Harry Heilmann
Encyclopedia
Harry Edwin Heilmann nicknamed “Slug,” was a Major League Baseball
player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers
(1914, 1916–1929) and Cincinnati Reds
(1930, 1932). He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.
Heilmann was a line drive
hitter who won four American League
batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and 1927. He and Ted Williams
are the last two American League players to hit .400, Heilmann having accomplished the feat in 1923 with a batting average
of .403. Heilmann’s career batting average
of .342 is the 12th-highest in major league history.
Heilmann was also an excellent slugger, ranking among the American League
leaders in both slugging percentage and RBI
s in 12 seasons. He is among the all-time Major League leaders in double
s with 542 (23rd all-time), triples
with 151 (49th all-time) and RBIs with 1,539 (39th all-time). He played in 2,148 major league games, including 1,327 as a right fielder
and 448 as a first baseman
. Heilmann was also the first player to hit a home run in every major league ballpark in use during his career.
, Heilmann attended Sacred Heart High School
, the same school that Joe Cronin
attended. In 1913, the 19-year-old Heilmann was working as a bookkeeper for a biscuit-maker, when a former teammate from Sacred Heart asked him to fill in for the Hanford, California
, team in the San Joaquin Valley League
. After a scout saw him hit an 11th-inning, game-winning double, Heilmann was signed to a professional contract by the Portland Beavers
of the Northwest League
. Heilmann later recalled he received a spaghetti dinner as a bonus for signing with Portland. After he hit .305 for the Portland Beavers
, his contract was purchased by the Detroit Tigers
for $1,500.
Heilmann debuted with the Tigers on May 16, 1914, and played in 69 games that year, batting .225 and committing six errors in 31 games in the outfield (28 in center field) for a subpar .870 fielding percentage
. For the 1915 season, the Tigers sent Heilmann to the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League
. In 1915, Heilmann and fellow San Francisco native Ping Bodie
(later a star with the Chicago White Sox
and New York Yankees
) led the Seals to their second Pacific Coast League
title, with Heilmann hitting .364.
Heilmann returned to the Tigers in 1916, playing in 136 games, including 30 games at first base and 66 games as a backup right fielder
for Sam Crawford
. Though his .282 batting average was low by the standards he would set later, Heilmann ranked among the American League
leaders with 30 doubles (seventh best), 73 RBIs (seventh best) and 43 extra base hits (eighth best). Heilmann also became a favorite in Detroit for his actions off the field. On July 25, 1916, Heilmann spotted a woman drowning in the Detroit River
. He dove into the river and was credited with saving the woman’s life. After the incident was reported in the local press, Heilmann was given an ovation at the next day’s game.
In 1917, Heilmann continued to improve as a batter, once again ranking among the American League leaders with 86 RBIs (fourth best), five home run
s (seventh best), and 11 triples (eighth best). However, Heilmann, who earned the nickname “Slug” due to his notoriously slow running, had difficulties as a fielder. In 1917, the Tigers tried playing him in right field (95 games), center field (28 games) and first base (27 games), but he was not particularly good at any of those positions.
In 1918, with the United States at war against Germany, Heilmann joined the U.S. Navy and served on a submarine
, causing him to miss half of the 1918 season. Heilmann played in only 79 games in 1918, splitting his time between right field (40 games) and first base (37 games).
Heilmann returned to the lineup in 1919 and had his best season to date, ranking among the American League
leaders with a .320 batting average
(10th best), .477 slugging percentage (seventh best), 93 RBIs (fourth best), 53 extra base hits (fourth best), 15 triples (second best), 256 total bases (fifth best), 172 hits (sixth best), and eight home run
s (eighth best). Heilmann had another strong year at the plate in 1920 with a .309 average, 41 extra base hits, and 89 RBIs. However, the 1919 and 1920 seasons also highlighted Heilmann’s shortcomings as a fielder. Detroit manager Hughie Jennings
used Heilmann as the Tigers’ starting first baseman
, and he led the league in errors by a first baseman
both years, including 31 in 1919 for a .979 fielding percentage
.
