Hinkey Haines

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Hinkey Haines
Date of birth:	December 23, 1898
Place of birth:	Red Lion, PA, United States
Date of death:	January 9, 1979
Career information
Position(s):	Running back
College:	Penn State
Organizations
As player:
1925-1928 1929,1931	New York Giants Staten Island Stapletons
Stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Henry Luther "Hinkey" Haines was a professional athlete who played American football in the NFL and baseball in the Major League Baseball association. Haines was a star of the New York Giants football team in his time and has the distinction of being the only athlete to have played on national championship teams in both baseball and football. He won the World Series in 1923 with the New York Yankees and the NFL championship in 1927 with the New York Giants.

[edit] Biography

Haines was born on December 23, 1898 in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. He batted and threw right handed, was 5'10" in height and 170 pounds in weight. Haines graduated from Red Lion High School in 1916 and attended — Lebanon Valley College where he played a major role in shaping their football program. Haines left Lebanon Valley College in 1918 to serve in World War 1.

After serving in World War 1, he attended Penn State University in 1919. He earned varsity letters in baseball, football, and basketball. Haines earned All-American honors in both football and baseball while at Penn State. It was said that Hinkey could have also earned letters in Track because he could have beat everyone on the track team. Hinkey is in the Red Lion Area Senior High School's Hall of Fame.

[edit] Professional career

On April 20, 1923, Haines made his Major League debut at the age of 24. He only played one season, and was used many times as a defensive replacement/pinch runner. In 28 games, he collected 9 runs, 4 hits, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, 3 stolen bases and a .160 batting average.

Haines appeared in 2 World Series games, collecting one at bat, but did not get a hit. As a pinch runner or defensive replacement, however, he was able to score 1 run. Hinkey was playing centerfield when the Yankees recorded the last out in the 1923 World Series.

In the field, Haines was flawless. He had a 1.000 fielding percentage with 17 chances.

On October 7, 1923, Haines played his final regular season Major League game.

In the fall, he played professional football and was a member of the 1927 New York Giants team — a team who, in 1927, won the Giants' first NFL championship. After playing for the Giants from 1925 to 1928, he played for the Staten Island Stapletons in 1929 and 1931, which he also coached.

After his career as halfback for the Giants ended, he became their offensive coach from 1926 through 1931. Haines was an NFL official for a time after he finished coaching. Hinkey Haines is the only man to win an NFL Championship and a World Series in his life.

In later years, "Hinkey" settled in the Philadelphia area where he became active in Little Theater as an actor and director.

He died on January 9, 1979 in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. His body was laid to rest in Middletown Cemetery in Media, Pennsylvania.

[edit] See also

• History of the New York Giants (1925-1978)

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference