Chicago Cubs: Top 20 best hitters in franchise history
By Ryan Sikes
(1943-51). Andy Pafko. 12. player. 9. . CF
Andy Pafko spent his first nine seasons in the majors with the Chicago Cubs. During that time, he slashed .294/.362/.468. Pafko had one of his best seasons during the Cubs’ final appearance in the World Series in the 1900s.
In the 1945 season, Pafko slashed .298/.361/.455 with 12 home runs and 110 RBI. He was never a huge threat to steal many bases, but he always came through with a clutch hit when the Cubs needed it. This helped him earn a fourth-place finish in the National League MVP voting.
He put up one of his best seasons in 1948 when he slashed .312/.375/.516 with three doubles, 26 bombs and 101 RBI. In 1950, he hit 36 home runs and 92 RBI, while batting .304.
He was traded to the then-Brooklyn Dodgers in the middle of the 1951 season and would play with them for two seasons. With the Dodgers, Pafko slashed .274/.361/.454 with 28 doubles, 37 home runs and 143 RBI.
With the then-Milwaukee Braves, he slashed .275/.324/.411 in seven seasons. His best seasons were on the North Side of Chicago and was named to the MLB All-Star Game four consecutive times between 1947 and 1950.
Pafko will also be remembered for how versatile he was spending his first several seasons in the outfield but then becoming a full-time third baseman after Stan Hack retired after the 1947 season.