Jim Hegan

From BR Bullpen

James Edward Hegan

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 2", Weight 195 lb.

Debut September 9, 1941
Final Game July 4, 1960
Born August 3, 1920 in Lynn, MA USA
Died June 17, 1984 in Lynn, MA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

"When you can catch like Hegan, you don't have to hit." - Bill Dickey

Jim Hegan was a catcher with legendary defensive skills who played 17 years in the major leagues, appearing in five All Star games. As testament to his defensive skills, he never once appeared at any position but catcher in his major league career.

Hegan made his big league debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1941. Rollie Hemsley was the Indians first-string catcher that season. Hegan hit .319 in 16 games, by far the highest batting average of his major league career. After appearing in 68 more games in 1942, he went into the Coast Guard for the rest of the war.

Coming back in 1946, he was the first string catcher for the Indians from then till 1956. Not only a fast catcher who quickly reached bunts and pop-ups, he also was seen as a wizard for calling pitches. Opposing catcher Joe Tipton said: "Hitters who strike out against the Indians cuss Hegan."

He caught no-hitters by Don Black, Bob Feller, and Bob Lemon.

His best year as a hitter was in 1948, when he hit .248 (one of his better averages), and added 6 triples and 14 home runs. The Indians won the 1948 World Series that year, with Hegan batting eighth in the order. He hit a home run in the fifth game of the Series off Nels Potter of the Boston Braves.

He was the catcher on the great 1954 Cleveland Indians team that won 111 games. The Indians pitching staff had a 2.78 ERA, while the league as a whole had a 3.72.

Hegan was legendary as a defensive catcher:

"As far as I'm concerned, you start and end any discussion of catchers with Jim Hegan." - Birdie Tebbetts

"In a tight spot, you always went with Jim's call," - Herb Score

"[Hegan] was the best defensive catcher I ever had." - Bob Feller

After his playing career ended, he was a New York Yankees coach from 1960 to 1973. He spent 1974 to 1978 on the Detroit Tigers coaching staff before rejoining the Yankees as a coach for two more seasons. He later spent time as a scout.

He was the father of Mike Hegan.

He once wrote a book called Jim Hegan's Secrets of Catching. In 1949 Popular Mechanics magazine interviewed Hegan regarding the secrets of pitching. Hegan said "speed and control" were the key assets of a good pitcher.