski later admitted this was a turning point. He said Stengel did him a favor because, “I probably could have played fast minor-league ball at second base for the rest of my life, but might never have made the grade in the majors at that spot.”

At third base, his defense became his signature. In 1947, he made only five errors and set an American League record with a .988 fielding percentage. Don Money broke that record in 1974 with a .989 mark.

Switching positions helped Majeski show what he could do. He built a reputation as one of the best defensive third basemen of his era, and that kept him in the game through team after team.

Military Service and Comeback

World War II interrupted Majeski’s career. He enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1943 and put baseball on hold.

During his service, he married Margaret McLaughlin, who worked on Staten Island. Their marriage brought some stability during those uncertain years.

After leaving the Coast Guard, Majeski returned to baseball in 1946. He started the season with the Yankees but only played in eight games and had one hit. In June, the Yankees sold his contract to the Philadelphia Athletics.

That move to Philadelphia marked a new chapter. He hit .250 for the rest of 1946, then improved to .280 in 1947 over 141 games. With the Athletics, his career finally took off.

Teams Played For and Key Contributions

Hank Majeski played for seven major league teams in his 16-year career. His best years came with the Philadelphia Athletics, where he hit .310 in 1948 and set defensive records.

He started out with Boston, spent time with big-name teams, and offered veteran leadership to contenders.

Boston Bees and Braves Era

Majeski’s big league career kicked off with the Boston Bees in 1939 after they signed him out of the minors. Manager Casey Stengel moved him from second base to third base, and that set his path.

He played 106 games in his rookie year, hit .272, and smacked seven home runs. In his May 17 debut, he singled and drove in a run.

But his early Boston years were rocky. After his rookie season, a broken toe and management issues led to more time in the minors with Newark.

He only got into three games for Boston in 1940 and 19 in 1941, batting just .145. Still, he tore up minor league pitching—he never hit below .300 in any of his seven minor league seasons.

Philadelphia Athletics Tenure

Majeski’s career really took off after he landed with the Philadelphia Athletics in June 1946. That team became the stage for his best performances.

In 1948, he broke out by batting .310 with 12 home runs and 120 RBIs, ranking fifth in the league. He also set a major league record with six doubles in one doubleheader.

He shined defensively, too. In 1947, he made just five errors and set a league record with a .988 fielding percentage that lasted until 1974.

His 1948 numbers earned him 11th place in MVP voting. The Athletics got steady production from him through 1949, even after he missed a month from an Early Wynn fastball.

Stints with New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox

Majeski’s time with the Yankees was short but important for his development. After the Yankees bought him from Boston in 1941, he spent most of his time in the minors with Newark.

He played in just eight games for the Yankees in 1946, picking up one hit before they sold him to Philadelphia in June. That move worked out well for everyone.

The Chicago White Sox picked up Majeski in December 1949 for pitcher Ed Klieman. In 1950, he batted .309 over 122 games.

Chicago traded him back to Philadelphia in June 1951 after 51 games. Majeski’s ability to help teams quickly made him a valuable veteran in the American League.

Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles Impact

Majeski made his biggest impact with the Cleveland Indians from 1952 to 1955. He joined as a utility player and became a key role player during their historic 1954 season.

The Indians won 111 games in 1954. Majeski played in 57 games and hit .281, bringing veteran leadership to their pennant run.

In the 1954 World Series against the Giants, Majeski hit a three-run pinch-hit home run in Game Four. With Cleveland down 7-0 in the fifth, his homer off Don Liddle gave the team hope, though the Giants still won 7-4.

He wrapped up his career with the Baltimore Orioles in 1955. After batting .188 in 36 games for Cleveland, the Indians traded him to Baltimore on June 27. The Orioles released him after 41 at-bats, and he retired at 38.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Hank Majeski put together a 17-year pro career with standout moments at the plate and in the field. His peak came in 1948 with the Philadelphia Athletics, both offensively and defensively.

Standout Batting Seasons

Majeski’s best year at the plate was 1948. He hit .310 for the Athletics, drove in 120 runs (fifth in the American League), and set career highs with 12 home runs and 41 doubles.

He made history that year with six doubles in one doubleheader—a major league record.

His 1948 season earned him 11th in MVP voting. That .310 average was a big jump from his .280 the year before.

He kept up strong numbers throughout his career. Majeski finished with a .279 career batting average in 1,069 games. He collected 956 hits, 501 RBIs, and 57 home runs.