In addition to the lively ball, Heilmann’s development into a star in the 1920s was likely also influenced by Ty Cobb
. Cobb took over as the Tigers’ manager in 1921 and worked closely with Heilmann to improve his batting technique. Cobb taught Heilmann to crouch more, use his wrists to drive the ball and shift his weight to his front foot. Whether due to the lively ball, Cobb’s teaching, or both, Heilmann’s batting average rose by 85 points in 1921. Heilmann won his first of four American League batting crowns with a .394 average. Heilmann narrowly won the batting crown, edging Cobb, by five points.
Though primarily a line-drive hitter, Heilmann could also hit with power. He was among the American League
leaders in home run
s 11 times. On July 8, 1921, Heilmann hit a home run in Detroit that the New York Tribune
reported measured 610 feet – one of the longest home runs ever hit by a Tiger.
In addition to winning the batting crown, Heilmann also led the league with 237 hits and was among the league leaders with a .444 on base percentage
(third best), .606 slugging percentage (second best), 365 total bases (second best), 43 doubles (third best), 139 RBIs (second best), and 76 extra base hits (third best).
The entire Detroit Tigers
lineup had a remarkable season at the plate in 1921. In addition to Heilmann and Cobb’s 1-2 finish for the batting title, Detroit’s third outfielder, Bobby Veach
, was also among the league’s batting leaders with a .338 average. The 1921 Tigers finished the season with a team batting average of .316 – the highest in American League history. Perhaps proving the baseball adage that good pitching beats good hitting, the 1921 Tigers lacked good pitching and finished in sixth place, 27 games behind the Yankees.
s – fourth best in the league.
Heilmann strung together 12 consecutive seasons of hitting at least .300, and was in the top 10 in batting average
10 times. In 1923, Heilmann won his second batting title, hitting .403 for the season, edging out Babe Ruth
who hit .393. It was the second time Detroit’s batters had denied Ruth a triple crown. Ruth led the league in home runs and RBIs in both 1921 and 1923 but was edged out in batting average both years by Cobb and/or Heilmann. In 1926, another Tiger hitter, Heinie Manush
, won the batting title to deny Ruth the triple crown yet again. Detroit manager Ty Cobb
reportedly delighted in the fact that his batters three times denied Ruth a triple crown.
In addition to winning the 1923 batting crown, Heilmann had one of his best seasons as a slugger. He finished second to Ruth in on base percentage (.481) and slugging percentage (.632). He was also among the top five with 121 runs (fourth), 211 hits (third), 331 total bases (fourth), 44 doubles (fourth), 18 home runs (third), 115 RBIs (third), and 73 extra base hits (fourth). Despite breaking the .400 mark, Heilmann finished third in the 1923 American League Most Valuable Player voting behind Babe Ruth
and Eddie Collins
.
Heilmann worked as a life insurance
agent during the off-season in the 1920s. On October 16, 1923, after Babe Ruth received his World Series winner's share‚ Heilmann‚ who was friends with Ruth despite having beaten him for the batting title‚ sold Ruth a $50‚000 life insurance policy.
In 1924, Heilmann “slumped” (by his standards) to a .346 batting average (sixth best in the AL), though his .445 on base percentage was second best in the league. He also led the league with 41 doubles and had another 100-plus RBI season. Heilmann had his best defensive season in 1924, collecting 31 outfield assists, more than any other outfielder that year. Heilmann never had more than 18 outfield assists in any other season.
In 1925, Heilmann won his third batting title, this time in a close race with Tris Speaker
. At the beginning of September, Heilmann trailed Speaker by 50 points, but beat Speaker in the closing weeks. With a few games to go, Heilmann refused to come out of the lineup, and won the title .393 to .389. Again, Heilmann was among the leaders in most offensive categories, with 134 RBIs (second best), a .457 on base percentage (fourth best), .569 slugging percentage (fifth best), 225 hits (third best), and 326 total bases (fourth best). Despite Heilmann’s third batting title, the American League MVP award went to Roger Peckinpaugh
, whose batting average was almost 100 points below Heilmann’s, and who had 70 fewer RBIs and 40 fewer extra base hits than Heilmann.
In 1926, Detroit’s outfielders took three of the top four spots in the batting race, with center fielder Heinie Manush
winning the batting crown at .378, and Heilmann and left fielder Bob Fothergill
both hitting .367. Heilmann’s .445 on base percentage was second best in the American League, and he once again hit more than 100 RBIs, finishing fifth in the American League MVP voting.
