Saturday, January 10, 2015

Art Mahaffey #104


Art Mahaffey spent seven years in the big leagues. His first appearance in a major league contest was as a reliever in 1960. Art ended the 1960 season with 12 starts and a 7-3 record. A couple fine years on the mound in 1961 and 62 earned him All Star honors. 1962 was an especially good season for Mahaffey. A 19-14 record, 26th in MVP voting, lead the league in home runs allowed and earned runs allowed, and on August 2nd, he pitched a complete game against the Mets, striking out 12 and smacking a grand slam, being the last player in MLB history to achieve that feat.

In 1965, Art was one player in a 3 man trade to the Cardinals that brought Dick Groat and Bob Uecker to the Phillies. Mahaffey on played 12 games with St. Louis, going 1-4 with a 6.43 ERA. He was traded just before the 1967 season to the Mets, but never played a game with the team.

Claim to fame: The first three players to ever reach base against Art were retired with Mahaffey picking them off. Curt Flood and Bill White of the Cardinals, on July 30, 1960, and Jim Marshall of the Giants on July 31.


Comic answer: Juan Marichal, Don Nottebart and Sandy Koufax (had to look up answer on the web)

Card condition: Front is off center with rounded corners and a small crease. Back has very poor centering and dirt with writing on back (though Mahaffey is still alive as of the date of this post).