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Tom Haller
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Tom Haller
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Thomas Frank Haller (June 23, 1937 – November 26, 2004) was an American professional baseball player, coach, and executive. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1961 to 1972, most notably as a member of the San Francisco Giants where he made two of his three All-Star teams. Haller ended his playing career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers.[1]

Key Information

Haller was considered one of the top catchers in the National League (NL) during the late 1960s.[2] In 2008, he was part of the inaugural class of inductees into the San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame.[3]

Major League career

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Haller was born in Lockport, Illinois, and attended the University of Illinois, where he played as a quarterback for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team.[4] During his time at the university, Haller was also a member of Theta Chi fraternity. Haller was signed by the San Francisco Giants, as an amateur free agent, in 1958.[1] After playing in the minor leagues for three seasons, he made his major league debut with the Giants on April 11, 1961, at the age of 24.[1][5]

Haller hit .261, with 18 home runs, and 55 Run batted in (RBI), for the Giants in 1962, in a platoon system, alongside Ed Bailey, although both catchers were left-handed hitters. Haller and Bailey combined to give the Giants 35 home runs and 100 runs batted in from the catcher's position as they battled the Los Angeles Dodgers in a tight pennant race.[6] The two teams ended the season tied for first place and met in the 1962 National League tie-breaker series.[7] The Giants won the three-game series to clinch the National League championship.[8] The Giants then lost to the New York Yankees in the 1962 World Series in seven games. Haller collected four hits in 14 at-bats, with a home run, and three RBI, during the Series.[9]

Haller continued to platoon with Bailey through the 1963 season, finishing the year second to Johnny Edwards among National League catchers in fielding percentage.[10] In December 1963, the Giants traded Bailey to the Milwaukee Braves for veteran catcher Del Crandall, and Haller became their undisputed starting catcher. He was a solid defensive catcher for the Giants from 1964 to 1967. In his book, The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, baseball historian Bill James said the decision to give Joe Torre a 1965 National League Gold Glove Award was absurd, stating that Torre was given the award because of his offensive statistics and that either Haller or John Roseboro was more deserving of the award.[2] Haller also helped offensively in 1965, hitting two home runs and driving in five runs during a game on September 27 to put the Giants in first place with one week left in the season.[11] However, the Giants faltered and ended the season two games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.[12]

The following season, Haller earned his first All-Star berth when he was named as a reserve player for the National League team in the 1966 All-Star Game.[13] He was the catcher for two twenty-game winners in 1966, as Juan Marichal won 25 games and Gaylord Perry won 21 games.[14] Haller finished the season with career-highs of 27 home runs and 67 runs batted in, as the Giants once again finished second to the Dodgers, by a game and a half.[1][15] He earned his second consecutive All-Star berth in 1967 when he was named as a reserve for the National League team in the 1967 All-Star Game.[16] Haller ended the 1967 season second to Tim McCarver among NL catchers in assists and in fielding percentage, and guided the Giants' pitching staff to the lowest team earned run average (ERA) in the National League, as Giants pitcher, Mike McCormick, won the National League Cy Young Award, with a 22-10 record.[17][18][19] The Giants finished in second place for a third consecutive season, this time to the St. Louis Cardinals.[20]

In February 1968, the Giants were in need of good infielders, and with four young catching prospects, including Dick Dietz and Dave Rader, club president Chub Feeney decided to trade Haller along with a player to be named later, to the Dodgers, for infielders Ron Hunt and Nate Oliver.[21][22] The trade was the first between the two teams since their move to the West Coast in 1958, and also the first since the one that would have sent Jackie Robinson from the Dodgers to the Giants after the 1956 season.[22] Haller played well in 1968, posting a .285 batting average, in 144 games, and earned his third consecutive All-Star berth.[1] He also played well defensively with career-highs in assists (83) and in double plays (23).[1] He guided the Dodgers' pitching staff to the second best team earned run average in the league, although the team finished the season in seventh place.[23]

After spending four seasons with the Dodgers, Haller was traded to the Detroit Tigers, in December 1971.[21] He batted .207 with two home runs and 12 runs batted in during the 1972 season as a backup catcher for Bill Freehan, when the Tigers won the American League Eastern Division championship.[1][24] Haller was the younger brother of American League (AL) umpire Bill Haller and in July 1972, the two men appeared in the same game with Tom catching for the Tigers while Bill stood behind him as the home plate umpire.[25] His playing time was reduced when the Tigers acquired catcher Duke Sims in August.[26] In the 1972 American League Championship Series against the Oakland Athletics, Haller made only one appearance as a pinch hitter in Game 2, as the Tigers lost the series in five games.[27][28] In October 1972, the Tigers sold Haller to the Philadelphia Phillies along with pitcher Don Leshnock.[29] Haller then made the decision to retire at the age of 35.[30]