In 1927, Heilmann won his fourth batting crown, batting .398 and missing the .400 mark by just two hits. The 1927 batting title was decided in another close race, this one pitting Heilmann against Al Simmons
. Heilmann trailed Simmons by one point going into the last day of the 1927 season. In a doubleheader at Cleveland, Heilmann had four hits in the first game, and three in the second, finishing at .398 - six points above Simmons. Heilmann also finished the 1927 season near the top in most offensive categories with a .475 on base percentage (second best), 120 RBIs (third best), 201 hits (third best), 50 doubles (third best), 73 extra base hits (third best), .616 slugging percentage (fourth best), 311 total bases (fourth best), and 106 runs (fifth best). Despite winning a fourth batting title, Heilmann still finished second in the MVP voting, this time behind Lou Gehrig
.
Through the 1920s Heilmann led all American League batters with a .364 average. His .558 slugging percentage was topped only by Babe Ruth
, Lou Gehrig
, and Al Simmons
. For the decade, Heilmann averaged 220 hits, 110 runs, 45 doubles, 12 triples, 16 homers, and 130 RBI per 154 games.
When a reporter pointed out that he had won batting titles every other year from 1921 to 1927, Heilmann replied: “Mr. Navin gives me contracts on a two-year basis. I always bear down real hard when a new contract is coming up.”
dropped off somewhat in 1928 (.328) and 1929 (.344), though he was still among the league leaders in batting average
both years. Even with arthritis
in his wrists bothering him in 1929, Heilmann managed to hit .344 with 63 extra base hits and 120 RBIs.
In October, 1929, the Tigers sold Heilmann to the Cincinnati Reds
. Despite continuing difficulty with arthritis
in his wrists, Heilmann hit .333 for the Reds in 1930 with 68 extra base hits, 19 home run
s, and 91 RBIs. While not previously known for his fielding, Heilmann had a range factor
of 2.78 in 1930 — the second-highest range factor in baseball history for a right fielder. While playing with the Reds, Heilmann also became the first player to hit a home run
in every major league park used during his career. Ailing with arthritis, Heilmann did not play in 1931. He attempted a brief comeback in 1932, but appeared in only 15 games for the Reds.
Heilmann retired for good in 1932 with career totals of 2,660 hits (No. 70 in MLB history), 542 doubles (No. 28 in MLB history), 151 triples (No. 49 in MLB history), 1,539 runs batted in (No. 44 in MLB history), 876 extra base hits (No. 67 in MLB history). His .342 batting average
is still second only to Rogers Hornsby
among right-handed hitters. In 1994, Ted Williams
rated Heilmann as one of the top five right-handed hitters and the 17th best overall hitter of all time.
aired a separate broadcast on WWJ
that targeted Metro Detroit. The competing broadcasts merged in 1942. He was popular as a broadcaster for his humor, knowledge of the game, and story-telling talent, and his broadcasts were heard throughout Michigan as the Tigers won pennants in 1934, 1935, 1940 and 1945. Although Heilmann became ill with lung cancer
in March 1950, he managed to return to the broadcast booth at Briggs Stadium to broadcast a few innings of the 1950 season. During the summer of 1950, former teammate Ty Cobb
launched a campaign to elect Heilmann to the Baseball Hall of Fame before he succumbed to cancer. Despite Cobb’s campaign, Heilmann fell short in the 1951 Hall of Fame voting, after being named on 67.7 percent of the ballots.
Heilmann died on July 9, 1951 – two days before the All Star Game was played in Detroit. Shortly after Heilmann’s death Time magazine published an article on Cobb’s campaign for his former teammate. “Recently, hearing that Heilmann was seriously ill, Cobb wrote to several of his baseball-writer friends, urging them not to bypass Harry in this year's selections. Last week, New York Times Columnist Arthur Daley printed part of Cobb's letter, agreed that Heilmann's election was long overdue. The appeal came too late. At last week's All-Star game in Detroit, 50,000 fans stood and observed a moment of silence. The day before, Harry Heilmann, 56, had died of cancer in Detroit.” Heilmann was elected to the Hall of Fame along with Paul Waner
, six months later in January 1952, after being named on 87 percent of the ballots.
In 1999, Heilmann ranked No. 54 on The Sporting News
list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball
All-Century Team.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1914, 1916–1929) and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1930, 1932). He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.
