Jim Hegan
Born: 8/3/1920 in Lynn, MA, USA
Died: 6/17/1984 in Lynn, MA, USA
MLB Debut: 1941-09-09 | Final Game: 1960-07-04
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: James Edward Hegan
Biography
Jim Hegan, born in 1920, was a prominent figure in Major League Baseball, known for his contributions as a position player from 1941 until his retirement in 1960. Over the course of his career, he played in 1,666 games, amassing 1,087 hits, 92 home runs, and 525 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .228. Hegan was recognized for his defensive skills and game management, which earned him five All-Star selections during his time in the league.
Playing primarily during the post-World War II era, Hegan was part of a transitional period in baseball characterized by increased offensive output and the gradual integration of the game. His ability to navigate the complexities of this changing landscape underscored his significance in the sport. In addition to his offensive contributions, he displayed speed on the bases, recording 15 stolen bases throughout his career. Hegan's legacy is remembered not only for his individual stats but also for his role in the development of the game during a pivotal time in baseball history.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35.0 | 30.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.267 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.666 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 21.0 | 16.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.368 | 0.250 | 0.618 |
| 1947 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.286 | 0.286 | 0.429 | 0.715 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1666 | 4772 | 550 | 1087 | 187 | 46 | 92 | 525 | 15 | 456 | 742 | 0.228 | 0.295 | 0.344 | 0.639 | -10672.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | CLE | AL | 16 | 47 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0.319 | 97.6 |
| 1942 | CLE | AL | 68 | 170 | 10 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 11 | 31 | 0.194 | -894.2 |
| 1946 | CLE | AL | 88 | 271 | 29 | 64 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 44 | 0.236 | -711.9 |
| 1947 | CLE | AL | 135 | 378 | 38 | 94 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 42 | 3 | 41 | 49 | 0.249 | -479.6 |
| 1948 | CLE | AL | 144 | 472 | 60 | 117 | 21 | 6 | 14 | 61 | 6 | 48 | 74 | 0.248 | -124.5 |
| 1949 | CLE | AL | 152 | 468 | 54 | 105 | 19 | 5 | 8 | 55 | 1 | 49 | 89 | 0.224 | -1336.2 |
| 1950 | CLE | AL | 131 | 415 | 53 | 91 | 16 | 5 | 14 | 58 | 1 | 42 | 52 | 0.219 | -984.4 |
| 1951 | CLE | AL | 133 | 416 | 60 | 99 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 43 | 0 | 38 | 72 | 0.238 | -933.8 |
| 1952 | CLE | AL | 112 | 333 | 39 | 75 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 41 | 0 | 29 | 47 | 0.225 | -818.5 |
| 1953 | CLE | AL | 112 | 299 | 37 | 65 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 37 | 1 | 25 | 41 | 0.217 | -892.9 |
| 1954 | CLE | AL | 139 | 423 | 56 | 99 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 40 | 0 | 34 | 48 | 0.234 | -865.6 |
| 1955 | CLE | AL | 116 | 304 | 30 | 67 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 40 | 0 | 34 | 33 | 0.220 | -838.8 |
| 1956 | CLE | AL | 122 | 315 | 42 | 70 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 34 | 1 | 49 | 54 | 0.222 | -436.1 |
| 1957 | CLE | AL | 58 | 148 | 14 | 32 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 16 | 23 | 0.216 | -291.0 |
| 1958 | DET | AL | 45 | 130 | 14 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 32 | 0.192 | -645.7 |
| 1958 | PHI | NL | 25 | 59 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 0.220 | -645.7 |
| 1959 | PHI | NL | 25 | 51 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0.196 | -333.5 |
| 1959 | SFG | NL | 21 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0.133 | -333.5 |
| 1960 | CHC | NL | 24 | 43 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0.209 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 32 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0.188 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | WS | CLE | 4 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.154 |
| 1948 | WS | CLE | 6 | 19 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0.211 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1629 | 457 | 7506 | 695 | 86 | 136 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | CLE | C | 16 | 0 | 63 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
| 1942 | CLE | C | 66 | 0 | 227 | 32 | 6 | 7 |
| 1946 | CLE | C | 87 | 0 | 486 | 47 | 5 | 11 |
| 1947 | CLE | C | 133 | 0 | 566 | 54 | 7 | 14 |
| 1948 | CLE | C | 142 | 0 | 637 | 76 | 7 | 17 |
| 1949 | CLE | C | 152 | 0 | 651 | 73 | 7 | 16 |
| 1950 | CLE | C | 129 | 0 | 656 | 64 | 5 | 14 |
| 1951 | CLE | C | 129 | 0 | 597 | 66 | 6 | 8 |
| 1952 | CLE | C | 107 | 0 | 498 | 53 | 7 | 7 |
| 1953 | CLE | C | 106 | 0 | 399 | 42 | 11 | 3 |
| 1954 | CLE | C | 137 | 121 | 661 | 49 | 4 | 9 |
| 1955 | CLE | C | 111 | 91 | 583 | 34 | 2 | 12 |
| 1956 | CLE | C | 118 | 97 | 648 | 28 | 10 | 2 |
| 1957 | CLE | C | 58 | 48 | 287 | 14 | 0 | 4 |
| 1958 | DET | C | 45 | 43 | 211 | 19 | 1 | 4 |
| 1958 | PHI | C | 25 | 18 | 104 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 1959 | PHI | C | 25 | 18 | 84 | 11 | 1 | 2 |
| 1959 | SFN | C | 21 | 9 | 72 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 1960 | CHN | C | 22 | 12 | 76 | 9 | 2 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1628 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 22th | 5.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1948 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 19th | 10.0 | 336 | 0 |