In 1950 with the White Sox, he had another solid year, batting .309 in 122 games.

Fielding Excellence and Records

People recognized Majeski as one of the best defensive third basemen of his time. In 1947, he set an American League record for third basemen with a .988 fielding percentage in Philadelphia.

He made only five errors that whole season. That defensive excellence really boosted his reputation around the league.

Don Money of the Milwaukee Brewers finally broke the record in 1974 with a .989 mark. Majeski led all American League third basemen in fielding percentage for both 1947 and 1948.

He didn’t just avoid errors—his teammates and coaches often talked about his quick reflexes and strong arm at third.

Manager Casey Stengel actually moved Majeski from second base to third back in 1939. Majeski later said that switch, thanks to Stengel, helped him find his best spot on the field.

Notable World Series and Postseason Moments

Majeski got his only World Series shot in 1954 with the Cleveland Indians. That year, the Indians won 111 games and took the American League pennant with ease.

He played in all four games of the 1954 World Series when the Indians faced the New York Giants. The Giants swept the series, even though Cleveland had such a dominant regular season.

Game Four gave Majeski his most memorable postseason moment. With the Giants up 7-0 in the fifth inning, he came in as a pinch-hitter for pitcher Ray Narleski.

On the second pitch from Don Liddle, Majeski launched a three-run homer to deep left. The blast cut the deficit to 7-3 and gave Cleveland a flicker of hope.

The Indians still lost the game 7-4, and the Giants finished off their stunning sweep. Majeski’s homer was just one of two pinch-hit home runs in that series, with Dusty Rhodes hitting the other—though his got all the headlines.

Retirement and Later Life

Hank Majeski’s final years as a player showed his performance dropping and teams shuffling him around. He retired at 38 in 1955.

After hanging up his glove, he moved into coaching and management. He kept close ties to both his Staten Island roots and the sport he loved.

Final Playing Years and 1955 Retirement

Majeski started his final season with the Cleveland Indians in 1955, but it didn’t go well. He played just 36 games and struggled at the plate, batting only .188 early on.

The Indians traded him to the Baltimore Orioles on June 27, 1955. That move was basically his last shot at extending his big league career.

He played sparingly with Baltimore for about a month. The Orioles only gave him 41 at-bats before they released him.

That release ended his 16-year professional baseball run. At 38, Majeski chose not to chase any more opportunities and officially retired.

His career numbers? He finished with a .279 batting average, 1,069 games, 956 hits, and 501 RBIs. He played for six different teams, but the late 1940s with the Philadelphia Athletics brought his best seasons.

Post-Playing Career and Minor League Management

Henry Majeski jumped right into baseball management after retiring. The Cleveland Indians gave him his first shot as a minor league manager.

He managed the Daytona Beach Islanders in the Florida State League in 1956. That Class D team gave him a chance to lead young players and pick up the business side of baseball.

The franchise moved to Cocoa, Florida, and became the Cocoa Indians. Majeski stayed on as manager for part of 1957, then stepped away from full-time minor league management.

He later returned to managing in 1973, this time with the Oneonta Yankees. That job let him work in the Yankees’ farm system—kind of a full-circle moment since he once played for them.

His minor league managing career gave him plenty of chances to develop young talent. He focused on teaching the basics and passing on what he’d learned from 16 years in the pros.

Coaching, Scouting, and Legacy

Majeski took on a role as a hitting instructor for major league teams. In 1966, he worked with both the Houston Astros and the Cincinnati Reds.

Teams valued his deep knowledge of batting techniques. He helped organizations develop younger players and refine their hitting skills.

He scouted for several major league teams too. In this job, he sized up amateur talent and helped teams spot future prospects.

Majeski coached at Wagner College on Staten Island, not far from where he grew up. He stayed involved in local baseball, showing up for annual Staten Island old-timer games and always attending the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame inductions.

He pitched in at Curtis High School baseball practices as well. Former coach Bert Levinson remembered Majeski showing up to help the kids with their batting and infield play, and handing out awards at end-of-year ceremonies.

Bill Klapach, who umpired on Staten Island for years, said Majeski loved talking to kids about baseball. He described him as a true gentleman, proud of his Staten Island roots.

Majeski even acted as a father figure to Bobby Thomson, another baseball star from Staten Island.

He passed away on August 9, 1991, at age 74. His wife Margaret and their extended family survived him.