Harvey Haddix – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Harvey Haddix built a 14-year career in Major League Baseball before he finally hung up his cleats in 1965 at age 39. This left-handed pitcher from Ohio finished with a 136-113 record and a 3.63 ERA, playing for five different teams—St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Baltimore Orioles.

Most baseball fans remember Haddix for his legendary performance on May 26, 1959, when he pitched 12 perfect innings against the Milwaukee Braves, only to lose the game in the 13th inning. That game stands out as one of the most remarkable pitching efforts in baseball history, easily overshadowing a lot of his other solid accomplishments. Even with the heartbreaking ending, the performance earned him lasting recognition.

Haddix did more than just pitch one great game. He became a three-time All-Star and played a big role in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1960 World Series win. Coming from a small Ohio farm, he showed a lot of grit and skill on his way to the big leagues. After retiring, he stayed in baseball as a pitching coach for 14 years, working with several major league teams.

Key Achievements and Notable Moments

Harvey Haddix made his mark in Major League Baseball with a legendary 12-inning perfect game and several All-Star selections. His career highlights stretched from his rookie season to that historic pitching performance, which still stands out as one of baseball’s most memorable games.

The 12-Inning Perfect Game

On May 26, 1959, Haddix pitched one of the most famous games ever for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Milwaukee Braves. He retired 36 straight batters—no hits, no walks, no errors—for 12 perfect innings.

But the game ended in heartbreak in the 13th inning. Joe Adcock of the Braves broke up both the perfect game and the no-hitter with a hit that drove in the winning run. Even with the loss, Haddix’s performance became legendary.

Haddix needed just 115 pitches for that masterpiece, showing off incredible control and stamina. That game remains one of the longest perfect games ever in Major League history. His wife, Marcia, later called it an important moment in his life, though not the only one that defined his career.

All-Star Honors and Awards

Haddix earned six All-Star selections over his career, proving his steady excellence as a pitcher. He made the National League All-Star team in 1953, 1954, and 1955 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

His rookie season in 1953 was something special. Haddix won 20 games and led the National League with six shutouts. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, just behind Jim Gilliam of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

That year, Haddix posted a 3.06 ERA and batted .289. He completed 19 games and struck out batters at a solid rate. Cardinals manager Eddie Stanky praised his ability to finish games.

During his minor league years, Haddix picked up several honors, including MVP awards. In 1947 with Winston-Salem, he was named league MVP, rookie of the year, and left-handed pitcher of the year.

Noteworthy Performances with Major League Baseball Teams

Haddix notched double-digit win seasons for three different National League teams in his 14-year career. He really found his stride with the Cardinals after returning from military service.

With the Philadelphia Phillies in 1956, Haddix went 12-8 after coming over from St. Louis. Manager Mayo Smith called him that year’s most pleasant surprise. The Phillies bullpen cost him a few more wins that season, which has to sting a bit.

During his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1959-1963, Haddix delivered some of his best moments. Besides the perfect game, he was a reliable starter who helped the team stay competitive.

He wrapped up his career with the Baltimore Orioles in 1964-65. Haddix finished with a 136-113 record and a 3.63 ERA across all teams. He won one World Series and kept working in baseball as a pitching coach after retiring.

Early Life and Path to Professional Baseball

Harvey Haddix Jr. was born on September 18, 1925, in Medway, Ohio. His parents were farmers, and they taught him the value of hard work—something that stuck with him throughout his baseball journey.

He started out playing baseball with whatever he could find, eventually catching the eye of the St. Louis Cardinals during a tryout in 1943.

Family Background and Childhood

Harvey Haddix Jr. was the third of four sons born to Harvey Haddix Sr. and Nellie Mae Greider-Haddix near Westville in west central Ohio. His brothers were Ed, Ben, and Fred.

The Haddix family worked their farm, and Harvey learned about hard work early. “My mother had an aunt who was a midwife who lived there,” Haddix said about his birth in Medway, which was about 20 miles from the family farm.

Growing up on the farm meant not having much money or many kids to play ball with, except for the neighbors. “We played baseball two on a side,” Haddix remembered.

He got creative with equipment. His first glove came from a leather horse collar, showing the kind of resourcefulness that marked his early years.

In 1940, the family moved to a farm near South Vienna, Ohio. That move brought him closer to high school baseball and new opportunities.

Amateur Baseball and Tryouts

Harvey went to Catawba High School and joined a successful baseball team with his older brother Ben. At first, he played left-handed shortstop because “I could catch a ground ball.”

Equipment was still an issue. For his first pair of spikes, Harvey punched holes in dress shoes and riveted cleats to the bottom.

