Mickey Haefner – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Mickey Haefner stands out as one of baseball’s more fascinating characters from the 1940s. He pitched left-handed, relied on a knuckleball, and his Major League career stretched across eight seasons. Born Milton Arnold Haefner in 1912, this undersized pitcher from Illinois managed to carve out a solid career during and after the war years. He played mostly for the Washington Senators, then had brief runs with the Chicago White Sox and Boston Braves.

Haefner’s most memorable moment wasn’t about his 78 career wins—it was that single exhibition pitch in 1946 that hit Ted Williams on the elbow. That pitch might’ve changed the outcome of the World Series that year. People blamed him for Williams’ struggles against the Cardinals, and soon enough, folks started talking about “the curse of Mickey Haefner.”

At just 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds, Haefner beat the odds in a time when bigger pitchers usually got the spotlight. His path from southern Illinois coal mines to the big leagues tells a story of grit and talent. He put together five straight seasons with double-digit wins and baffled hitters with his knuckleball all through the 1940s.

Early Life and Path to Baseball

Mickey Haefner started his journey in 1912 in a small Illinois mining town. Back then, pro baseball was still figuring itself out. He worked in coal mines as a teenager, learned to pitch while playing for industrial and semipro teams, and finally got his shot at organized baseball at 25.

Birth and Childhood in Illinois

Milton Arnold “Mickey” Haefner was born October 9, 1912, in Lenzburg, Illinois, about 40 miles southeast of St. Louis. He was one of 13 kids born to Casper R. Haefner and Laura A. Frazer Haefner.

Casper, his dad, came from Bavaria, Germany as a child and worked in the coal mines. His mother, Laura, had Scottish and English roots and became a mom at 17 in 1906.

The Haefners lived in St. Clair County during the peak of coal mining in southern Illinois. Feeding a family that size meant everyone chipped in however they could.

Locals started calling Milton “Mickey” because he always walked around with his baseball glove tied to his belt, just like a cartoon character at the time.

He left school after eighth grade and joined his dad and brothers in the mines. He worked on a “shovel brigade” with two brothers, and together they could dig up 54 tons of coal a day—just a regular shift for them.

Initial Involvement in Baseball

Mickey squeezed in baseball whenever he wasn’t working. He played with his brothers Harry and Carl, who were also getting pretty good.

He first played organized ball with a mine company team as a teenager. Coal mining was seasonal, and when the mines closed every April, baseball season started.

During those breaks, Harry and Carl began making money playing semipro ball. Mickey figured, why not try it himself?

He headed to Chicago and got a job at American Tank Car Co., which had a team in a Sunday industrial league. Even after the railroad let him go, he kept pitching in the league while working long shifts on farms in Hammond, Indiana.

Soon, he was playing three games a week in a semipro league. That gave him more chances to improve and get noticed by scouts.

Minor League Development

At 25, Mickey finally got a pro offer. Tim Murchison, a former major leaguer, offered him $100 a month to pitch for Tallahassee in the Georgia-Florida League in 1938.

He won 15 games his first season and pitched 234 innings. Pretty impressive for a knuckleballer, especially since he only walked about 2.5 batters per nine innings.

In 1939, he moved to Deland in the Florida State League and really broke through. He went 24-9 with a 2.32 ERA in 272 innings, proving he could handle a heavy load.

His manager there, Lee Meadows, taught him a “slippery, slithery sidearm sinker” that became a big part of his game. Mickey always said Meadows gave him his first real shot in pro baseball.

From 1940 to 1942, he played for the Minneapolis Millers in the American Association under Tom Sheehan. He won 14, 12, and 18 games each year, pitching for a middling team at Nicollet Park.

Most big-league scouts weren’t interested because he was only 5-foot-7. But when World War II opened up roster spots, Washington owner Clark Griffith paid $20,000 to bring him in.

Major League Debut and Breakthrough

Mickey Haefner made his Major League debut at 30 in 1943 with the Washington Senators. He quickly made his mark as a reliable knuckleball pitcher. That rookie year, he went 11-5 with a 2.29 ERA, which was the third-best in the American League.

Joining the Washington Senators

Clark Griffith, owner of the Senators, bought Haefner’s contract from the Minneapolis Millers for $20,000 before the 1943 season. Even though Haefner was short for a pitcher, Griffith saw something in him.

Billy Evans, president of the Southern Association, sent Griffith a letter raving about the move. “Forget about his size,” Evans wrote. “He has the best control of any lefthander you ever saw.”

Haefner made his MLB debut on April 22, 1943, against the Yankees, already 30 years old. He’d spent years in the minors and semipro leagues before finally getting his shot.

World War II gave players like Haefner a chance they might not have gotten otherwise. “Maybe it took a world war to get me into the major leagues,” he told The Sporting News, “but I’m not kicking about that.”

Rookie Season Achievements

Haefner’s rookie season started slow, but he found his groove later. He only started one game in April and was 2-2 by June.