Heilmann was a line drive
Line drive
In baseball, a line drive is a type of batted ball, sharply hit, and on a level trajectory. The threshold between a line drive and a fly ball can be subjective....
hitter who won four American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and 1927. He and Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
are the last two American League players to hit .400, Heilmann having accomplished the feat in 1923 with a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .403. Heilmann’s career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .342 is the 12th-highest in major league history.
Heilmann was also an excellent slugger, ranking among the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
leaders in both slugging percentage and RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
s in 12 seasons. He is among the all-time Major League leaders in double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s with 542 (23rd all-time), triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
with 151 (49th all-time) and RBIs with 1,539 (39th all-time). He played in 2,148 major league games, including 1,327 as a right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
and 448 as a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
. Heilmann was also the first player to hit a home run in every major league ballpark in use during his career.
Early years: 1913-1920
Born in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, Heilmann attended Sacred Heart High School
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, commonly known as SH, SHC, or SHCP is a Catholic school located in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory is the oldest Catholic secondary school in San Francisco...
, the same school that Joe Cronin
Joe Cronin
Joseph Edward Cronin was a Major League Baseball shortstop and manager.During a 20-year playing career, he played from 1926–45 for three different teams, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Cronin was a major league manager from 1933–47...
attended. In 1913, the 19-year-old Heilmann was working as a bookkeeper for a biscuit-maker, when a former teammate from Sacred Heart asked him to fill in for the Hanford, California
Hanford, California
Hanford is an important commercial and cultural center in the south central San Joaquin Valley and is the county seat of Kings County, California. It is the principal city of the Hanford-Corcoran, California Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Kings County, including the cities...
, team in the San Joaquin Valley League
San Joaquin Valley League
The San Joaquin Valley League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1910 through 1911. The league operated primarily in the San Joaquin Valley in California...
. After a scout saw him hit an 11th-inning, game-winning double, Heilmann was signed to a professional contract by the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
of the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
. Heilmann later recalled he received a spaghetti dinner as a bonus for signing with Portland. After he hit .305 for the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
, his contract was purchased by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
for $1,500.
Heilmann debuted with the Tigers on May 16, 1914, and played in 69 games that year, batting .225 and committing six errors in 31 games in the outfield (28 in center field) for a subpar .870 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. For the 1915 season, the Tigers sent Heilmann to the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. In 1915, Heilmann and fellow San Francisco native Ping Bodie
Ping Bodie
Frank Stephen Bodie , born Francesco Stephano Pezzolo, was a center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Athletics and New York Yankees . Bodie batted and threw right-handed...
(later a star with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
and New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
) led the Seals to their second Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
title, with Heilmann hitting .364.
Heilmann returned to the Tigers in 1916, playing in 136 games, including 30 games at first base and 66 games as a backup right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
for Sam Crawford
Sam Crawford
Samuel Earl Crawford , nicknamed "Wahoo Sam", was a Major League Baseball player who played outfield for the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957....
. Though his .282 batting average was low by the standards he would set later, Heilmann ranked among the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
leaders with 30 doubles (seventh best), 73 RBIs (seventh best) and 43 extra base hits (eighth best). Heilmann also became a favorite in Detroit for his actions off the field. On July 25, 1916, Heilmann spotted a woman drowning in the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
. He dove into the river and was credited with saving the woman’s life. After the incident was reported in the local press, Heilmann was given an ovation at the next day’s game.
In 1917, Heilmann continued to improve as a batter, once again ranking among the American League leaders with 86 RBIs (fourth best), five home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (seventh best), and 11 triples (eighth best). However, Heilmann, who earned the nickname “Slug” due to his notoriously slow running, had difficulties as a fielder. In 1917, the Tigers tried playing him in right field (95 games), center field (28 games) and first base (27 games), but he was not particularly good at any of those positions.
In 1918, with the United States at war against Germany, Heilmann joined the U.S. Navy and served on a submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
, causing him to miss half of the 1918 season. Heilmann played in only 79 games in 1918, splitting his time between right field (40 games) and first base (37 games).
