Tom Haller
Born: 6/23/1937 in Lockport, IL, USA
Died: 11/26/2004 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1961-04-11 | Final Game: 1972-10-04
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: Thomas Frank Haller
Biography
Tom Haller was a prominent American baseball player born in 1937, who made significant contributions to Major League Baseball during his career from 1961 to 1972. Known for his versatility as a position player, Haller played primarily as a catcher and enjoyed a solid career spanning 1,294 games. He amassed 1,011 hits, including 134 home runs, and drove in 504 runs, finishing with a career batting average of .257. Haller was also recognized for his ability to contribute on the basepaths, stealing 14 bases throughout his time in the league.
Haller's career was marked by three All-Star selections, showcasing his status as one of the top players of his era. He played during a transformative period in baseball, navigating the transition from the deadball era to a time when offensive prowess began to dominate the game. His contributions were not just limited to his offensive statistics; Haller was known for his strong defensive skills behind the plate, helping to shape the game for catchers that followed. His legacy persists as a testament to the talents of players from the 1960s and early 1970s, a time when baseball was evolving into the high-scoring spectacle it is known for today.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1294 | 3935 | 461 | 1011 | 153 | 31 | 134 | 504 | 14 | 477 | 593 | 0.257 | 0.340 | 0.414 | 0.753 | 8257.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | SFG | NL | 30 | 62 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 23 | 0.145 | -299.0 |
| 1962 | SFG | NL | 99 | 272 | 53 | 71 | 13 | 1 | 18 | 55 | 1 | 51 | 59 | 0.261 | 1417.5 |
| 1963 | SFG | NL | 98 | 298 | 32 | 76 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 44 | 4 | 34 | 45 | 0.255 | 665.1 |
| 1964 | SFG | NL | 117 | 388 | 43 | 98 | 14 | 3 | 16 | 48 | 4 | 55 | 51 | 0.253 | 957.1 |
| 1965 | SFG | NL | 134 | 422 | 40 | 106 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 49 | 0 | 47 | 67 | 0.251 | 619.8 |
| 1966 | SFG | NL | 142 | 471 | 74 | 113 | 19 | 2 | 27 | 67 | 1 | 53 | 74 | 0.240 | 1289.5 |
| 1967 | SFG | NL | 141 | 455 | 54 | 114 | 23 | 5 | 14 | 49 | 0 | 62 | 61 | 0.251 | 1319.7 |
| 1968 | LAD | NL | 144 | 474 | 37 | 135 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 53 | 1 | 46 | 76 | 0.285 | 1243.3 |
| 1969 | LAD | NL | 134 | 445 | 46 | 117 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 39 | 0 | 48 | 58 | 0.263 | 133.2 |
| 1970 | LAD | NL | 112 | 325 | 47 | 93 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 47 | 3 | 32 | 35 | 0.286 | 838.9 |
| 1971 | LAD | NL | 84 | 202 | 23 | 54 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 32 | 0 | 25 | 30 | 0.267 | 203.7 |
| 1972 | DET | AL | 59 | 121 | 7 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 15 | 14 | 0.207 | -131.9 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0.267 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | ALCS | DET | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1962 | WS | SFN | 4 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0.286 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 4 | 1 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| C | 1199 | 1080 | 7012 | 508 | 64 | 86 |
| OF | 11 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | SFN | C | 25 | 20 | 117 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 1962 | SFN | C | 91 | 83 | 472 | 38 | 4 | 6 |
| 1963 | SFN | C | 85 | 79 | 499 | 38 | 3 | 7 |
| 1963 | SFN | OF | 7 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | SFN | C | 113 | 105 | 739 | 50 | 9 | 12 |
| 1964 | SFN | OF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | SFN | C | 133 | 125 | 864 | 50 | 12 | 9 |
| 1966 | SFN | C | 136 | 122 | 797 | 57 | 8 | 5 |
| 1966 | SFN | 1B | 4 | 1 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 1967 | SFN | C | 136 | 120 | 797 | 64 | 3 | 5 |
| 1967 | SFN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1968 | LAN | C | 139 | 127 | 863 | 81 | 6 | 23 |
| 1969 | LAN | C | 132 | 120 | 800 | 48 | 7 | 4 |
| 1970 | LAN | C | 106 | 91 | 524 | 26 | 4 | 7 |
| 1971 | LAN | C | 67 | 56 | 320 | 34 | 8 | 3 |
| 1972 | DET | C | 36 | 32 | 220 | 15 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1198 |
| First Base | 5 |
| Left Field | 2 |
| Right Field | 9 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Champaign | IL | 1957 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 29th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1968 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 22th | 3.0 | 280 | 0 |