Career statistics

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In a twelve-year major league career, Haller played in 1,294 games, accumulating 1,011 hits, in 3,935 at bats, for a .257 career batting average, along with 134 home runs, 504 runs batted in, and an on-base percentage of .340.[1] A three-time All-Star, he was a more-than-capable defensive catcher, ending his career with a respectable .992 fielding percentage which, at the time of his retirement, was second only to the .993 career record of Elston Howard.[1] Haller led National League catchers in putouts in 1965, and in baserunners caught stealing in 1968.[1] He set the NL single-season record for double plays by a catcher with 23 in 1968.[31] Haller led the NL in sacrifice flies, in 1968, with 9.[32] Haller caught for six pitchers who would eventually be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.[33] He caught 107 shutouts during his career, ranking him 23rd all-time among major league catchers.[34] Baseball historian Bill James ranked Haller 26th all-time among major league catchers.[2]

Coaching and executive career

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After his playing career ended, Haller worked for the Giants as a coach (1977–1979), and was their vice president of baseball operations (1981–1985).[35] He was named to the Giants' 25th anniversary team, in 1982.[36] Early in the 1986 baseball season, Haller served as the manager of the minor league Double-A Birmingham Barons, of the Southern League (an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox).[37] On June 9, 1986, Haller was named as the General Manager of the White Sox, but disagreements with executive Ken Harrelson led to Haller resigning at the end of the season.[35]

After a long illness, Haller died, in Los Angeles, on November 26, 2004, at the age of 67.[36]

References

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Tom Haller

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''Tom Haller'' is an American professional baseball catcher, coach, and executive known for his twelve-season Major League career (1961–1972) primarily with the San Francisco Giants, and his subsequent roles in coaching and front-office leadership. Born Thomas Frank Haller on June 23, 1937, in Lockport, Illinois, he attended the University of Illinois before signing with the Giants in 1958. He debuted in the majors in 1961 and became a reliable defensive catcher and solid hitter, helping the Giants win the 1962 National League pennant and appearing in the World Series that year. Haller later played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1968 to 1971 and the Detroit Tigers in 1972, earning All-Star honors in 1966, 1967, and 1968. After retiring as a player, Haller returned to the Giants as a coach from 1977 to 1979, served as farm director from 1980 to 1981 and general manager from 1981 to 1985, and briefly served as assistant general manager for the Chicago White Sox in 1986. Respected for his game-calling and leadership on and off the field, he later left baseball for other pursuits before his death on November 26, 2004, in Los Angeles, California.

Early life and education

Birth and family background

Thomas Frank Haller was born on June 23, 1937, in Lockport, Illinois. He grew up in Lockport, Illinois, where he spent his early years. Haller was the younger brother of Bill Haller, who later became an umpire in Major League Baseball.

College years

Tom Haller attended the University of Illinois on a football scholarship, where he played quarterback for the Fighting Illini football team in 1956 and 1957. During his junior year in 1957, he ranked third among Big Ten Conference quarterbacks in passing and led the team in notable games, including an upset victory over Minnesota and a win against Michigan. He was teammates with Ray Nitschke, who went on to become a Hall of Fame NFL linebacker with the Green Bay Packers. On February 25, 1958, Haller signed with the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent for a bonus of $54,000 and left the university with one year of eligibility remaining to pursue his professional baseball career. He later returned to Illinois during off-seasons to complete his degree in physical education, graduating in 1961.

Major League Baseball playing career

San Francisco Giants (1961–1967)

Tom Haller made his Major League Baseball debut with the San Francisco Giants on April 11, 1961, after three seasons in the minor leagues with Phoenix, Springfield, and Tacoma. He immediately saw significant action, starting behind the plate in the team's first eight games and hitting his first major-league home run the following day against the Pittsburgh Pirates. After a limited role in 1961 and sharing catching duties in 1962, Haller solidified his position as the Giants' regular catcher for six full seasons from 1962 to 1967. During his Giants tenure, Haller hit 105 home runs while providing reliable defense and strong pitch-calling for the pitching staff. He played a key role in the 1962 World Series against the New York Yankees, batting .286 (4-for-14) with 1 home run and 3 RBI across four games, though the Giants ultimately lost the series. His standout offensive year came in 1966, when he achieved career highs of 27 home runs and 67 RBI while helping the Giants' pitchers. Haller earned National League All-Star selections in both 1966 and 1967. Defensively, he led National League catchers in putouts in 1965 with 864. He was widely praised for his pitch-calling and defense, including by Hall of Fame pitchers Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry, whom he caught during their dominant 1966 season where Marichal won 25 games and Perry won 21. Playing at Candlestick Park, with its notorious winds and cold conditions that often suppressed offensive output, Haller still delivered consistent power and defensive contributions before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 1968 season.