After July 29, he turned into a reliable starter. From then on, he finished seven complete games and went at least seven innings every start.

Key 1943 Stats:

• Record: 11-5
• ERA: 2.29 (3rd in AL)
• Games Pitched: Multiple starts and relief outings

He set a quirky record that still stands. On July 3, 1943, Haefner and Ewald Pyle became the first relievers on the same team to each throw three or more hitless innings in one game.

Haefner shut down the St. Louis Browns for three innings, and Pyle had already tossed four hitless frames. Washington rallied to win, and Haefner picked up the victory.

Knuckleball Pitching Style

Haefner’s knuckleball was his calling card, but he mixed in fastballs and curveballs too. He threw everything from a funky sidearm angle that made him tough to hit.

Lee Meadows, his old manager, had taught him that “slippery, slithery sidearm sinker” back in the minors. Haefner admitted he sometimes threw a spitter in the minors, but he stopped after an umpire caught him.

The 1943 Senators had four knuckleballers in their rotation. Haefner joined Dutch Leonard, Roger Wolff, and Johnny Niggeling, making for a pitching staff you just don’t see anymore.

Haefner’s Pitch Mix:

• Primary: Knuckleball
• Secondary: Curveball (maybe his best pitch)
• Other: Fastball, sidearm sinker

His control set him apart from other knuckleballers. Throughout his career, he kept his walk numbers low, even though the knuckleball is notoriously wild.

Prime Years with the Washington Senators

Haefner anchored the Senators’ rotation from 1943 to 1949, racking up double-digit wins in five straight seasons. His best years came in the mid-1940s, when he helped lead a rotation full of knuckleballers and played a key role in the team’s final pennant chase.

Key Seasons and Team Impact

Haefner made an instant impact as a 30-year-old rookie in 1943. He finished 11-5 with a 2.29 ERA, ranking third in the league.

His breakout year was 1945, when he notched 16 wins for a Washington team that shocked everyone. The Senators were supposed to finish sixth, but they stuck around in the race until the final week.

Career Highlights with Washington:

• 1943: 11-5, 2.29 ERA (rookie year)
• 1945: 16-14, second-best starter on the team
• 1946: 14-11, 2.85 ERA over 227.2 innings

Haefner gave the Senators quality innings year after year. He threw a bunch of complete games and kept his walks down, even with that unpredictable knuckleball.

1945 Pennant Race and Knuckleball Quartet

The 1945 season was Washington’s last real shot at a pennant. Haefner was part of a rare rotation—four knuckleballers: himself, Roger Wolff, Dutch Leonard, and Johnny Niggeling.

That group kept the Senators in the hunt during the war years. Wolff led with 20 wins, Leonard had 17, and Haefner chipped in 16.

The team finished second, just a game and a half behind Detroit. That was the last time Washington really contended before things went downhill in the late ’40s.

Each pitcher threw the knuckleball differently, and Haefner’s sidearm delivery made him especially tricky for lefties.

Notable Games and Highlights

On July 3, 1943, Haefner and Ewald Pyle set a major league record that hasn’t been broken. Pyle pitched four hitless innings, and Haefner followed with three more against the Browns.

On May 10, 1949, Haefner threw a one-hitter against the defending champion Cleveland Indians. He won 1-0, giving up only a first-inning single to Larry Doby.

Notable Stats:

• Career ERA with Washington: 3.50
• Total games: 262
• Saves: 13

On June 4, 1948, he faced Bob Feller in a classic duel. Haefner tossed 12 shutout innings, Feller threw 11, and Cleveland finally won in the 15th.

Later Career: Chicago White Sox and Boston Braves

Mickey Haefner’s last years in the majors took him from the Senators to the Chicago White Sox in July 1949, and then to the Boston Braves in 1950. He showed flashes of his old self, but age and wear caught up to him as his eight-year career wound down.

Transition to the Chicago White Sox

On July 21, 1949, the Senators sold Haefner to the White Sox, ending his six-and-a-half years with Washington. He’d started the ’49 season hot, winning five straight after dropping his first decision.

His best game before the trade? That one-hit shutout against the Indians on May 10, 1949. He won 1-0, and only Larry Doby’s first-inning single kept it from being a no-hitter.

Joining the White Sox gave Haefner a fresh start with a new club. He finished out the 1949 season in Chicago, getting used to new teammates and a different ballpark.

He stuck with his knuckleball as his main pitch, but he still mixed in his fastball and curve from that familiar sidearm slot.

Final Season with the Boston Braves

Haefner stuck with the Chicago White Sox into 1950, but on August 8, 1950, the team sold him to the Boston Braves. That move sent him to the National League for the first time in his career.

The switch didn’t go well for the 37-year-old pitcher. He showed up in just eight games for the Braves, starting two and coming out of the bullpen for six.

He struggled, surrendering 15 runs in 24 innings pitched. That drop-off from his earlier years really showed his career was winding down.

Boston’s struggles basically ended Haefner’s Major League days. He pitched his final game on September 28, 1950, against the Brooklyn Dodgers and lasted 6.1 innings.

Noteworthy Performances in Final Years

Even as his career faded, Haefner still flashed some of his old talent with the White Sox. Early in the 1949 season, he started strong and proved he could still hang at the top level.

His one-hit shutout against Cleveland stood out as a late-career highlight. That gem came during Washington’s nine-game win streak and showed he could still shut down tough teams.

His career totals ended up at 78 wins and 91 losses with a 3.50 ERA over eight seasons. Most of his best work came with Washington, where he carved out a reputation as a steady starter.

After his big league days, Haefner kept pitching. In 1951, he joined the Birmingham Barons in the Southern Association and helped them win the Dixie Series against Houston. He won two games, including the clincher.

Career Statistics and Legacy

Mickey Haefner finished with a career record of 78 wins and 91 losses and a 3.50 earned run average across eight MLB seasons. He threw 1,466 innings and struck out 508 batters, numbers that look pretty solid for a knuckleballer who peaked in the ‘40s.

Pitching Records and Rankings

Haefner’s best year came in 1943. He went 11-5 with a 2.29 ERA for the Washington Senators. That season, he tossed 165.1 innings, struck out 65, and kept a 1.125 WHIP.

He finished his career with 91 complete games and 13 shutouts. Those totals were impressive for his time, especially for a knuckleball pitcher. He also picked up 13 saves along the way.

The lefty pitched in 261 games over eight years. He started 179 times and finished 48 others. In 1945, he showed his durability by throwing 238.1 innings and completing 19 games.

Performance Metrics and Advanced Stats

Haefner’s 3.89 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) ran a bit higher than his 3.50 ERA. That probably means he got some help from his defense. His career WHIP landed at 1.358, so he allowed about 1.4 baserunners per inning.

He struck out 3.1 batters per nine innings, which was pretty normal for knuckleballers back then. Haefner walked 3.5 per nine, making his strikeout-to-walk ratio 0.88.

He gave up 8.7 hits per nine innings. His home run rate was excellent at just 0.5 per nine, which helped keep his ERA in check even with modest strikeout numbers.

Evaluation by Baseball Reference

Baseball Reference gives Haefner 15.7 Wins Above Replacement for his career as a pitcher. That’s a solid mark, showing he contributed more than a typical replacement player. His top single-season WAR was 3.8 in 1946.

His ERA+ of 103 means he pitched 3% better than league average, once you adjust for ballpark factors. That puts him a bit above average for his era.

Haefner faced 6,322 hitters during his MLB run. He performed best with the Washington Senators, posting a 3.29 ERA over seven seasons there, compared to higher ERAs with Chicago and Boston.

Life After Baseball and Personal Legacy

Mickey Haefner retired from professional baseball in 1950 after eight seasons, but his final triumph actually happened in the minors. He died in 1995 at age 82, remembered for his knuckleball mastery and, maybe a little unfairly, for his role in Ted Williams’ rough 1946 World Series.

Retirement and Later Years

Haefner’s major league run ended in 1950 with the Boston Braves. That wasn’t quite the end of the road for him, though.

In 1951, at 38, he had one last shot at glory. He led the Birmingham Barons of the Southern Association into the Dixie Series against Houston.

Haefner dominated the Texas League champs in the series. He beat Houston twice, including the deciding game in front of 10,500 fans. That win clinched the title for Birmingham.

After that, Haefner finally hung up his spikes at age 38. The 1951 season really closed the book on his playing days.

Contributions to Baseball History

Haefner holds a unique MLB record that still stands. On July 3, 1943, he and Ewald Pyle pulled off something baseball hadn’t seen before.

Pyle came in after Ray Scarborough and threw four no-hit innings. Haefner followed with three more hitless frames against the St. Louis Browns. That was the first time two relievers on one team each tossed three or more hitless innings in the same game.

The Yankees’ Diego Moreno and Adam Warren matched the feat in 2015 against Texas. Even with modern bullpen strategies, the record’s still just tied after 80-plus years.

Haefner also got some unwanted attention for injuring Ted Williams before the 1946 World Series. His curveball hit Williams’ elbow during an exhibition game, and that injury affected the Boston star’s performance against St. Louis.

Death and Remembrance

Mickey Haefner died on January 3, 1995, in New Athens, Illinois. He was 82 when he passed away.

His family buried him at Oak Ridge Cemetery in New Athens, not far from Lenzburg, Illinois. That’s actually where he was born back in 1912.

Haefner’s legacy goes well beyond the numbers on his stat sheet. Baseball historians still talk about him as one of those four knuckleball pitchers who shaped the Washington Senators’ rotation in the 1940s.

People called him “Itsy-Bitsy” because he stood only 5-foot-7. Even so, he managed to finish 91 out of his 179 major league starts, and for three straight years, he threw more than 225 innings.

The Society for American Baseball Research keeps his story alive with detailed biographical essays. His impact on Ted Williams’ World Series performance still pops up as a quirky footnote in baseball lore.