1. JIM HEGAN (1941-42, 1946-57)
Hegan was an average offensive performer for his position during an era when not many catchers were run-producers.
But he expertly handled one of baseball’s all-time great pitching staffs, an ability that made him one of the American League’s most indispensable players for a decade. When the Indians’ starting rotation was the famed “Big Four” of Hall of Famers Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and Early Wynn and all-star Mike Garcia, the man behind the plate was Hegan. He was also the catcher when Herb Score began his big league career with spectacular seasons in 1955-56. Score, though, was sidelined for most of the 1957 season after being hit in the face by a line drive and was never the same after injuring his arm in 1958.
Hegan made it to the Indians in the final month of the 1941 season shortly after he turned 21, then played 68 games in 1942. He missed the next three years while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II.
Hegan caught 86 games when he rejoined the Indians in 1946, and then led the American League in games caught in each of the next three seasons. He was second in the league in games caught in three more seasons with Cleveland, and is the Indians’ all-time leader in career games caught with 1,491.
The right-handed hitting Hegan played in 1,526 games overall for the Indians. He batted .230 with 171 doubles, 45 triples and 90 home runs in 4,459 at bats. Hegan had 499 RBI, scored 526 runs and drew 456 walks as an Indian.
Cleveland’s last World Series championship was in 1948. Hegan was brilliant behind the plate, leading the AL in games caught and the league’s catchers in assists, putouts and double plays. Hegan also had one of his best hitting campaigns. He hit .248 in 472 at bats with 21 doubles, six triples and 14 homers. He drove in 61 runs, scored 60, drew 48 walks and even had six of his 15 career stolen bases.
The Indians and Red Sox had tied for first place in the AL with 96-58 records. Hegan had an RBI and run scored in the pennant-deciding playoff game won by the Indians, 8-3, in Boston’s Fenway Park. He hit .211 (4-of-19) with a homer and five RBI as Cleveland won the World Series, four games to two, over the Boston Braves.
The Indians went 111-43 to win the AL pennant in 1954, setting an American League record for wins that would stand for 44 years. Hegan hit .234 in 423 at bats, with 12 doubles, seven triples, 11 homers, 40 RBI and 56 runs. The Indians were then, stunningly, swept in the World Series by the New York Giants.
Cleveland traded Hegan to the Tigers prior to the 1958 season. He played for four teams over three years to close his career.
With the Indians, Hegan led AL catchers in games caught, assists, caught stealing percentage, putouts and double plays three times each, and in fielding percentage twice.
Hegan’s son, the late Mike Hegan, played 12 major league seasons and then was a longtime radio and television announcer for Indians games.
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