View source for Tom Haller

{{Short description|American baseball player (1937–2004)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Tom Haller
|position=[[Catcher]]
|image=Tom Haller 1965.jpg
|bats=Left
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1937|6|23}}
|birth_place=[[Lockport, Illinois]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|2004|11|26|1937|6|23}}
|death_place=[[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 11
|debutyear=1961
|debutteam=San Francisco Giants
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=October 4
|finalyear=1972
|finalteam=Detroit Tigers
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.257
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=134
|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=504
|teams=
* [[San Francisco Giants]] ({{mlby|1961}}–{{mlby|1967}})
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|1968}}–{{mlby|1971}})
* [[Detroit Tigers]] ({{mlby|1972}})
|highlights=
* 3× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1966]]–[[1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1968]])
* [[San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame]]
}}
'''Thomas Frank Haller''' (June 23, 1937 – November 26, 2004) was an American professional [[baseball]] player, [[Coach (baseball)|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 [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] teams. Haller ended his playing career with the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] and the [[Detroit Tigers]].<ref name="bbrefhallermaj">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/halleto01.shtml|date=2019|title=Tom Haller Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=May 13, 2019}}</ref>

Haller was considered one of the top catchers in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) during the late 1960s.<ref name="The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract">{{cite book|author=James, Bill|title=[[The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract]]|publisher=Free Press|location=New York|year=2001|page=[https://archive.org/details/newbilljameshist00jame/page/392 392]|isbn=0-684-80697-5}}</ref> In 2008, he was part of the inaugural class of inductees into the [[San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/ballpark/wall-of-fame |title=San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame at MLB.com |work=mlb.com |accessdate=19 May 2020 |archive-date=29 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129170444/https://www.mlb.com/giants/ballpark/wall-of-fame |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Major League career==
Haller was born in [[Lockport, Illinois]] and attended the [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]], where he played as a [[quarterback]] for the [[Illinois Fighting Illini football]] team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicbaseball.com/players/h/haller_tom.html |title=Tom Haller |publisher=historicbaseball.com |accessdate=30 October 2011}}</ref> 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 San Francisco Giants season|1958]].<ref name="bbrefhallermaj"/> After playing in the [[Minor League Baseball|minor leagues]] for three seasons, he made his major league debut with the Giants on April 11, 1961, at the age of 24.<ref name="bbrefhallermaj"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=haller001tho|title=Tom Haller Minor League Statistics & History|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 30, 2011}}</ref>

Haller hit .261, with 18 [[home runs]], and 55 [[Run batted in]] (RBI), for the Giants in [[1962 San Francisco Giants season|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 [[1962 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] in a tight pennant race.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/1962.shtml|title=1962 San Francisco Giants|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 30, 2011}}</ref> The two teams ended the season tied for first place and met in the [[1962 National League tie-breaker series]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1962.shtml |title=1962 National League Team Statistics and Standings|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 30, 2011}}</ref> The Giants won the three-game series to clinch the National League championship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=3617483|title=Tiebreaker Playoff Results|work=[[ESPN.com]]|date=September 30, 2008|access-date=October 15, 2011}}</ref> The Giants then lost to the [[1962 New York Yankees season|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/halleto01.shtml?redir#batting_postseason |title=Tom Haller post season batting statistics|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 30, 2011}}</ref>

Haller continued to platoon with Bailey through the [[1963 San Francisco Giants season|1963]] season, finishing the year second to [[Johnny Edwards (baseball)|Johnny Edwards]] among National League catchers in [[fielding percentage]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1963-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1963 National League Fielding Leaders|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 31, 2011}}</ref> In December 1963, the Giants traded Bailey to the [[Milwaukee Braves (1953–69)|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 San Francisco Giants season|1964]] to [[1967 San Francisco Giants season|1967]]. In his book, ''[[The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract]]'', baseball historian [[Bill James]] said the decision to give [[Joe Torre]] a {{by|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.<ref name="The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract"/> Haller also helped offensively in [[1965 San Francisco Giants season|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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Haller Blasts San Francisco Into National League Top Position|agency=Associated Press|work=The Spokesman-Review|page=29|date=September 28, 1965|accessdate=October 31, 2011|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wDpWAAAAIBAJ&pg=7059,4348021&dq=tom+haller&hl=en}}</ref> However, the Giants faltered and ended the season two games behind the [[1965 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1965.shtml|title=1965 National League Team Statistics and Standings|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 31, 2011}}</ref>

