Andy Pafko

Andrew Pafko (February 25, 1921 - October 8, 2013) played on pennant winning teams in three different cities, displaying his fielding talents, speed and batting prowess for 17 seasons. Handy Andy came up with the Chicago Cubs in 1943 and remained in the Windy City for 8-1/2 seasons (1943-1951) helping them to the 1945 National League pennant. He was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951 where he played for 1-1/2 years and helped them with the 1951 National League pennant. In 1953, Pafko joined the Milwaukee Braves, where he finished his career (1953-1959), and he finally got over the hump as he helped the power-hitting Braves win the 1957 World Series. In all, Pafko played in five World Series and batted .222 with 16 hits in 24 games and 72 at-bats. Bobby Thomson’s “shot heard round the world”, the 3-run homer that helped the Giants beat the Dodgers in a one-game playoff and reach the 1951 World Series, soared over Pafko’s head as he patrolled left field at the Polo Grounds. He was named to four MLB All-Star Games and Andy Pafko finished his career with a .285 career batting average, had 1,796 hits including 264 doubles and 213 home runs, scored 844 runs and drove in 976 RBI. 

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