As a senior, Harvey moved to pitching when the team’s previous pitcher graduated. His father, a local pitching legend, helped guide him. Harvey led the team to a county championship.

After high school in 1943, Harvey pitched semipro ball and caught the attention of a Philadelphia Athletics scout. When that didn’t pan out, he went to a St. Louis Cardinals tryout in Columbus.

There were 350 players at the tryout, all hoping for a spot. Harvey impressed enough to get invited back. “Do you want to sign?” the scouts asked after his second audition.

Harvey actually turned them down at first, wanting to wait for the Athletics scout who’d first noticed him. When no offer came from Philadelphia, he returned to Columbus and signed with the Cardinals, starting his professional career.

Professional Career Overview

Harvey Haddix put together a 136-113 record and a 3.63 ERA in 14 Major League seasons, racking up 1,575 strikeouts with five teams. His career ran from 1952 to 1965, with six All-Star selections and three Gold Glove awards along the way.

Debut with the St. Louis Cardinals

Haddix joined the Cardinals in August 1952 after finishing Army service at Fort Dix. He made his major league debut on August 20, 1952, against the Boston Braves in St. Louis.

He won his first game with a complete-game five-hitter, beating the Braves 9-2. He wrapped up that debut season with a 2-2 record and 2.79 ERA in limited action.

1953 was his breakout year. Haddix went 20-9 with 19 complete games, leading the National League with six shutouts and earning his first All-Star nod. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Jim Gilliam.

Manager Eddie Stanky liked Haddix’s versatility, saying he could “run, hit, and field better than most pitchers.” Haddix even batted .289 that year, which is nothing to sneeze at for a pitcher.

He kept up the pace through 1954 and 1955, making the All-Star team both years. A knee injury in 1954 from a line drive by Joe Adcock slowed him down, affecting his mobility for the rest of his career.

Seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies

The Cardinals traded Haddix to the Philadelphia Phillies on May 11, 1956, along with Stu Miller and Ben Flowers. Philadelphia sent Herm Wehmeier and Murry Dickson to St. Louis in return.

Haddix wasn’t thrilled about the trade at first, but he found his footing in Philadelphia. Pitching coach Whit Wyatt helped him fix some mechanical issues, and his performance improved.

He went 12-8 in 1956 with the Phillies. Manager Mayo Smith called him “the year’s most pleasant surprise,” and said Haddix could’ve been 16-4 if the bullpen hadn’t blown four leads.

1957 was tougher. Haddix struggled with consistency and sometimes pitched out of the bullpen. He did throw an 11-inning shutout against the Cubs in July, but finished with a 10-13 record and a 4.06 ERA.

Pittsburgh Pirates Tenure

Philadelphia traded Haddix to the Cincinnati Reds for Wally Post after 1957. He didn’t stay long in Cincinnati before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1959.

Haddix delivered his most famous performance as a Pirate on May 26, 1959, at County Stadium in Milwaukee. He retired the first 36 Braves batters, pitching 12 perfect innings before losing in the 13th.

Career Statistics with Pittsburgh:

• Years: 1959-1963
• Record: Key contributor to team success
• Notable Achievement: Perfect game through 12 innings

Pittsburgh became Haddix’s longest stint with any team. He stayed through 1963, offering veteran leadership and steady pitching.

With the Pirates, Haddix built his reputation as one of the more reliable left-handers in the National League during the late ’50s and early ’60s.

Final Year with the Baltimore Orioles

Haddix finished up his Major League career with the Baltimore Orioles in 1964 and 1965. By then, he shifted into a more limited role.

By 1965, Haddix had racked up 1,575 career strikeouts in 2,235 innings pitched. His totals included 136 wins, 113 losses, and a 3.63 ERA.

That last season marked the end of a career that started back in the early ’50s. Even with a bum knee, he stuck around the majors for a long time.

He retired after the 1965 season, ending his playing days in the American League with Baltimore. If you count his minor league years and military service, his career spanned parts of five decades.

Pitching Style and Statistical Legacy

Harvey Haddix earned his reputation with precision and consistency, not raw power. Over 14 years, he posted a 3.63 ERA, 136 wins, and 1,575 strikeouts. He became known as a reliable starter who valued control and could go deep into games.

ERA and Wins

Haddix kept a career ERA of 3.63 over 14 seasons, showing he could get the job done year after year. His best season as a reliever came in 1964 with the Orioles, when he posted a 2.31 ERA.

As a starter, he peaked with the Cardinals in 1953, winning 20 games against 9 losses and a 3.06 ERA. He threw 253 innings and completed 19 of 33 starts.

Haddix ended up with 136 wins and 113 losses, a .546 winning percentage. He wasn’t a dominant ace, but he was a dependable part of the rotation and had seven double-digit win seasons.

His career ERA+ of 108 showed he was consistently above average, about 8% better than league average when you factor in ballpark differences.

Strikeouts and Control

Haddix struck out 1,575 batters in 2,235 innings. His rate of 6.3 strikeouts per nine innings was pretty solid for his era.

He really stood out for his control. Haddix walked just 2.4 batters per nine innings over his career, and his strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.62 showed he could command the zone.

His best control came in 1957 with Philadelphia, when he struck out 136 and walked only 39. That year, he posted a 3.49 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Haddix relied on location, not velocity. He mixed speeds and hit his spots instead of trying to blow hitters away. That style helped him stay effective well into his late 30s.

Complete Games and Shutouts

Haddix finished 99 games in his career, with 20 shutouts. These numbers really show how starting pitchers had different expectations in the 1950s and 1960s, back when complete games happened a lot more often.

His best season for complete games came in 1953. That year, he finished 19 starts.

He also threw 6 shutouts that season, which was a personal best. That kind of performance helped people see him as one of the National League’s top left-handed starters.

During his years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Haddix kept finding ways to finish games. In 1959, he wrapped up 14 of his 29 starts and posted a 3.13 ERA.

Teams really valued his durability and stamina. He just kept showing up, season after season.

Even near the end of his career with Baltimore, Haddix changed his approach. He started pitching shorter outings and took on relief work.

In 1964, he saved 9 games and still showed off that trademark control of his.

Recognition, Awards, and Honors

Harvey Haddix picked up three All-Star selections and one Gold Glove Award over his 14-year career. He also won a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

MVP Voting and Standings

Haddix got some attention in National League MVP voting during his career, though he never landed near the top. His best stats came in the mid-1950s with the St. Louis Cardinals and later with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Probably his most notable MVP buzz came in 1959. That was the year he threw his famous 12-inning perfect game against the Milwaukee Braves on May 26.

Even though he lost that game in extra innings, his season caught voters’ eyes. People still talk about that performance.

Haddix didn’t really challenge for MVP honors, but his steady pitching kept him in the conversation. He proved valuable as both a starter and a reliever, which not every pitcher can say.

All-Star Game Appearances

Haddix earned three All-Star selections during his MLB career. Those appearances cemented his reputation as one of the National League’s better pitchers in the 1950s.

He made those All-Star teams while playing for different organizations. That kind of recognition says something about his ability to succeed wherever he went.

The All-Star nods really showed off Haddix’s consistency. Whether he started or came out of the bullpen, he stayed effective and caught the eye of selectors.

Other Career Distinctions

Haddix won a Gold Glove Award for his defense on the mound. That award reflected his athleticism and quick reflexes as a pitcher.

He also won a World Series title during his career. He added that championship with a National League team, which is the kind of thing every player dreams about.

People across baseball knew him as “Kitten.” The nickname stuck with him all the way into retirement.

His 12-inning perfect game stands out as one of the wildest and most impressive feats in baseball. Even though he lost in the 13th, that achievement remains one-of-a-kind in the sport’s history.

Retirement and Later Life

Harvey Haddix wrapped up his playing career in 1965 after 14 seasons in Major League Baseball. He didn’t leave the game, though—he spent almost two more decades as a pitching coach.

He brought his experience to several organizations and earned recognition for his work with young pitchers.

Retirement in 1965

Haddix stepped away from playing after the 1965 season with the Baltimore Orioles. That year marked the end of a 14-year run in the majors.

He finished his career with a record of 136-113 and a 3.63 ERA. Over the years, he played for five teams: the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Baltimore Orioles.

People mostly remember him for what he did on May 26, 1959, when he retired the first 36 Milwaukee Braves batters he faced as a Pirate. That game still gets talked about as one of the all-time great pitching performances.

His nickname “Kitten” stuck with him, a nod to fellow Cardinals pitcher Harry “The Cat” Brecheen. Haddix also picked up a World Series ring during his playing days.

Post-Baseball Involvement

After he hung up his glove, Haddix dove right back into professional baseball as a pitching coach. He spent 13 seasons coaching with several Major League teams.

He worked with the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians. Eventually, Haddix made his way back to Pittsburgh, a place full of memories for him as a player, and wrapped up his coaching career with the Pirates in 1984.

The Pittsburgh Pirates gave Haddix some well-deserved recognition in 1987 when they named their all-time team. Fans voted him in as the left-handed pitcher on that roster, which, honestly, is pretty impressive.

In 1980, the Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Haddix. That honor celebrated everything he brought to the game, both on the field and from the dugout.

If you add up his years as a player and a coach, Haddix spent almost five decades in professional baseball. That’s quite a run, isn’t it?