Jay Heard
From BR Bullpen
Jehosie Heard
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 5' 7", Weight 155 lb.
- Debut April 24, 1954
- Final Game May 28, 1954
- Born January 17, 1920 in Athens, GA USA
- Died November 18, 1999 in Birmingham, AL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Jehosie Heard was a hard throwing little left-hander who was the first black pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles purchased Heard from the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League on December 16, 1953. Jehosie or "Jay" as he was nick-named had never seen or played a game of baseball before joining a service team while serving in the United States Army during World War II.
After the war Jay returned home to Alabama to pitch for the Birmingham Black Barons, helping the team to the Negro American League pennant in 1948 and began his career in the minor leagues in 1952, winning 20 games for the Victoria Tyees of the Western International League. During that season he once started both ends of a doubleheader, losing both games 1-0.
After winning sixteen games for the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League in 1953, he started the '54 season with the Orioles as a 34 year old rookie. But after making just two relief appearances the Orioles traded him back to Portland in October of 1954, for Bob Alexander.
In 1955 Jay would spend time with three teams. the Tulsa Oilers (6-2), Seattle Rainiers {5-7) and the Charleston Senators (1-3) for a combined record of 12-12 with a 3.71 ERA. 1956 would see Jay win 7 and lose 10 with Tulsa again and finish out the year with the Havana Sugar Kings going 3-5 with a 4.94 ERA. 1957 would be the end of Heard's minor league career when he appeared in 19 games with Havana with no decisions.
His major league numbers speak for themselves, 0-0 with no decisions, but his six year minor league totals show that the 37 year old journeyman finished with a 61-54 record with a 3.56 ERA. Heard continued to pitch for several years, mostly with traveling teams and semi-pro leagues. He died November 18, 1999, at age 74 in Birmingham, Alabama.