Heilmann returned to the lineup in 1919 and had his best season to date, ranking among the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
leaders with a .320 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(10th best), .477 slugging percentage (seventh best), 93 RBIs (fourth best), 53 extra base hits (fourth best), 15 triples (second best), 256 total bases (fifth best), 172 hits (sixth best), and eight home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (eighth best). Heilmann had another strong year at the plate in 1920 with a .309 average, 41 extra base hits, and 89 RBIs. However, the 1919 and 1920 seasons also highlighted Heilmann’s shortcomings as a fielder. Detroit manager Hughie Jennings
Hughie Jennings
Hugh Ambrose Jennings was a Major League Baseball player and manager from 1891 to 1925. Jennings was a leader, both as a batter and as a shortstop, with the Baltimore Orioles teams that won National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896. During the three championship seasons, Jennings had...
used Heilmann as the Tigers’ starting first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, and he led the league in errors by a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
both years, including 31 in 1919 for a .979 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
Heilmann’s first batting title: 1921
Although Heilmann was a good hitter in his first six years, he did not become a great hitter until 1921. In his first six seasons, Heilmann batted .291. The “live ball” era that started in 1920 certainly played a part in Heilmann’s batting in the 1920s. As the lively ball forced outfielders to spread out and play deeper, the line-drive hitting Heilmann took advantage of the gaps that were created.In addition to the lively ball, Heilmann’s development into a star in the 1920s was likely also influenced by Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
. Cobb took over as the Tigers’ manager in 1921 and worked closely with Heilmann to improve his batting technique. Cobb taught Heilmann to crouch more, use his wrists to drive the ball and shift his weight to his front foot. Whether due to the lively ball, Cobb’s teaching, or both, Heilmann’s batting average rose by 85 points in 1921. Heilmann won his first of four American League batting crowns with a .394 average. Heilmann narrowly won the batting crown, edging Cobb, by five points.
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
leaders in home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s 11 times. On July 8, 1921, Heilmann hit a home run in Detroit that the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
reported measured 610 feet – one of the longest home runs ever hit by a Tiger.
In addition to winning the batting crown, Heilmann also led the league with 237 hits and was among the league leaders with a .444 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
(third best), .606 slugging percentage (second best), 365 total bases (second best), 43 doubles (third best), 139 RBIs (second best), and 76 extra base hits (third best).
The entire Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
lineup had a remarkable season at the plate in 1921. In addition to Heilmann and Cobb’s 1-2 finish for the batting title, Detroit’s third outfielder, Bobby Veach
Bobby Veach
Robert Hayes "Bobby" Veach was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Washington Senators ....
, was also among the league’s batting leaders with a .338 average. The 1921 Tigers finished the season with a team batting average of .316 – the highest in American League history. Perhaps proving the baseball adage that good pitching beats good hitting, the 1921 Tigers lacked good pitching and finished in sixth place, 27 games behind the Yankees.
Heilmann wins three more batting titles: 1922-1927
Heilmann broke his collarbone in 1922, but still managed to hit .356 (fourth in the AL) with a .432 on base percentage (fifth best) and a .598 slugging percentage (fourth best). And despite missing more than a month with the broken collarbone, Heilmann hit a career-high 21 home runHome run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s – fourth best in the league.
Heilmann strung together 12 consecutive seasons of hitting at least .300, and was in the top 10 in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
10 times. In 1923, Heilmann won his second batting title, hitting .403 for the season, edging out Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
who hit .393. It was the second time Detroit’s batters had denied Ruth a triple crown. Ruth led the league in home runs and RBIs in both 1921 and 1923 but was edged out in batting average both years by Cobb and/or Heilmann. In 1926, another Tiger hitter, Heinie Manush
Heinie Manush
Henry Emmett Manush , nicknamed "Heinie" due to his German heritage, was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964....
, won the batting title to deny Ruth the triple crown yet again. Detroit manager Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
reportedly delighted in the fact that his batters three times denied Ruth a triple crown.
In addition to winning the 1923 batting crown, Heilmann had one of his best seasons as a slugger. He finished second to Ruth in on base percentage (.481) and slugging percentage (.632). He was also among the top five with 121 runs (fourth), 211 hits (third), 331 total bases (fourth), 44 doubles (fourth), 18 home runs (third), 115 RBIs (third), and 73 extra base hits (fourth). Despite breaking the .400 mark, Heilmann finished third in the 1923 American League Most Valuable Player voting behind Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
and Eddie Collins
Eddie Collins
Edward Trowbridge Collins, Sr. , nicknamed "Cocky", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman, manager and executive...
.
