Guy Hecker

Guy Jackson Hecker (April 3, 1856 – December 3, 1938) was an American professional baseball pitcher, first baseman, outfielder, and player-manager. He played in Major League Baseball from 1882 to 1890, primarily for the Louisville Eclipse/Colonels. In 1884, he won the American Association (AA) pitching triple crown.

Hecker acted as player-manager during the 1890 Pittsburgh Alleghenys season; in his only season managing a team, Hecker had a managerial record of 23–113–2 . As of 2025, this remains the worst single-season record in the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise. The 1890 team also recorded the most losses and the second-fewest wins in a season (behind only the shortened 60-game 2020 season).

Early life Hecker was born in Youngsville, Pennsylvania, in 1856. His family moved to Oil City, Pennsylvania, when he was a child.

In 1877, Hecker started his professional baseball career with the Springfield Champion City of the League Alliance. He was listed at 6'0" tall and 190 pounds, and he batted and threw right-handed.

After that season, Hecker moved back to Oil City, got married, and played for local teams through 1881.

On September 19, 1882, Hecker became the second AA pitcher to throw a no-hitter; his teammate Mullane had thrown one a week earlier. Hecker finished the season with a 6–6 win–loss record, a 1.30 earned run average (ERA), and 33 strikeouts.

In 1883, Mullane left the team, and Hecker became Louisville's primary pitcher. That season, Hecker went 28–23 with a 3.34 ERA and 164 strikeouts. He was also a good hitter who sometimes played as a first baseman or outfielder when not pitching.

Hecker had the best season of his career in 1884, winning the pitching version of the triple crown. He went 52–20 and led the AA with 670.2 innings pitched, 72 complete games, 52 wins, a 1.80 ERA, 385 strikeouts, and a 171 ERA+. Despite all that, Hecker went 26–23 that season with a 2.87 ERA and 133 strikeouts. He had his best season as a hitter, leading the AA with a .341 batting average and posting a 161 OPS+. He finished the season with a record of 18–12, a 4.16 ERA, and 58 strikeouts.

Later life In 1891, Hecker was a player-manager for Fort Wayne of the Northwestern League.

Hecker died in Wooster in 1938, at age 82, and was buried at Wooster Cemetery.