Larry Haney
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Wallace Larry Haney (born November 19, 1942 in Charlottesville, Virginia) was a Major League Baseball player from 1966 to 1978 for the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Pilots, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, and Milwaukee Brewers. Haney primarily was a backup catcher. He later served as bullpen coach with the Brewers. Haney's son Chris, was a pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Kansas City Royals.
Haney was valued by teams mainly for his defensive abilities. In addition to his .985 fielding percentage and skill at working with pitching staffs, he threw out 110 of 282 stolen base attempts (39.0%) and picked off 8 baserunners during his career. He was acquired three separate times by the Oakland A's, and was with them during their entire World Championship year of 1974.
Haney's lifetime batting average in 480 games (283 starts) was .215, with 12 home runs, 73 runs batted in, and 49 runs scored.
Career highlights include:
- hit a home run in his first major league game (second at bat) against John O'Donoghue of the Cleveland Indians (July 27, 1966)
- one 4-hit game...three singles and a double vs. the Chicago White Sox (September 6, 1968)
- five 3-hit games
- was the starting catcher in the second game in Seattle Pilots history (April 9, 1969)
- played in two World Series games for the Oakland A's in 1974 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers
- hit a combined .455 (30-for-66) against All-Stars Jack Aker, Bert Blyleven, Dean Chance, Joe Horlen, Mickey Lolich, Dennis Martinez, Jim Merritt, Jim Perry, and Wilbur Wood
- hit .500 (3-for-6) against Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry
[edit] Trivia
- led California League catchers with 18 double plays and 38 passed balls while playing for the Stockton Ports in 1962
- led Eastern League catchers with 17 double plays while playing for the Elmira Pioneers in 1963
- is a cousin of former major league infielder Mike Cubbage
[edit] Reference
- 1976 Baseball Register published by The Sporting News
