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 Power surge
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INSIDE:

CLUBHOUSE
CRONICLES
Jimmy Palermo, during a historic 7-day span in May, 1939, saw the meteoric rise of Williams and tragic decline of Gehrig.

THE GAME'S
GOLDEN ERA
An exclusive WIWAG ongoing feature.

MEMORIES
 The field seemed vast to a 7-year old who had looked forward to this day for two months.

BREAKING THE COLOR LINE
The year marks the 60th anniversary of the first major league tryout for black players.
SPECIAL COLOR
LINE TIMELINE
Bud Fowler is the first know black players on an integrated team.

BOOMING BATS
of the '50s
Qualify as Grade A10.

AMERICA'S ORIGINAL
SPORTS BAR
 First sports bar featured 12-inch Farnsworth TV.

BASEBALL
HISTORIANS
Two unsuspecting vintage baseball fans rediscover a "National Treasure." 		>> Home page                                                                         >> Contact us

PAFKO's choice of lumber is a Louisville Slugger (model K55) with signature stamp on the barrel.

BRAVES RIGHT FIELDER Andy Pafko used this bat in a September 1953 series with the Cardinals at Sportsman's Park. The Braves took two out of three from the Cardinals with Andy contributing a hit and scoring a run in the first two games. He hit .297 with 17 home runs and 72 RBIs in the Braves' first year in Milwaukee.

ANDY PAFKO

ALL-STAR: 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950

'Handy Andy' played on pennant-winners with Cubs, Dodgers and Braves

His 110 RBIs helped the Cubs win the 1945 National League pennant, and after World War II he compiled three .300 seasons in Chicago — and hit 36 home runs in 1950

MAJOR LEAGUE ALL-STAR

ANDY PAFKO played on pennant-winning teams in Chicago, Brooklyn and Milwaukee.
ANDY PAFKO WEB LINKS
>BASEBALL-REFERENCE.COM
>BASEBALL-LIBRARY.COM
>BASEBALL-ALMANAC.COM

Andy Pafko began his Major League baseball career on September 24, 1943, with the Chicago Cubs at the age of 23. Andy played 17 seasons for Chicago, Brooklyn and Milwaukee — and ended his big league playing career in 1959.

Pafko was an excellent outfielder with a strong arm and power who played on pennant winners in three cities. His 110 RBIs helped the Cubs win the 1945 National League pennant. After World War II he compiled three .300-plus seasons in Chicago and hit a career high 36 home runs in 1950.

Cub manager Charlie Grimm, who gave him his "Handy Andy" nickname for his versatility, often used him at third base. Pafko was extremely popular, so his 1951 trade to the Dodgers was very unwelcome in Chicago.

With Pafko joining Duke Snider and Carl Furillo in the Brooklyn outfield, the "Bums" had the best defensive garden trio in baseball. The Booming Bats of the '50s collection includes bats from each member of this great outfield.

Pafko's 19 homers and 85 RBI helped a powerful Brooklyn club win a pennant in 1952. Brooklyn traded him to the Braves after the 1952 season and moved Jackie Robinson into the vacated left field position for a year.


ANDY PAFKO began his Major League baseball career on September 24, 1943 with the Chicago Cubs.

Pafko platooned on Milwaukee's World Champions of 1957 and pennant winners of 1958. He was a five-time all-star outfielder, hitting .285 lifetime, with 213 home runs and 976 RBIs.

As a member of the Cubs' farm team in Green Bay, Andy was thrown out of a Wisconsin State League game by umpire Jimmy Palermo (proprietor of the Original Sports Bar) during Palermo's stint as a professional umpire.

ANDY PAFKO: Did you know...

...Pafko was traded by the Chicago Cubs in June 1951 with Johnny Schmitz, Wayne Terwilliger, and Rube Walker to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Bruce Edwards, Joe Hatten, Eddie Miksis, and Gene Hermanski.

...Pafko was traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers in Jan. 1953 to the Milwaukee Braves for Roy Hartsfield and $50,000 cash.

...Pafko was released by the Milwaukee Braves in Oct. 1959.

...Pafko was born February 25, 1921 in Boyceville, Wisconsin.

"HANDY ANDY" was an excellent outfielder with a strong arm, and played on Milwaukee's world championship team in 1957.

PAFKO's 19 homers and 85 RBI helped a powerful Brooklyn club win a pennant in 1952, but he was traded to the Milwaukee Braves in 1953 where he finished his career after the 1959 season.


THIS CARICATURE of Pafko published in the Sporting News calls Andy a "dark wavy-haired youngster of 24 years...weighs 187 pounds and stands 5 feet, 11 inches."