Hank Sauer
If anyone personified the lumbering slugger that seemed prevalent in the 1950s, it was big Hank Sauer. Unable to get a foothold in the majors until he was 31, Sauer made up for lost time, hitting 35 homers in his first full season. In Wrigley Field, the right-handed pull-hitter slugged 113 homers against 85 on the road in his six-plus seasons with the Cubs. In 1952, he powered 37 homers and led the National League in RBI, earning him an unlikely Most Valuable Player Award.
Played For
Cincinnati Reds (1941-1949)
Chicago Cubs (1949-1955)
St. Louis Cardinals (1956)
New York Giants (1957)
San Francisco Giants (1958-1959)
Best Season: 1952
Sauer tied Ralph Kiner for the Nl lead in homers, but his 121 RBI paced the league. He hit .270 with a .361 OBP and .531 SLG mark. 23 of his homers were hit at Wrigley Field. He had another fine season in 1954, when he slugged .563 with a career-high 41 homers.
Born
Henry John Sauer was born on March 17, 1917, in Pittsburgh, PA.
Died
August 24, 2001, Burlingame, CA
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: OF
Primary Team: CIN
Major League Debut
September 9, 1941
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1941
Stan Musial
Phil Rizzuto
Bob Lemon
Vern Stephens
Dave Philley
Jim Hegan
Danny Murtaugh
Dick Wakefield
Virgil Trucks
Nicknames
The Honker
Family Tree
His brother, Ed, played for three teams between 1943 and 1949, with little success.
Similar Players
Jay Buhner
Related Players
Ralph Kiner
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1966 |
BBWAA |
4 |
1.3% |
|
Awards and Honors
1952 NL MVP
Injuries and Explanation for Missed Playing Time
Sauer suffered a broken finger in 1953, which limited him to 108 games.
Matchup Data
Sauer hit three homers in one game off Curt Simmons twice. He did it on August 28, 1950, and on June 11, 1952. He was the first player to accomplish that unique feat. His top home run target was Robin Roberts, off whom he blasted 12 career homers.
All-Star Selections
1950 NL
1952 NL
Best Strength as a Player
Power
Largest Weakness as a Player
Fielding; Sauer once made 11 errors in the outfield, and he typically committed 4-9 errors every year. He had poor range, misjudged balls, and was an erratic thrower.
Learn More about Hank Sauer
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