Hinkey Haines
Encyclopedia
Henry Luther "Hinkey" Haines (December 23, 1898 – January 9, 1979) was a professional athlete who played American football
in the National Football League
and baseball in the Major League Baseball
association. Haines was a star of the New York Giants
football team in his time and has the distinction of being the only athlete to have played on national championship teams in both baseball and football. He won the 1923 World Series
with the New York Yankees
and the 1927 NFL Championship with the New York Giants
.
, where he played a major role in shaping their football program. Haines left Lebanon Valley in 1918 to serve in World War I
.
After serving in WWI, he attended Penn State University
in 1919. He earned varsity letter
s in baseball, football, and basketball, and joined Delta Upsilon
fraternity. Haines earned All-America
n honors in both football and baseball while at Penn State. He is in the Red Lion Area Senior High School's Hall of Fame.
. In 28 games, he collected nine runs
, four hits
, two doubles
, three RBI, three stolen base
s and a .160 batting average
.
Haines appeared in two World Series games, collecting one at bat
, but did not get a hit. As a pinch runner or defensive replacement, however, he was able to score one run. He was playing center field when the Yankees recorded the last out in the 1923 World Series.
In the field, Haines was flawless. He had a 1.000 fielding percentage
with 17 chances.
On October 7, 1923, Haines played his final regular season Major League game.
In the fall, he played professional football
and was a member of the 1927 New York Giants
team — a team who, in 1927, won the Giants' first NFL championship. After playing for the Giants from 1925 to 1928, he played for the Staten Island Stapletons
in 1929 and 1931, which he also coached.
After his career as halfback for the Giants ended, he became their offensive coach from 1926 through 1931. Haines was an NFL official for a time after he finished coaching.
In later years, Haines settled in the Philadelphia area where he became active in Little Theater as an actor and director.
He died on January 9, 1979 in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania
. His body was laid to rest in Middletown Cemetery in Media, Pennsylvania
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and baseball in the 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...
association. Haines was a star of the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
football team in his time and has the distinction of being the only athlete to have played on national championship teams in both baseball and football. He won the 1923 World Series
1923 World Series
In the 1923 World Series, the New York Yankees beat the New York Giants in six games. This would be the first of the Yankees' 27 World Series championships...
with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and the 1927 NFL Championship with the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Biography
Haines was born in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. He batted and threw right-handed, was 5'10" in height and 170 pounds in weight. Haines graduated from Red Lion High School in 1916 and attended Lebanon Valley CollegeLebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College is a small, liberal arts higher education institution situated in the heart of Annville in Lebanon County, east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
, where he played a major role in shaping their football program. Haines left Lebanon Valley in 1918 to serve in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
After serving in WWI, he attended Penn State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
in 1919. He earned varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
s in baseball, football, and basketball, and joined Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon is the sixth oldest international, all-male, college Greek-letter organization, and is the oldest non-secret fraternity in North America...
fraternity. Haines earned All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n honors in both football and baseball while at Penn State. He is in the Red Lion Area Senior High School's Hall of Fame.
Professional career
On April 20, 1923, Haines made his Major League debut at the age of 24. He only played one season, and was used many times as a defensive replacement/pinch runnerPinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
. In 28 games, he collected nine runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, four hits
Hit (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....
, two doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, three RBI, three stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s and a .160 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.
Haines appeared in two World Series games, collecting one at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, but did not get a hit. As a pinch runner or defensive replacement, however, he was able to score one run. He was playing center field when the Yankees recorded the last out in the 1923 World Series.
In the field, Haines was flawless. He had a 1.000 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
with 17 chances.
On October 7, 1923, Haines played his final regular season Major League game.
In the fall, he played professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and was a member of the 1927 New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
team — a team who, in 1927, won the Giants' first NFL championship. After playing for the Giants from 1925 to 1928, he played for the Staten Island Stapletons
Staten Island Stapletons
The Staten Island Stapletons also known as the Staten Island Stapes were a professional American football team founded in 1915 that played in the National Football League from 1929 to 1930. The team was based in the Stapleton section of Staten Island. Under the shortened nickname the "Stapes"...
in 1929 and 1931, which he also coached.
After his career as halfback for the Giants ended, he became their offensive coach from 1926 through 1931. Haines was an NFL official for a time after he finished coaching.
In later years, Haines settled in the Philadelphia area where he became active in Little Theater as an actor and director.
He died on January 9, 1979 in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania
Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania
Sharon Hill is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,468 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sharon Hill is located at ....
. His body was laid to rest in Middletown Cemetery in Media, Pennsylvania
Media, Pennsylvania
The borough of Media is the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and is located west of Philadelphia. Media was incorporated in 1850 at the same time that it was named the county seat. The population was 5,533 at the 2000 census. Its school district is the Rose Tree Media School District...
.