Heilmann worked as a life insurance
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
agent during the off-season in the 1920s. On October 16, 1923, after Babe Ruth received his World Series winner's share‚ Heilmann‚ who was friends with Ruth despite having beaten him for the batting title‚ sold Ruth a $50‚000 life insurance policy.
In 1924, Heilmann “slumped” (by his standards) to a .346 batting average (sixth best in the AL), though his .445 on base percentage was second best in the league. He also led the league with 41 doubles and had another 100-plus RBI season. Heilmann had his best defensive season in 1924, collecting 31 outfield assists, more than any other outfielder that year. Heilmann never had more than 18 outfield assists in any other season.
In 1925, Heilmann won his third batting title, this time in a close race with Tris Speaker
Tris Speaker
Tristram E. Speaker , nicknamed "Spoke" and "The Grey Eagle", was an American baseball player. Considered one of the best offensive and defensive center fielders in the history of Major League Baseball, he compiled a career batting average of .345 , and still holds the record of 792 career doubles...
. At the beginning of September, Heilmann trailed Speaker by 50 points, but beat Speaker in the closing weeks. With a few games to go, Heilmann refused to come out of the lineup, and won the title .393 to .389. Again, Heilmann was among the leaders in most offensive categories, with 134 RBIs (second best), a .457 on base percentage (fourth best), .569 slugging percentage (fifth best), 225 hits (third best), and 326 total bases (fourth best). Despite Heilmann’s third batting title, the American League MVP award went to Roger Peckinpaugh
Roger Peckinpaugh
Roger Thorpe Peckinpaugh was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox...
, whose batting average was almost 100 points below Heilmann’s, and who had 70 fewer RBIs and 40 fewer extra base hits than Heilmann.
In 1926, Detroit’s outfielders took three of the top four spots in the batting race, with center fielder Heinie Manush
Heinie Manush
Henry Emmett Manush , nicknamed "Heinie" due to his German heritage, was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964....
winning the batting crown at .378, and Heilmann and left fielder Bob Fothergill
Bob Fothergill
Robert Roy Fothergill , nicknamed "Fats" or "Fatty," was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played twelve seasons with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
both hitting .367. Heilmann’s .445 on base percentage was second best in the American League, and he once again hit more than 100 RBIs, finishing fifth in the American League MVP voting.
In 1927, Heilmann won his fourth batting crown, batting .398 and missing the .400 mark by just two hits. The 1927 batting title was decided in another close race, this one pitting Heilmann against Al Simmons
Al Simmons
Aloysius Harry Simmons , born Aloisius Szymanski in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was an American baseball player. He played for two decades in the major leagues as an outfielder, and had his best years as a member of Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics during the 1930's...
. Heilmann trailed Simmons by one point going into the last day of the 1927 season. In a doubleheader at Cleveland, Heilmann had four hits in the first game, and three in the second, finishing at .398 - six points above Simmons. Heilmann also finished the 1927 season near the top in most offensive categories with a .475 on base percentage (second best), 120 RBIs (third best), 201 hits (third best), 50 doubles (third best), 73 extra base hits (third best), .616 slugging percentage (fourth best), 311 total bases (fourth best), and 106 runs (fifth best). Despite winning a fourth batting title, Heilmann still finished second in the MVP voting, this time behind Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
.
Through the 1920s Heilmann led all American League batters with a .364 average. His .558 slugging percentage was topped only by Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
, Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
, and Al Simmons
Al Simmons
Aloysius Harry Simmons , born Aloisius Szymanski in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was an American baseball player. He played for two decades in the major leagues as an outfielder, and had his best years as a member of Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics during the 1930's...
. For the decade, Heilmann averaged 220 hits, 110 runs, 45 doubles, 12 triples, 16 homers, and 130 RBI per 154 games.
When a reporter pointed out that he had won batting titles every other year from 1921 to 1927, Heilmann replied: “Mr. Navin gives me contracts on a two-year basis. I always bear down real hard when a new contract is coming up.”
Heilmann’s final years in the major leagues: 1928-1932
Heilmann’s batting averageBatting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
dropped off somewhat in 1928 (.328) and 1929 (.344), though he was still among the league leaders in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
both years. Even with arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
in his wrists bothering him in 1929, Heilmann managed to hit .344 with 63 extra base hits and 120 RBIs.
