Hank Arft
Born: 1/28/1922 in Manchester, MO, USA
Died: 12/14/2002 in St. Louis, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1948-07-27 | Final Game: 1952-05-23
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Henry Irven Arft
Biography
Hank Arft was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball during the early 1950s. Born in 1922, he played primarily as a position player from his debut on April 20, 1948, until his retirement on May 23, 1952. Over the course of his career, Arft appeared in 300 games and recorded a total of 229 hits, achieving a batting average of .253. He demonstrated his power at the plate by hitting 13 home runs and driving in 118 runs, while also showcasing his speed on the bases with 8 stolen bases.
Arft's career unfolded during a transitional period in baseball, as the sport was evolving both in terms of player demographics and playing styles, following the integration of the game in the late 1940s. Although his tenure was relatively short, Arft's contributions to his teams reflected the competitive spirit of the post-war era, as players sought to establish themselves in a game that was rapidly changing. His ability to combine hitting with base running made him a valuable asset, even as he navigated the challenges of a league filled with emerging talent.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 906 | 116 | 229 | 46 | 13 | 13 | 118 | 8 | 137 | 133 | 0.253 | 0.352 | 0.375 | 0.727 | 200.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | SLA | AL | 69 | 248 | 25 | 59 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 38 | 1 | 45 | 43 | 0.238 | 46.1 |
| 1949 | SLA | AL | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1950 | SLA | AL | 98 | 280 | 45 | 75 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 32 | 3 | 46 | 48 | 0.268 | 41.4 |
| 1951 | SLA | AL | 112 | 345 | 44 | 90 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 42 | 4 | 41 | 34 | 0.261 | 113.2 |
| 1952 | SLA | AL | 15 | 28 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0.143 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 260 | 0 | 2182 | 184 | 18 | 251 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | SLA | 1B | 69 | 0 | 598 | 43 | 3 | 81 |
| 1950 | SLA | 1B | 84 | 0 | 701 | 51 | 4 | 59 |
| 1951 | SLA | 1B | 97 | 0 | 820 | 86 | 10 | 100 |
| 1952 | SLA | 1B | 10 | 0 | 63 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 260 |