Mike Hegan

James Michael Hegan (July 21, 1942 – December 25, 2013) was an American professional baseball player, who later worked as a sports commentator. In Major League Baseball (MLB) he was a first baseman and outfielder, and played for three different American League (AL) franchises between 1964 and 1977. He was the son of longtime Cleveland Indians catcher Jim Hegan.

Early years A graduate of Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Hegan attended College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, on a football and baseball scholarship. In August 1961, he signed with the New York Yankees after being offered contracts by 15 major league teams.

Major league career New York Yankees Hegan began his major league career with the New York Yankees in 1964, appearing in five games late in the regular season; he was hitless in five at bats. He was added to the Yankees' roster for the 1964 World Series, replacing the injured Tony Kubek. In the series, which the Yankees lost in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals, Hegan appeared as a substitute in three games; he was hitless in one at bat, with one walk and one run scored. He was selected for the 1969 All-Star Game, but due to an injury was replaced by teammate Don Mincher on the AL roster, thus making them the only Seattle Pilot All-Stars. Midway through the 1971 season, Hegan was batting .221 with four home runs and 11 RBI in 46 games when his contract was sold to the Oakland Athletics.

New York Yankees (second stint) Hegan was the Yankees' regular first baseman for the remainder of the 1973 season; he appeared in 37 games and hit .275 (36-for-131) with six home runs and 14 RBI. Hegan was with the Yankees in 1974 through mid-May, appearing in 18 games and batting .226 (12-for-53) with two home runs and 9 RBI.

Milwaukee Brewers (second stint) During his second stint with the Brewers (May 1974–July 1977), Hegan appeared in a total of 297 games, batting .239 with 19 home runs and 88 RBI. On September 3, 1976, he became the first Brewer to hit for the cycle, in an 11–2 win over the Detroit Tigers. Hegan's major league career ended when he was released by the Brewers on July 15, 1977.

In a total of 12 major league seasons, Hegan played in 966 games, batting .242 with 53 home runs and 229 RBI. Defensively, he recorded a .995 fielding percentage at first base and an overall .993 fielding percentage. He retired after the 2011 season, although on May 23, 2012, he filled in as commentator for a game against the Detroit Tigers.

Personal life Hegan was inducted to the St. Ignatius High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989, and was a 2011 inductee of the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame.

After his retirement as a broadcaster, Hegan took a role with the Indians as an alumni ambassador. He died on December 25, 2013, in his home in Hilton Head, South Carolina, due to heart failure at the age of 71.