In October, 1929, the Tigers sold Heilmann to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Despite continuing difficulty with arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
in his wrists, Heilmann hit .333 for the Reds in 1930 with 68 extra base hits, 19 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, and 91 RBIs. While not previously known for his fielding, Heilmann had a range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
of 2.78 in 1930 — the second-highest range factor in baseball history for a right fielder. While playing with the Reds, Heilmann also became the first player to hit a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in every major league park used during his career. Ailing with arthritis, Heilmann did not play in 1931. He attempted a brief comeback in 1932, but appeared in only 15 games for the Reds.
Heilmann retired for good in 1932 with career totals of 2,660 hits (No. 70 in MLB history), 542 doubles (No. 28 in MLB history), 151 triples (No. 49 in MLB history), 1,539 runs batted in (No. 44 in MLB history), 876 extra base hits (No. 67 in MLB history). His .342 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
is still second only to Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby, Sr. , nicknamed "The Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Boston Braves , Chicago Cubs , and St. Louis Browns...
among right-handed hitters. In 1994, Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
rated Heilmann as one of the top five right-handed hitters and the 17th best overall hitter of all time.
Life after baseball and the Hall of Fame
From 1934 to 1950, Heilmann worked as a play-by-play announcer during Tigers radio broadcasts on WXYZ. For his first eight years, he was part of an unusual broadcasting deal. While Heilmann's broadcasts anchored a radio network that stretched across Michigan, Ty TysonTy Tyson
Edwin L. "Ty" Tyson was an American sports broadcaster and radio play-by-play announcer.-Early life:Tyson was born in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania and he attended Penn State University. As a young man, he played ball and acted in nearby Tyrone, Pennsylvania. While acting in a play, he met another...
aired a separate broadcast on WWJ
WWJ (AM)
WWJ is Detroit, Michigan's only 24-hour all-news radio station. Broadcasting at 950 kHz, the station is owned and operated by CBS Corporation subsidiary CBS Radio. The station first went on the air on August 20, 1920 with the call sign 8MK...
that targeted Metro Detroit. The competing broadcasts merged in 1942. He was popular as a broadcaster for his humor, knowledge of the game, and story-telling talent, and his broadcasts were heard throughout Michigan as the Tigers won pennants in 1934, 1935, 1940 and 1945. Although Heilmann became ill with lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
in March 1950, he managed to return to the broadcast booth at Briggs Stadium to broadcast a few innings of the 1950 season. During the summer of 1950, former teammate Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
launched a campaign to elect Heilmann to the Baseball Hall of Fame before he succumbed to cancer. Despite Cobb’s campaign, Heilmann fell short in the 1951 Hall of Fame voting, after being named on 67.7 percent of the ballots.
Heilmann died on July 9, 1951 – two days before the All Star Game was played in Detroit. Shortly after Heilmann’s death Time magazine published an article on Cobb’s campaign for his former teammate. “Recently, hearing that Heilmann was seriously ill, Cobb wrote to several of his baseball-writer friends, urging them not to bypass Harry in this year's selections. Last week, New York Times Columnist Arthur Daley printed part of Cobb's letter, agreed that Heilmann's election was long overdue. The appeal came too late. At last week's All-Star game in Detroit, 50,000 fans stood and observed a moment of silence. The day before, Harry Heilmann, 56, had died of cancer in Detroit.” Heilmann was elected to the Hall of Fame along with Paul Waner
Paul Waner
Paul Glee Waner , nicknamed "Big Poison", was a German-American Major League Baseball right fielder.-Pittsburgh Pirates:...
, six months later in January 1952, after being named on 87 percent of the ballots.
In 1999, Heilmann ranked No. 54 on The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
All-Century Team.
Career statistics
| G Games played Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,... |
AB At bat In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance... |
R | H | 2B Double (baseball) In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... |
3B Triple (baseball) In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... |
HR Home run In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process... |
RBI | SB | CS Caught stealing In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt... |
BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... |
SO Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... |
BA Batting average Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :... |
OBP On base percentage In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes... |
SLG | TB Total bases In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total.... |
SH | HBP Hit by pitch In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:... |
| 2147 | 7787 | 1291 | 2660 | 542 | 151 | 184 | 1539 | 113 | 64 | 856 | 550 | .342 | .397 | .520 | 4053 | 277 | 40 |
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball doubles records
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1,000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1,000 runs batted in
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions