Chick Hafey
A ferocious-hitting outfielder whose career was a constant battle with sinusitis, yet he still carved out a Hall of Fame legacy with the Cardinals.
1903–1973 (age 70)·American baseball player·Birthday: February 12·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Chick Hafey's story is one of brilliance persistently shadowed by physical misery. Bursting into the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals' famed 'Gashouse Gang', he was a model of violent consistency at the plate. His swing was a compact, line-drive machine, and he captured the National League batting title in 1931 with a .349 average. But Hafey's eyes, critical for a hitter, were plagued by severe sinus infections that caused debilitating headaches and blurred vision. His career became a series of holdouts, treatments, and painful attempts to play through the condition. After a bitter contract dispute, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, where he had a few more productive years before the pain forced him out. That he compiled a .317 lifetime average and earned a Cooperstown plaque is a testament to the sheer force of his talent when his body allowed it to shine.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Chick was born in 1903, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1903
Chick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1903Born
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Started school
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1916Became a teenager
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Could drive
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Could vote
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1924Turned 21
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1933Turned 30
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1943Turned 40
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 50
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 60
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 70
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
Key Achievements
- Won the National League batting championship in 1931 with a .349 average for the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971 by the Veterans Committee.
- Was a key member of the 1931 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.
- Posted a career .317 batting average over 13 seasons despite chronic health issues.
Did You Know?
His sinus condition was so severe he had a clause in his contract allowing him to skip games if he had a headache.
He wore glasses during his playing days, which was relatively uncommon for batters at the time.
He was traded from the Cardinals to the Reds before the 1932 season after a contract holdout related to his health concerns.
His nickname 'Chick' was a common nickname for men named Charles in that era.
“I hit the ball hard and straight, when my head allowed it.”
