Jim Hegan

James Edward Hegan (August 3, 1920 – June 17, 1984) was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played for seventeen seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1941 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1960, most notably for the Cleveland Indians. After his playing career was over, he became a coach and scout in a baseball career that spanned almost 40 years. While he was light-hitting as an offensive player, he was notable for being one of the best defensive catchers of his era and a capable handler of pitching staffs.

Major League career

Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, Hegan was signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1938. After playing in the minor leagues for four seasons, he made his major league debut with the Indians on September 7, 1941 at the age of 20. Hegan appeared in 68 games for the Indians in 1942, before joining the United States Coast Guard for the remainder of the Second World War.

When Hegan returned in 1946 he became the Indians regular starting catcher replacing Frankie Hayes. In his second season back after the war, Hegan was recognized as one of the top catchers in the American League when, he was selected as a reserve in the 1947 All-Star Game. He had his best season offensively in 1948, posting a .248 batting average along with 14 home runs and 61 runs batted in, as the Indians finished the season tied for first place with the Boston Red Sox.