Career Statistics
Hegan would be the Indians starting catcher for 11 seasons from 1946 until 1956. In 1,666 games played, Hegan had a 1,087 hits for a .228 batting average, with 92 home runs and 525 runs batted in. During his career, he led American League catchers three times in putouts, assists, double plays, total chances per game and fielding percentage and, had a career fielding percentage of .990. At the time of his retirement in 1960, Hegan's .990 career fielding percentage was second only to Buddy Rosar among retired catchers. His 49.63% career caught stealing percentage ranks 15th all-time among major league catchers. Hegan caught 121 shutouts in his career, ranking him 10th all-time among major league catchers. He is the Indians' all-time leader in games played as a catcher with 1,491.
As a testament to Hegan's pitch-calling skills, during this period, the Indians pitching staff was the best in baseball, leading the American League six times in earned run average. Hegan was selected to be an American League All-Star five times during his playing career. During his career, Hegan was the catcher for six twenty-game winning pitchers (Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, Gene Bearden, Early Wynn, Mike Garcia, Herb Score) and, caught three no hitters by Don Black (1947), Bob Lemon (1948) and Bob Feller (1951). He caught for a record seven pitchers who would eventually be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Despite his considerable defensive skills, because he was a light-hitting player, Hegan is almost a forgotten man in major league baseball history. Yankee Hall of Fame catcher, Bill Dickey, once said about Hegan's fielding abilities, "If I had been able to catch like Hegan I wouldn't have needed to hit".
Read more about this topic: Jim Hegan
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