Card #39 in the 1961 Fleer Baseball Greats set is Chick Hafey. My card is graded PSA 7. Hafey played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1924 to 1931 and for the Cincinnati Reds from 1932 through 1937. He was on two World Series Champs with St Louis (1926 and 1931).
Hafey was a line drive hitter who hit for average. His career batting average was .317. Hafey won the NL batting title in 1931 by just .0002 over Bill Terry and .0007 over Jim Bottomly. It took a hit in Hafey’s last at bat to secure the title. This batting race still ranks as one of the closest in history.
In July of 1929, Hafey tied an NL record by hitting in 10 straight at bats.
Hafey suffered several beanings in 1926 and as a result developed sinus problems which led to him needing to wear glasses. Hafey was one of the early baseball players to wear glasses. He is also one of two players in the Hall of Fame to wear glasses. Reggie Jackson is the other player.
Hafey was traded to Cincinnati as a result of a salary dispute with Branch Rickey. Hafey played 13 years and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1971 by the Veteran’s Committee.
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