Hal Peck
Hal Peck | ||
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Runs batted in | 112 | |
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Harold Arthur "Hal" Peck (April 20, 1917 – April 13, 1995) was an American
Born in
Early life and minor leagues
Peck was born in
In one game during the 1940 season against the Columbus Red Birds, Peck chased down a fly ball and ran into an iron fence, knocking himself out. He managed to hold onto the ball in spite of this, and the catch was noted by sportswriter Harry Grayson as "one of the greatest catches even seen in Columbus."[5] Peck finished the season with a .294 batting average and 14 triples in 136 games, and followed that up in 1942 with a .267 batting average in 144 games.[3] After hitting .333 in 1942, multiple teams were looking to acquire Peck from the Brewers, which included the Chicago White Sox. The Brewers were near a deal with the White Sox when Peck's season abruptly ended. On September 3, Peck lost two toes from his left foot due to a shooting accident. He was attempting to shoot rats on his farm when he tripped over a vine, shooting his foot in the process. This cost him his third and fourth toes on his right foot, and ended the White Sox attempt to purchase Peck.[5][4]
Shortly after the accident, the Brooklyn Dodgers purchased Peck from the Brewers and gave him a brief trial in 1943, appearing in one game for the team on May 13. After the appearance, he was returned to Milwaukee. Once he returned to Milwaukee, he had a special shoe made for him by a local shoemaker, which allowed him to play without as much pain.[5] However, he missed the majority of the season recovering from his foot injury, only playing in 23 games, as it had not yet healed from the offseason and required further surgery.[4] Peck returned to the Brewers in the 1944 season, and was now able to play every day. He recorded a .345 batting average with 18 stolen bases, and at one point in the season had an average of .398.[3]
MLB career
The Philadelphia Athletics purchased Peck from the Brewers on August 17, 1944 for four players and $20,000.[6] After playing in two games in 1944, Peck entered the 1945 Philadelphia Athletics season as the team's everyday right fielder after winning the job in spring training.[7] In the first week of the season, he hit .367 and led the Athletics to six wins in their first eight games, which raised expectations of the team for the season.[8] The Athletics finished the season with 52 wins, and Peck ended his 112 games played with a .276 batting average and nine triples.[9] During the offseason, he worked in the dairy business with his father-in-law. In 1946, he wanted a $2,500 raise despite admitting he had not played well the prior year, and was denied; he ended up signing with the team at the end of March, missing most of spring training as a result.[10] Peck remained the starting right fielder through the first part of the season, hitting .247 in 48 games. On June 19, the Athletics sold Peck to the New York Yankees.[11]
Despite the purchase, Peck never played a game for the Yankees. He returned to Wisconsin after fighting a bout of
Peck entered the 1948 season in a crowded battle for the
Later life
After the 1949 season ended, Peck was traded to the
References
- ^ Zirin, Alex (June 15, 1947). "Peck Gives Foes Bushel of Trouble". The Plain Dealer. p. 18.
- ^ "When Hal Peck hid". The Milwaukee Journal. August 28, 1944. p. 4.
- ^ a b c "Hal Peck Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ ISBN 0786481951.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Levy, Sam (August 17, 1944). "Hal Peck Is Bought by Philadelphia A's: Brewers to Get Four Players and an Undisclosed Amount of Money in Deal". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 8.
- Wilmington Morning News. p. 14.
- ^ Hand, Jack (April 27, 1945). "Connie Mack's Athletics May Be Dark-Horse Entry". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 12.
- ^ a b c d "Hal Peck Statistics and History"". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
- ^ "Player Admits He Had Bad Year But Wants $2500 Pay Raise". The Pittsburgh Press. March 7, 1946. p. 28.
- ^ "Yanks Buy Peck From Athletics". The Pittsburgh Press. June 20, 1946. p. 26.
- ^ "A's 6 in 4th Whip Yankees, 6–3; Knerr Hurls 2-Hitter". New York Daily News. July 1, 1946. p. 37.
- ^ Petersen, Leo H. (December 6, 1946). "Yanks Trade Three Men For Mack, Lollar". The Miami News. p. 7-B.
- ^ Loveland, Roelif (April 15, 1947). "Indians Set To Give Spring Tonic Today". The Plain Dealer. p. 1.
- ^ Zirin, Alex (May 14, 1947). "A's Edge Indians, 7–6, as Feller's 10 Passes Nullify 4-Hit Pitching". The Plain Dealer. p. 20.
- ^ "Indians Climb Into 2d Place". The Plain Dealer. May 31, 1947. p. 1.
- ^ "Plain Dealing". The Plain Dealer. April 20, 1948. p. 19.
- ^ "Minoso, Peck, and Reich Cut Off Tribe Roster". The Plain Dealer. May 19, 1949. p. 23.
- ^ "Indians Option Rosen; Peck On Active List". The Plain Dealer. July 3, 1949. p. 21.
- ^ "Beavers Defeat L.A. For First Win". Los Angeles Times. March 10, 1950. p. 57.
- ISBN 0786442395.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Hal Peck at Find a Grave