Buddy Hassett
Born: 9/5/1911 in New York, NY, USA
Died: 8/23/1997 in Westwood, NJ, USA
MLB Debut: 1936-04-14 | Final Game: 1942-09-27
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: John Aloysius Hassett
Biography
Buddy Hassett was a talented position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1936 to 1942. Born in 1911, he made a significant impact in the game during the pre-World War II era, a time characterized by a more traditional style of play and a focus on contact hitting. Over the course of his career, Hassett played in 929 games, amassing 1,026 hits and achieving a commendable batting average of .292, which underscored his ability to consistently get on base and contribute to his team's offensive efforts.
Hassett's offensive production was marked by his ability to drive in runs, as evidenced by his 343 RBIs, and he demonstrated speed on the base paths with 53 stolen bases throughout his career. Although he hit only 12 home runs, his value lay in his overall hitting prowess and situational awareness on the field. As a player who navigated the transition from the deadball era into a more dynamic offensive environment, Hassett's contributions were vital for teams that sought to blend traditional strategies with emerging tactics in baseball. His legacy as a reliable hitter and teammate remains recognized among baseball historians and enthusiasts.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.250 | .000 | 0.250 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.250 | .000 | 0.250 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 929 | 3517 | 469 | 1026 | 130 | 40 | 12 | 343 | 53 | 209 | 116 | 0.292 | 0.333 | 0.362 | 0.695 | -3359.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | BRO | NL | 156 | 635 | 79 | 197 | 29 | 11 | 3 | 82 | 5 | 35 | 17 | 0.310 | -61.5 |
| 1937 | BRO | NL | 137 | 556 | 71 | 169 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 53 | 13 | 20 | 19 | 0.304 | -435.4 |
| 1938 | BRO | NL | 115 | 335 | 49 | 98 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 40 | 3 | 32 | 19 | 0.293 | -158.8 |
| 1939 | BSN | NL | 147 | 590 | 72 | 182 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 60 | 13 | 29 | 14 | 0.308 | -718.9 |
| 1940 | BSN | NL | 124 | 458 | 59 | 107 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 4 | 25 | 16 | 0.234 | -2059.3 |
| 1941 | BSN | NL | 118 | 405 | 59 | 120 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 33 | 10 | 36 | 15 | 0.296 | -39.1 |
| 1942 | NYY | AL | 132 | 538 | 80 | 153 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 48 | 5 | 32 | 16 | 0.284 | 113.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.333 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | WS | NYA | 3 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.333 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 747 | 0 | 6630 | 649 | 108 | 642 |
| OF | 114 | 0 | 232 | 2 | 11 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | BRO | 1B | 156 | 0 | 1401 | 121 | 26 | 89 |
| 1937 | BRO | 1B | 131 | 0 | 1125 | 116 | 20 | 96 |
| 1937 | BRO | OF | 7 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1938 | BRO | 1B | 8 | 0 | 61 | 13 | 2 | 6 |
| 1938 | BRO | OF | 71 | 0 | 154 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 1939 | BSN | 1B | 123 | 0 | 1143 | 112 | 19 | 127 |
| 1939 | BSN | OF | 23 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1940 | BSN | 1B | 98 | 0 | 877 | 91 | 21 | 102 |
| 1940 | BSN | OF | 13 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1941 | BSN | 1B | 99 | 0 | 895 | 78 | 9 | 92 |
| 1942 | NYA | 1B | 132 | 0 | 1128 | 118 | 11 | 130 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 747 |
| Left Field | 73 |
| Center Field | 6 |
| Right Field | 38 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1942 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 1B |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan College | New York | NY | 1931, 1932, 1933 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 25th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |