View source for Hal Peck

{{short description|American baseball player (1917–1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Hal Peck
|image=File:Hal Peck 1949 Bowman card.jpg
|position=[[Right fielder]]
|birth_date={{Birth date|1917|4|20}}
|birth_place=[[Big Bend, Waukesha County, Wisconsin|Big Bend, Wisconsin]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1995|4|13|1917|4|20}}
|death_place=[[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], U.S.
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=May 13
|debutyear=1943
|debutteam=Brooklyn Dodgers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 25
|finalyear=1949
|finalteam=Cleveland Indians
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.279
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=15
|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=112
|teams=
* [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] ({{mlby|1943}})
* [[Philadelphia Athletics]] ({{mlby|1944}}–{{mlby|1946}})
* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{mlby|1947}}–{{mlby|1949}})
|highlights=
* [[World Series]] champion ({{wsy|1948}})
}}
'''Harold Arthur "Hal" Peck''' (April 20, 1917 – April 13, 1995) was an American [[professional baseball]] [[right fielder]]. He played seven seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) from 1943 to 1949 for the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]], [[Philadelphia Athletics]], and [[Cleveland Indians]]. In 355 career games, Peck recorded a [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] of .279 and accumulated 15 [[home run]]s and 112 [[runs batted in]] (RBI).
Born in [[Big Bend, Waukesha County, Wisconsin|Big Bend, Wisconsin]], Peck began to play professional baseball in 1938. He spent two years in the lower minor leagues, then spent the better part of five years with the [[Milwaukee Brewers (American Association)|Milwaukee Brewers]] of the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]]. In 1942, Peck lost two toes in a shooting accident, but despite the injury was able to continue playing baseball. He made his major league debut in 1943 with the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]], then joined the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] 1944. He spent three seasons with them, and was an everyday player in 1945. Peck was then traded to the [[New York Yankees]] and the [[Cleveland Indians]]. He achieved a career high in games played with 114 in 1947, and spent 1948 and 1949 as a [[pinch hitter]]. Peck also played a game in the [[1948 World Series]] for the Indians. After being traded from the Indians after the 1949 season, he retired from baseball, and died in 1995.
==Early life and minor leagues==
Peck was born in [[Big Bend, Waukesha County, Wisconsin|Big Bend, Wisconsin]] and graduated from Big Bend High School. As a youth, he participated the Land O' Lakes League, a Wisconsin-based amateur baseball league, and took part in statewide baseball tournaments.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alex|last=Zirin|title=Peck Gives Foes Bushel of Trouble|work=[[The Plain Dealer]]|date=June 15, 1947|page=18}}</ref> In 1937, Peck's father-in-law arranged for a tryout with the [[Milwaukee Brewers (American Association)|Milwaukee Brewers]] of the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]].<ref name=hid>{{cite news|title=When Hal Peck hid|page=4|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=August 28, 1944}}</ref> The Brewers signed Peck, and sent him to play for the [[Hopkinsville Hoppers]] of the [[Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League]] in 1938, where he finished the season with a .331 batting average and 16 [[triple (baseball)|triples]] in 130 games. In 1939, Peck was promoted to the [[Bloomington Bloomers]] of the [[Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League]], where he hit .286 in 69 games.<ref name=brm>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=peck--001har|title=Hal Peck Minor League Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=June 6, 2020}}</ref> He then joined Milwaukee for the 1940 season, and became recognized as a top [[prospect (sports)|prospect]] by [[Major League Baseball]] teams. [[Bill Veeck]], the owner of the Brewers, identified Peck as his favorite player.<ref name=breaks>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wu1cJHb4yo0C&pg=PA96|title=Beating the Breaks: Major League Ballplayers who Overcame Disabilities|first=Rick |last=Swaine|page=96|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|year=2004|isbn=0786481951}}</ref>
In one game during the 1940 season against the [[Columbus Red Birds]], Peck chased down a [[Batted ball#Fly ball|fly ball]] and ran into an iron fence, knocking himself out. He managed to hold onto the ball in spite of this, and the catch was noted by sportswriter [[Harry Grayson]] as "one of the greatest catches even seen in Columbus."<ref name=peck>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52863153/hal-peck-athletics-outfielder-feature/|title=Turned Back By Dodgers, Special Shoe Makes Hal Peck A $75,000 Outfielder|first=Harry|last=Grayson|author-link=Harry Grayson|work=[[The Brownsville Herald]]|date=June 28, 1944|page=7|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Peck finished the season with a .294 batting average and 14 triples in 136 games, and followed that up in 1942 with a .267 batting average in 144 games.<ref name=brm/> After hitting .333 in 1942, multiple teams were looking to acquire Peck from the Brewers, which included the [[Chicago White Sox]]. The Brewers were near a deal with the White Sox when Peck's season abruptly ended. On September 3, Peck lost two toes from his left foot due to a shooting accident. He was attempting to shoot rats on his farm when he tripped over a vine, shooting his foot in the process. This cost him his third and fourth toes on his right foot, and ended the White Sox attempt to purchase Peck.<ref name=peck/><ref name=breaks/>
Shortly after the accident, the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] purchased Peck from the Brewers and gave him a brief trial in 1943, appearing in one game for the team on May 13. After the appearance, he was returned to Milwaukee. Once he returned to Milwaukee, he had a special shoe made for him by a local shoemaker, which allowed him to play without as much pain.<ref name=peck/> However, he missed the majority of the season recovering from his foot injury, only playing in 23 games, as it had not yet healed from the offseason and required further surgery.<ref name=breaks/> Peck returned to the Brewers in the 1944 season, and was now able to play every day. He recorded a .345 batting average with 18 [[stolen base]]s, and at one point in the season had an average of .398.<ref name=brm/>
==MLB career==
The [[Philadelphia Athletics]] purchased Peck from the Brewers on August 17, 1944 for four players and $20,000.<ref name=athletics>{{cite news|title=Hal Peck Is Bought by Philadelphia A's: Brewers to Get Four Players and an Undisclosed Amount of Money in Deal|first=Sam|last=Levy|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=8|date=August 17, 1944}}</ref> After playing in two games in 1944, Peck entered the [[1945 Philadelphia Athletics season]] as the team's everyday right fielder after winning the job in [[spring training]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sluggers Seen A's Greatest Need For First Division|first=Jack|last=Hand|author-link=Jack Hand|work=[[Wilmington Morning News]]|date=April 4, 1945|page=14}}</ref> In the first week of the season, he hit .367 and led the Athletics to six wins in their first eight games, which raised expectations of the team for the season.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jack|last=Hand|title=Connie Mack's Athletics May Be Dark-Horse Entry|work=[[Chillicothe Gazette]]|date=April 27, 1945|page=12}}</ref> The Athletics finished the season with 52 wins, and Peck ended his 112 games played with a .276 batting average and nine triples.<ref name="statistics">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/peckha01.shtml|title=Hal Peck Statistics and History"|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=June 8, 2017}}</ref> During the offseason, he worked in the dairy business with his father-in-law. In 1946, he wanted a $2,500 raise despite admitting he had not played well the prior year, and was denied; he ended up signing with the team at the end of March, missing most of spring training as a result.<ref>{{cite news|title=Player Admits He Had Bad Year But Wants $2500 Pay Raise|work=[[The Pittsburgh Press]]|date=March 7, 1946|page=28}}</ref> Peck remained the starting right fielder through the first part of the season, hitting .247 in 48 games. On June 19, the Athletics sold Peck to the [[New York Yankees]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Yanks Buy Peck From Athletics|date=June 20, 1946|page=26|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press}}</ref>
Despite the purchase, Peck never played a game for the Yankees. He returned to Wisconsin after fighting a bout of [[influenza]], and did not recover fully by the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=A's 6 in 4th Whip Yankees, 6–3; Knerr Hurls 2-Hitter|work=[[New York Daily News]]|date=July 1, 1946|page=37}}</ref> On December 6, the [[Cleveland Indians]] acquired Peck, [[Gene Bearden]], and [[Al Gettel]] from the Yankees in exchange for [[Sherm Lollar]] and [[Ray Mack]], which paired Indians owner Bill Veeck with the player he once called his favorite prospect.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yanks Trade Three Men For Mack, Lollar|first=Leo H.|last=Petersen|date=December 6, 1946|page=7-B|newspaper=The Miami News}}</ref> Peck was named the starting right fielder for 1947, and held that position throughout the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Indians Set To Give Spring Tonic Today|first=Roelif|last=Loveland|work=[[The Plain Dealer]]|date=April 15, 1947|page=1}}</ref> Near the start of the season, from April 22 to May 11, he hit in 13 straight games.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alex|last=Zirin|title=A's Edge Indians, 7–6, as Feller's 10 Passes Nullify 4-Hit Pitching|work=The Plain Dealer|date=May 14, 1947|page=20}}</ref> In a game against the [[Chicago White Sox]] on May 30, Peck hit two home runs and had five RBIs during the first game of a doubleheader to give Cleveland the 8–4 win.<ref>{{cite news|title=Indians Climb Into 2d Place|work=The Plain Dealer|date=May 31, 1947|page=1}}</ref> In 114 games for the Indians, the highest of his career, he finished the season with a .293 batting average, eight home runs, and 44 RBIs.<ref name="statistics"/>
Peck entered the 1948 season in a crowded battle for the [[right field]] position with the acquisitions of [[Allie Clark]] and [[Thurman Tucker]] during the offseason. [[Larry Doby]] won the starting job to start the season, and with the other two new Indians also seeing regular playing time, Peck was relegated to [[pinch hitting]] duty.<ref>{{cite news|title=Plain Dealing|work=The Plain Dealer|date=April 20, 1948|page=19}}</ref> In 45 games, Peck had a .286 batting average in 63 [[at bat]]s. He also appeared in Game 5 of the [[1948 World Series]] to replace [[Walt Judnich]] in right field, his only appearance during the Indians' World Series victory.<ref name="statistics"/> With the acquisition of [[Bob Kennedy]] during the 1948 season, Peck was further relegated to pinch-hitting duty for the 1949 season, only seeing playing time to replace a pitcher at bat. He also had a nagging knee injury that caused him trouble when he was inactive, and as a result he was removed from the active roster in May.<ref>{{cite news|title=Minoso, Peck, and Reich Cut Off Tribe Roster|work=The Plain Dealer|date=May 19, 1949|page=23}}</ref> After he recovered in July, he was originally planned to be sent to the [[San Diego Padres (PCL)|San Diego Padres]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]], but he was placed back on the Indians' main roster for the rest of the season.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Indians Option Rosen; Peck On Active List|work=The Plain Dealer|date=July 3, 1949|page=21}}</ref> Peck finished the season with a .310 batting average in 29 at bats over 33 games, and his last MLB appearance was on September 25.<ref name="statistics"/>
==Later life==
After the 1949 season ended, Peck was traded to the [[Portland Beavers]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]]. However, Peck refused to report to the team, wanting to play closer to Wisconsin instead of on the west coast. The two sides did not reach an agreement, and Peck retired soon after.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beavers Defeat L.A. For First Win|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 10, 1950|page=57}}</ref> After retirement, Peck lived in Wisconsin for a time with his family, working for Atlantic Richfield Company, then moved to Arizona. He died at age 77 in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]].<ref name=Necrology>{{cite book|last1=Lee|first1=Bill|title=The Baseball Necrology: The Post-baseball Lives and Deaths of More Than 7,600 Major League Players and Others|date=2003|publisher=McFarland|isbn=0786442395|page=313|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=13EwCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA313}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Baseballstats|br=p/peckha01|brm=peck--001har}}
* {{Find a Grave}}
{{1948 Cleveland Indians}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peck, Hal}}
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball right fielders]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Athletics players]]
[[Category:Cleveland Indians players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Hopkinsville Hoppers players]]
[[Category:Bloomington Bloomers players]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers (minor league) players]]
[[Category:People from Big Bend, Waukesha County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Waukesha County, Wisconsin]]