Art Mahaffey
Encyclopedia
Arthur Mahaffey, Jr. is a former starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Philadelphia Phillies
(1960–65) and St. Louis Cardinals
(1966). He batted and threw right-handed. In a seven-season career, Mahaffey posted a 59-64 record with 639 strikeout
s and a 4.17 ERA
in 999.0 innings pitched
.
Mahaffey was signed as an amateur free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies on June 29, 1956. After six seasons playing in the Phillies' minor league organization, Mahaffey was called up by the big league team. He played in his first game for the Phillies on July 30, 1960, pitching the final two innings of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals
. Mahaffey retired the three batters he faced in the eighth inning. In the ninth, Bill White led off with a single to right field and then was picked off
by Mahaffey at first base. The next batter, Curt Flood
, singled to center field, and he too was picked off by Mahaffey, who threw to first with Flood tagged out on a throw from first to second. He finished the 1960 season with a 7–3 record and an earned run average
of 2.31 in 14 games, finishing third in Rookie of the Year balloting that season, which was won by Frank Howard of the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
He set a club record with 17 strikeouts in a game against the Chicago Cubs
on April 23, 1961. Though he ended the 1961 season with an ERA of 4.10 and a record of 11–19 in 36 games, leading the National League
in losses, he was selected to represent the Phillies on the National League All-Star team. He ended the 1962 season with a record of 19–14, and ERA of 3.94 and a career high 177 strikeout
s in 41 games. He was selected again in 1962 for the All-Star team and finished 26th in balloting for Most Valuable Player, despite leading the league in home runs allowed with 36 and earned runs allowed with 120. Mahaffey had a 7–10 record in 26 games with the Phillies in 1963, to go along with a 3.99 ERA. In 1964, he finished the season with a record of 12–9 and an ERA of 4.52 in 34 games. The 1964 team
had a 6½-game lead in first place with 12 games remaining in the season, before starting a 10-game losing streak that cost the team the pennant. Mahaffey pitched in two of the games as part of the losing streak, losing a 1–0 game (the first of that losing streak) on a steal of home by Chico Ruiz
of the Cincinnati Reds
, and was taken out while winning in a game against the Braves in which Rico Carty
hit a triple off of reliever Bobby Shantz
to win the game. 1965 was his last season in Philadelphia, which saw him finish with a 2–5 record and an ERA of 6.21 in 22 games, mostly in relief.
He was traded by the Phillies on October 27, 1965, along with catcher Pat Corrales
and outfielder Alex Johnson
to the St. Louis Cardinals, in exchange for shortstop Dick Groat
, catcher Bob Uecker
and first baseman Bill White. In his only season with the Cardinals, he had a 1–4 record in 12 games with an ERA of 6.43. His final major league game was on July 17, 1966, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs
, in which Mahaffey started and gave up three hits and three runs in ⅓ of an inning, in a game the Cardinals lost by a score of 7–2.
The Cardinals traded him on April 1, 1967 along with infielder Jerry Buchek
and shortstop Tony Martínez
to the New York Mets
in exchange for shortstop Eddie Bressoud
, Danny Napoleon
and cash, though he never played for the Mets.
Mahaffey now resides in Allentown
, Pennsylvania
.
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1960–65) and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1966). He batted and threw right-handed. In a seven-season career, Mahaffey posted a 59-64 record with 639 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 4.17 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 999.0 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
Mahaffey was signed as an amateur free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies on June 29, 1956. After six seasons playing in the Phillies' minor league organization, Mahaffey was called up by the big league team. He played in his first game for the Phillies on July 30, 1960, pitching the final two innings of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Mahaffey retired the three batters he faced in the eighth inning. In the ninth, Bill White led off with a single to right field and then was picked off
Pickoff
In baseball, a pickoff is an act by a pitcher or a catcher, throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder can tag out a baserunner who is either leading off or about to begin stealing the next base....
by Mahaffey at first base. The next batter, Curt Flood
Curt Flood
Curtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
, singled to center field, and he too was picked off by Mahaffey, who threw to first with Flood tagged out on a throw from first to second. He finished the 1960 season with a 7–3 record and an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 2.31 in 14 games, finishing third in Rookie of the Year balloting that season, which was won by Frank Howard of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.
He set a club record with 17 strikeouts in a game against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
on April 23, 1961. Though he ended the 1961 season with an ERA of 4.10 and a record of 11–19 in 36 games, leading the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in losses, he was selected to represent the Phillies on the National League All-Star team. He ended the 1962 season with a record of 19–14, and ERA of 3.94 and a career high 177 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 41 games. He was selected again in 1962 for the All-Star team and finished 26th in balloting for Most Valuable Player, despite leading the league in home runs allowed with 36 and earned runs allowed with 120. Mahaffey had a 7–10 record in 26 games with the Phillies in 1963, to go along with a 3.99 ERA. In 1964, he finished the season with a record of 12–9 and an ERA of 4.52 in 34 games. The 1964 team
1964 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season was the 82nd season for the franchise in Philadelphia. The Phillies finished in a second-place tie in the National League with the Cincinnati Reds, while posting a record of 92-70. The teams finished one game behind the NL and World Series champion St. Louis...
had a 6½-game lead in first place with 12 games remaining in the season, before starting a 10-game losing streak that cost the team the pennant. Mahaffey pitched in two of the games as part of the losing streak, losing a 1–0 game (the first of that losing streak) on a steal of home by Chico Ruiz
Chico Ruiz
Hiraldo Ruiz Sablon , was a professional baseball player who played as an infielder in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Cincinnati Reds and California Angels .He is the only Major League player ever to pinch-hit for Johnny Bench...
of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, and was taken out while winning in a game against the Braves in which Rico Carty
Rico Carty
Ricardo Adolfo Jacobo Carty is a former professional baseball player. Nicknamed Beeg Boy, he played mostly as an outfielder in Major League Baseball from to...
hit a triple off of reliever Bobby Shantz
Bobby Shantz
Robert Clayton Shantz was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics , Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates , Houston Colt .45's , St...
to win the game. 1965 was his last season in Philadelphia, which saw him finish with a 2–5 record and an ERA of 6.21 in 22 games, mostly in relief.
He was traded by the Phillies on October 27, 1965, along with catcher Pat Corrales
Pat Corrales
Patrick Corrales , is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who played from 1964–1973, primarily for the Cincinnati Reds, but also for the Philadelphia Phillies, St...
and outfielder Alex Johnson
Alex Johnson
Alexander Johnson Alexander Johnson Alexander Johnson (born December 7, 1942, in Helena, Arkansas is a former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder and designated hitter over parts of 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, California Angels,...
to the St. Louis Cardinals, in exchange for shortstop Dick Groat
Dick Groat
Richard Morrow Groat is a former two-sport athlete best known as a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played for four National League teams, mainly the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player in after winning the batting title with a .325...
, catcher Bob Uecker
Bob Uecker
Robert George "Bob" Uecker is an American former Major League Baseball player, later a sportscaster, comedian, and actor. Uecker was given the title of "Mr. Baseball" by Johnny Carson...
and first baseman Bill White. In his only season with the Cardinals, he had a 1–4 record in 12 games with an ERA of 6.43. His final major league game was on July 17, 1966, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, in which Mahaffey started and gave up three hits and three runs in ⅓ of an inning, in a game the Cardinals lost by a score of 7–2.
The Cardinals traded him on April 1, 1967 along with infielder Jerry Buchek
Jerry Buchek
Gerald Peter Buchek is a former professional baseball player. He was an infielder over parts of 7 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. Buchek was a member of the 1964 World Series champion Cardinals...
and shortstop Tony Martínez
Tony Martínez
.Gabriel Antonio Martínez Díaz was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played for four seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians from 1963 to 1966, playing in 73 career games.-External links:...
to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in exchange for shortstop Eddie Bressoud
Eddie Bressoud
Edward Francis Bressoud is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from through for the New York & San Francisco Giants , Boston Red Sox , New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals...
, Danny Napoleon
Danny Napoleon
Daniel Napoleon was a outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1965 to 1966 with the New York Mets. Napoleon batted and threw right-handed....
and cash, though he never played for the Mets.
Highlights
- Two time All-Star (1961–62)
- Picked offPickoffIn baseball, a pickoff is an act by a pitcher or a catcher, throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder can tag out a baserunner who is either leading off or about to begin stealing the next base....
the first three players who had base hitsHit (baseball)In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
against him: Curt FloodCurt FloodCurtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
and Bill White of the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(July 30) and Jim MarshallJim Marshall (baseball)Rufus James Marshall is a former first baseman and manager in American Major League Baseball. Marshall managed the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland Athletics but never enjoyed a winning season in either post...
of the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(July 31, 1960). - On April 23, , struck outStrikeoutIn baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
17 Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
to set a Phillies team record. He also tied the since-broken National LeagueNational LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
record for most strikeouts in a day game. - In , Mahaffey became the last pitcher to strike out at least 12 batters and hit a grand slamGrand slam (baseball)In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
in a game.
Mahaffey now resides in Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.