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 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1966 All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS196607120.shtml|title=1966 All-Star Game|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 31, 2011}}</ref> He was the catcher for two twenty-game winners in 1966, as [[Juan Marichal]] won 25 games and [[Gaylord Perry]] won 21 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/1966.shtml|title=1966 San Francisco Giants|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 31, 2011}}</ref> 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 [[1966 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Dodgers]], by a game and a half.<ref name="bbrefhallermaj"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1966.shtml|title=1966 National League Team Statistics and Standings|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 31, 2011}}</ref> 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 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1967 All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS196707110.shtml|title=1967 All-Star Game|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 31, 2011}}</ref> Haller ended the 1967 season second to [[Tim McCarver]] among NL catchers in [[Assist (baseball)|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 (pitcher)|Mike McCormick]], won the National League [[Cy Young Award]], with a 22-10 record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1967-fielding-leaders.shtml|title=1967 National League Fielding Leaders|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1967.shtml#teams_standard_pitching::7|title=1967 National League Team Statistics and Standings|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1967.shtml#NLcya|title=1967 National League Cy Young Award balloting results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 31, 2011}}</ref> The Giants finished in second place for a third consecutive season, this time to the [[1967 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1967.shtml|title=1967 National League Team Statistics and Standings|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 31, 2011}}</ref>

In February 1968, the Giants were in need of good [[infielders]], and with four young catching prospects, including [[Dick Dietz]] and [[Dave Rader (baseball)|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]].<ref name="Tom Haller Trades and Transactions">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=halleto01|title=Tom Haller Trades and Transactions|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 30, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Hunt, Oliver Dealt To San Francisco By LA For Haller">{{cite news|title=Hunt, Oliver Dealt To San Francisco By LA For Haller|agency=Associated Press|work=Tri City Herald|page=13|date=February 12, 1968 |accessdate=October 31, 2011|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PWEhAAAAIBAJ&pg=4684,2324095&dq=tom+haller&hl=en}}</ref> The trade was the first between the two teams since their move to the West Coast in {{by|1958}}, and also the first since the one that would have sent [[Jackie Robinson]] from the Dodgers to the Giants after the {{by|1956}} season.<ref name="Hunt, Oliver Dealt To San Francisco By LA For Haller"/> Haller played well in 1968, posting a .285 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]], in 144 games, and earned his third consecutive All-Star berth.<ref name="bbrefhallermaj"/> He also played well defensively with career-highs in assists (83) and in double plays (23).<ref name="bbrefhallermaj"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1968.shtml#teams_standard_pitching::7|title=1968 National League Team Statistics and Standings|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 31, 2011}}</ref>

After spending four seasons with the Dodgers, Haller was traded to the Detroit Tigers, in December 1971.<ref name="Tom Haller Trades and Transactions"/> He batted .207 with two home runs and 12 runs batted in during the [[1972 Detroit Tigers season|1972]] season as a backup catcher for [[Bill Freehan]], when the Tigers won the [[American League East|American League Eastern Division]] championship.<ref name="bbrefhallermaj"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1972.shtml|title=1972 American League Team Statistics and Standings|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=November 1, 2011}}</ref> Haller was the younger brother of [[American League]] (AL) [[Umpire (baseball)|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 (baseball)|umpire]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Haller's Brother Looks Over Shoulder|last=Lowitt|first=Bruce|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Reading Eagle Company|work=[[Reading Eagle]]|place=[[Reading, Pennsylvania]]|page=6|date=July 15, 1972|accessdate=October 31, 2011|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=75MjAAAAIBAJ&pg=4502,2527646&dq=tom+haller&hl=en}}</ref> His playing time was reduced when the Tigers acquired catcher [[Duke Sims]] in August.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=halleto01&t=b&year=1972 |title=1972 Tom Haller batting log|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=November 1, 2011}}</ref> In the [[1972 American League Championship Series]] against the [[1972 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]], Haller made only one appearance as a [[pinch hitter]] in Game 2, as the Tigers lost the series in five games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK197210080.shtml|title=1972 American League Championship Series Game 2 box score|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=November 1, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1972_ALCS.shtml |title=1972 American League Championship Series|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=November 1, 2011}}</ref> In October 1972, the Tigers sold Haller to the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] along with pitcher [[Don Leshnock]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tigers Announce Leshnock Deal; Phils Get Haller|agency=United Press International|publisher=The Vindicator Printing Co|work=[[The Vindicator|Youngstown Vindicator]]|place=[[Youngstown, Ohio]]|page=36|date=October 26, 1972|accessdate=October 31, 2011|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9xZJAAAAIBAJ&pg=497,4370097&dq=don+leshnock&hl=en}}</ref> Haller then made the decision to retire at the age of 35.<ref>{{cite news|title=People in Sports: Haller, Phillies Catcher, Retires|last=Rogers|first=Thomas|work=[[The New York Times]]|page=24|date=January 20, 1973|accessdate=October 31, 2011|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/20/archives/people-in-sports-haller-phillies-catcher-retires.html}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
In a twelve-year major league career, Haller played in 1,294 [[Games played|games]], accumulating 1,011 [[Hit (baseball)|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.<ref name="bbrefhallermaj"/> A three-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|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]].<ref name="bbrefhallermaj"/> Haller led National League catchers in [[putouts]] in {{by|1965}}, and in baserunners [[caught stealing]] in {{by|1968}}.<ref name="bbrefhallermaj"/> He set the NL single-season record for [[double plays]] by a catcher with 23 in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/fielding_misc.htm |title=Miscellaneous fielding records|publisher=The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers |accessdate=October 30, 2011}}</ref> Haller led the NL in [[sacrifice fly|sacrifice flies]], in 1968, with 9.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1968-batting-leaders.shtml|title=1968 National League Batting Leaders|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 30, 2011}}</ref> Haller caught for six pitchers who would eventually be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://batteries.sabr.org/caught-most.htm|title=Catchers Who Caught The Most Hall Of Fame Pitchers|publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]|work=sabr.org|accessdate=June 28, 2012}}</ref> He caught 107 [[shutouts in baseball|shutouts]] during his career, ranking him 23rd all-time among major league catchers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bb_catchers.tripod.com/catchers/tmonth1.htm|title=The Encyclopedia of Catchers - Trivia December 2010 - Career Shutouts Caught|publisher=The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers|accessdate=December 29, 2015}}</ref> Baseball historian Bill James ranked Haller 26th all-time among major league catchers.<ref name="The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract"/>

==Coaching and executive career==
After his playing career ended, Haller worked for the Giants as a coach ({{by|1977}}–{{by|1979}}), and was their vice president of baseball operations ({{by|1981}}–{{by|1985}}).<ref name="chisoxhallergm">{{cite news|title=Haller joins White Sox|agency=United Press International|publisher=Woodward Communications Inc|work=[[Telegraph Herald]]|place=[[Dubuque, Iowa]]|page=15|date=June 10, 1986|accessdate=October 31, 2011|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yGNfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3395,1898421&dq=tom+haller&hl=en}}</ref> He was named to the Giants' 25th anniversary team, in 1982.<ref name="nythallerobit">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/29/sports/baseball/29haller.html|title=Tom Haller, 67, 3-Time All-Star Catcher, Dies|date=November 29, 2004|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=May 13, 2019}}</ref> Early in the {{by|1986}} baseball season, Haller served as the [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] of the [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] [[Birmingham Barons]], of the [[Southern League (1964–present)|Southern League]] (an affiliate of the [[Chicago White Sox]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=haller001tho#standard_managing::none|title=Tom Haller minor league manager statistics|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=October 30, 2011}}</ref> On June 9, 1986, Haller was named as the [[General Manager (baseball)|General Manager]] of the White Sox, but disagreements with executive [[Ken Harrelson]] led to Haller resigning at the end of the season.<ref name="chisoxhallergm"/>

After a long illness, Haller died, in [[Los Angeles]], on November 26, 2004, at the age of 67.<ref name="nythallerobit"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats|mlb=115359|espn=22477|br=h/halleto01|fangraphs=1005244|brm=haller001tho|retro=H/Phallt102}}
*[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/399c055e Tom Haller] at SABR (Baseball BioProject)

{{San Francisco Giants general managers}}
{{Chicago White Sox general managers}}
{{San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Baseball}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haller, Tom}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:San Francisco Giants players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Detroit Tigers players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball catchers]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball general managers]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Illinois]]
[[Category:San Francisco Giants coaches]]
[[Category:San Francisco Giants executives]]
[[Category:Birmingham Barons managers]]
[[Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football players]]
[[Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Lockport, Illinois]]
[[Category:Phoenix Giants players]]
[[Category:Springfield Giants players]]
[[Category:Tacoma Giants players]]
[[Category:American people of Austrian descent]]