Andy Pafko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andy Pafko |
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: February 25, 1921 Boyceville, Wisconsin, U.S. |
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| Died: October 8, 2013 (aged 92) Stevensville, Michigan, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 24, 1943, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 29, 1959, for the Milwaukee Braves | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .285 | ||
| Home runs | 213 | ||
| Runs batted in | 976 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Andrew "Andy" Pafko (February 25, 1921 – October 8, 2013) was a famous American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for many years. He was a great center fielder. He played for the Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Milwaukee Braves.
Andy was born in Boyceville, Wisconsin. He played baseball for 17 years! He was chosen as an All-Star four times. He hit 213 home runs and had 976 RBIs. The Chicago Cubs even named him to their All-Century Team in 1999.
Early Life
Andy Pafko grew up in a small village called Boyceville, Wisconsin. There was no baseball team there. When he was 19, a minor league team from nearby Eau Claire signed him.
Andy was working on his father's farm when the team manager, Ivy Griffin, came to visit. Andy said he quickly left his farm work to go with him. This was the start of his amazing baseball journey.
Baseball Career
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In 1941, Andy played for the Green Bay Blue Sox. His team won the league championship. He hit 12 home runs and had 66 RBIs that year. He played one more season in the minor leagues. Then, in 1943, he joined the Chicago Cubs in the major leagues.
People called him "Handy Andy." He was popular because he was good at hitting and fielding. He helped his teams win championships in three different cities. Andy was famous for making amazing catches. He would dive forward to stop hits. This move was even called a "Pafko dive" for a while!
Andy played for the Chicago Cubs in the 1945 World Series. He was almost named an All-Star that year. The All-Star Game was cancelled because of the war. But sportswriters still picked him as one of their All-Stars. From 1947 to 1950, he was an All-Star four times in a row. He was one of the few players to be an All-Star in both the infield and outfield.
In 1951, Andy was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was playing left field when Bobby Thomson hit the famous "Shot Heard 'Round the World" home run. In 1953, he was traded to the Boston Braves. This team then moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Andy was the only Wisconsin native on the team. He helped the Milwaukee Braves win the 1957 World Series.
Andy was a favorite with Milwaukee fans. He was a Slovak Lutheran, and the local Lutheran community even held an "Andy Pafko Night" for him. They gave him a new car!
After Playing Baseball
After his playing career, Andy coached for the Braves from 1960 to 1962. He also managed minor league teams. Later, he worked as a scout for the Montreal Royals.
Andy settled near Chicago. He often talked about the Cubs. When the Cubs won their division in 1984, he joked, "I never dreamed it would take them 39 years to win again." He was named to the Cubs All-Century team in 1999.
Andy Pafko passed away on October 8, 2013, at the age of 92.
Legacy
Andy Pafko is famous for being card #1 in the 1952 Topps baseball card set. This card is very valuable today. Many collectors would put their cards in order and use rubber bands. This meant Pafko's card, being on top, got the most wear. So, cards in good condition are very rare and worth a lot of money. One of his 1952 cards sold for $84,000 in 1998! This card was also important in the 2010 movie Cop Out.
Andy is also remembered for a play in 1949. He said he caught a ball hit by Rocky Nelson. But the umpire, Al Barlick, called Nelson safe. Andy was so busy arguing that he forgot to call time. The other team scored runs, and they won the game.
Andy was in left field for the Brooklyn Dodgers during the famous "Shot Heard 'Round the World" in 1951. This was Bobby Thomson's game-winning home run. The left field wall at the Polo Grounds was very high, so no one could catch it.
Today, there is an Andy Pafko Park in Boyceville. It hosts a softball tournament every year during Cucumber Fest.
See also
In Spanish: Andy Pafko para niños
