Andy Pafko
Born: 2/25/1921 in Boyceville, WI, USA
Died: 10/8/2013 in Bridgman, MI, USA
MLB Debut: 1943-09-24 | Final Game: 1959-09-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Andrew Pafko
Biography
Andy Pafko was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1943 to 1959. Born in 1921, Pafko played a significant role during an era that witnessed the transition of the game through the late stages of World War II and into the post-war boom. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,852 games, amassing 1,796 hits, 213 home runs, and 976 RBIs, while posting a commendable batting average of .285. Known for his versatility and solid defensive skills, Pafko was a key figure for teams such as the Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Milwaukee Braves.
Pafko's talent was recognized through his selection as an All-Star five times, reflecting his status as one of the top players of his time. He was known for his powerful swing and ability to drive in runs, contributing significantly to his teams' successes. His career also included a noteworthy stint during the Dodgers' 1955 World Series championship, marking a highlight in a career defined by consistency and resilience. With 38 stolen bases to his name, Pafko demonstrated not only power but also speed, making him a well-rounded player who left a lasting impact on the game.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40.0 | 38.0 | 7.0 | 12.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 2.0 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0.316 | 0.350 | 0.553 | 0.903 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | 23.0 | 21.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0.286 | 0.348 | 0.333 | 0.681 |
| 1947 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.353 | 0.353 | 0.824 | 1.177 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1852 | 6292 | 844 | 1796 | 264 | 62 | 213 | 976 | 38 | 561 | 477 | 0.285 | 0.350 | 0.449 | 0.799 | 14042.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | CHC | NL | 13 | 58 | 7 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0.379 | 204.8 |
| 1944 | CHC | NL | 128 | 469 | 47 | 126 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 62 | 2 | 28 | 23 | 0.269 | -272.9 |
| 1945 | CHC | NL | 144 | 534 | 64 | 159 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 110 | 5 | 45 | 36 | 0.298 | 1894.1 |
| 1946 | CHC | NL | 65 | 234 | 18 | 66 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 39 | 4 | 27 | 15 | 0.282 | 400.9 |
| 1947 | CHC | NL | 129 | 513 | 68 | 155 | 25 | 7 | 13 | 66 | 4 | 31 | 39 | 0.302 | 1042.3 |
| 1948 | CHC | NL | 142 | 548 | 82 | 171 | 30 | 2 | 26 | 101 | 3 | 50 | 50 | 0.312 | 2483.3 |
| 1949 | CHC | NL | 144 | 519 | 79 | 146 | 29 | 2 | 18 | 69 | 4 | 63 | 33 | 0.281 | 1364.1 |
| 1950 | CHC | NL | 146 | 514 | 95 | 156 | 24 | 8 | 36 | 92 | 4 | 69 | 32 | 0.304 | 3481.2 |
| 1951 | BRO | NL | 84 | 277 | 42 | 69 | 11 | 0 | 18 | 58 | 1 | 35 | 27 | 0.249 | 818.2 |
| 1951 | CHC | NL | 49 | 178 | 26 | 47 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 35 | 1 | 17 | 10 | 0.264 | 818.2 |
| 1952 | BRO | NL | 150 | 551 | 76 | 158 | 17 | 5 | 19 | 85 | 4 | 64 | 48 | 0.287 | 1793.7 |
| 1953 | ATL | NL | 140 | 516 | 70 | 153 | 23 | 4 | 17 | 72 | 2 | 37 | 33 | 0.297 | 907.2 |
| 1954 | ATL | NL | 138 | 510 | 61 | 146 | 22 | 4 | 14 | 69 | 1 | 37 | 36 | 0.286 | 445.7 |
| 1955 | ATL | NL | 86 | 252 | 29 | 67 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 34 | 1 | 7 | 23 | 0.266 | -450.1 |
| 1956 | ATL | NL | 45 | 93 | 15 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 0.258 | -39.3 |
| 1957 | ATL | NL | 83 | 220 | 31 | 61 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 27 | 1 | 10 | 22 | 0.277 | 20.4 |
| 1958 | ATL | NL | 95 | 164 | 17 | 39 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 15 | 17 | 0.238 | -283.2 |
| 1959 | ATL | NL | 71 | 142 | 17 | 31 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 14 | 15 | 0.218 | -353.8 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 72 | 6 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 0.222 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | WS | ML1 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 |
| 1957 | WS | ML1 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.214 |
| 1952 | WS | BRO | 7 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.190 |
| 1945 | WS | CHN | 7 | 28 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0.214 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 213 | 11 | 189 | 460 | 43 | 43 |
| OF | 1570 | 316 | 3199 | 130 | 54 | 24 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | CHN | OF | 13 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1944 | CHN | OF | 123 | 0 | 333 | 24 | 6 | 4 |
| 1945 | CHN | OF | 140 | 0 | 371 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| 1946 | CHN | OF | 64 | 0 | 165 | 13 | 4 | 4 |
| 1947 | CHN | OF | 127 | 0 | 327 | 9 | 5 | 3 |
| 1948 | CHN | 3B | 139 | 0 | 125 | 314 | 29 | 29 |
| 1949 | CHN | 3B | 49 | 0 | 40 | 101 | 10 | 10 |
| 1949 | CHN | OF | 98 | 0 | 217 | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| 1950 | CHN | OF | 144 | 0 | 342 | 12 | 8 | 1 |
| 1951 | BRO | OF | 76 | 0 | 144 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 1951 | CHN | OF | 48 | 0 | 119 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| 1952 | BRO | 3B | 13 | 0 | 15 | 19 | 3 | 3 |
| 1952 | BRO | OF | 139 | 0 | 229 | 18 | 3 | 2 |
| 1953 | ML1 | OF | 139 | 0 | 241 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| 1954 | ML1 | OF | 138 | 136 | 245 | 9 | 8 | 3 |
| 1955 | ML1 | 3B | 12 | 11 | 9 | 26 | 1 | 1 |
| 1955 | ML1 | OF | 58 | 47 | 96 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1956 | ML1 | OF | 37 | 21 | 43 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | ML1 | OF | 69 | 43 | 108 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1958 | ML1 | OF | 93 | 34 | 107 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | ML1 | OF | 64 | 35 | 87 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Third Base | 214 |
| Left Field | 362 |
| Center Field | 787 |
| Right Field | 467 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1948 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1945 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | CF |
| 1945 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | CF |
| 1945 | TSN All-Star | OF |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 12th | 38.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1948 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 16th | 25.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 26th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1945 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 4th | 131.0 | 336 | 4 |