Los Angeles Dodgers (1968–1971)

In February 1968, the San Francisco Giants traded Tom Haller along with minor league pitcher Frank Kasheta to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for infielders Ron Hunt and Nate Oliver. This marked the first trade between the Dodgers and Giants since the 1956 deal involving Jackie Robinson. Haller adapted quickly to his new team, batting .285 in 144 games during the 1968 season, which ranked among the league leaders and served as the Dodgers' team-high average that year. He earned his third consecutive All-Star selection in 1968. Defensively, Haller excelled in his first Dodgers campaign, leading National League catchers in runners caught stealing. He also set a National League single-season record for double plays turned by a catcher with 23. Over his four seasons with the Dodgers from 1968 to 1971, Haller hit a total of 25 home runs, a notable decline from his power numbers with the Giants that was largely attributed to the pitcher-friendly and spacious dimensions of Dodger Stadium. Throughout his career, including his time in Los Angeles, Haller demonstrated exceptional defensive reliability behind the plate with a fielding percentage of .992 as a catcher.

Detroit Tigers (1972)

In 1972, Tom Haller concluded his Major League Baseball playing career as a member of the Detroit Tigers, where he served primarily as a backup catcher. He appeared in 59 games, batting .207 with two home runs and 12 runs batted in. A unique moment occurred on July 14, 1972, when Haller caught for the Tigers against the Kansas City Royals while his brother Bill Haller served as home plate umpire, marking the first time in major league history that brothers occupied the catcher and plate umpire positions in the same game. The Tigers won the American League Eastern Division championship that season, qualifying for the American League Championship Series against the Oakland Athletics. Haller made one postseason appearance, pinch-hitting in Game 2 and grounding out in his lone plate appearance, which became his final major league at-bat. Following the series, Haller retired from playing.

Post-playing career

Coaching and executive roles with the Giants

After his retirement as a player, Tom Haller returned to the San Francisco Giants organization as a bullpen coach, serving in that role from 1977 to 1979. He was promoted to director of farm operations in 1980 before advancing to vice president of baseball operations in 1981, a position he held until late in the 1985 season. Haller also assumed the role of general manager prior to the 1982 season. Under his direction, the Giants finished 87–75 in 1982. He was also named to the Giants' 25th anniversary team that year. His tenure as a top executive included controversial trades, most notably the March 30, 1982, deal that sent ace pitcher Vida Blue and Bob Tufts to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for pitchers Craig Chamberlain, Atlee Hammaker, Renie Martin, and infielder Brad Wellman. These moves, executed one week before opening day, were viewed as gutting the starting rotation. Haller was fired late in the 1985 season, when the Giants' record stood at 56–88 en route to a last-place divisional finish.

General manager of the Chicago White Sox

Tom Haller was named general manager of the Chicago White Sox in June 1986, less than a year after his dismissal from the same role with the San Francisco Giants. He had initially joined the White Sox organization earlier that year as manager of their Double-A Birmingham Barons affiliate in the Southern League, hired by farm director Al Dark, his former Giants manager. The appointment to GM was announced by Ken Harrelson, the team's vice president and director of baseball operations, with Harrelson stating that he would work closely with Haller but retain final authority in case of any differences. Haller served in the role under Harrelson's oversight, but he was frustrated because the real power rested with Harrelson rather than the GM position. When Harrelson resigned as director of baseball operations in late September 1986, Haller temporarily assumed those duties with support from scouting director Terry Logan, manager Jim Fregosi, and other staff. Haller left baseball entirely at the end of the 1986 season.

Personal life

Family

Tom Haller married Joan Alexander, whom he had met in high school and begun dating at the age of 16. They wed on April 13, 1958, just before the start of his minor league season, and remained married until 2004. The couple had two sons, Tom Jr. and Tim. Haller was the youngest of three children. His older brother, Bill Haller, became an American League umpire. His older sister is Joyce Ganz. He is survived by his wife, Joan; his sons, Tom Jr. and Tim; his brother, Bill; and his sister, Joyce Ganz.

Illness and death

Tom Haller was hospitalized in Los Angeles since August 2004 due to a viral infection. He remained in the hospital and died on November 26, 2004, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 67. His son, Tom Haller Jr., stated that the hospitalization stemmed from the viral infection that began in August.

Legacy

Honors and recognition

Tom Haller was selected to three National League All-Star teams in consecutive years from 1966 to 1968. He earned recognition for his defensive reliability as a catcher, retiring with a career fielding percentage of .992, which exceeded the league average of .988 during his playing tenure. Contemporaries praised his intelligent handling of pitchers, including Giants farm director Carl Hubbell who described Haller as bringing "a quarterback’s mind to catching" and being "an intellectual behind the plate." In 2008, Haller was inducted into the San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame as part of its inaugural class. He made brief appearances as himself in baseball media broadcasts, most notably in four episodes of the 1962 World Series as the San Francisco Giants catcher, along with roles in the 1967 and 1968 MLB All-Star Games and the 1972 American League Championship Series.
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