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Harry Heilmann Stats & Facts

Hall of Fame, Player
 

Harry Heilmann

Positions: Rightfielder and First Baseman
Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right
6-1, 195lb (185cm, 88kg)
Born: August 3, 1894 in San Francisco, CA
Died: July 9, 1951 in Southfield, MI
Buried: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, MI
High School: Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (San Francisco, CA)
Debut: May 16, 1914 (4,153rd in MLB history)
vs. BOS 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: May 31, 1932 
vs. PIT 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1952. (Voted by BBWAA on 203/234 ballots)
View Harry Heilmann’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Full Name: Harry Edwin Heilmann
Nicknames: Slug
Pronunciation: \HILE-man\

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View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject

 

 

Nine Players Who Debuted in 1914

Babe Ruth
Harry Heilmann
George Burns
Everett Scott
Red Faber
Sad Sam Jones
Dolf Luque
Jack Tobin
Braggo Roth

 

The Harry Heilmann Teammate Team

C:   Ernie Lombardi
1B: Lu Blue
2B: Charlie Gehringer
3B: Chuck Dressen
SS: Leo Durocher
LF: Chick Hafey
CF: Ty Cobb
RF: Bobby Veach
SP: Hooks Dauss
SP: Earl Whitehill
SP: Red Lucas
SP: Eppa Rixey
RP: Ray Kolp
M:   Hughey Jennings

 

Notable Events and Chronology for Harry Heilmann Career

 Tris Speaker of the Boston Red Sox records an unassisted double play against the Detroit Tigers - his second of the season.

 Tris Speaker of the Boston Red Sox records an unassisted double play against the Detroit Tigers – his second of the season.

Tigers favorite Harry Heilmann gets an appreciative hand from the crowd for having dived into the Detroit River last night to save a woman from drowning.

Tigers favorite Harry Heilmann gets an appreciative hand from the crowd for having dived into the Detroit River last night to save a woman from drowning.

Jack Tobin goes 5 for 5 to pace the St. Louis Browns to a 12 - 10 win over the Tigers. Ty Cobb notches three hits and Harry Heilmann hits two triples and a single for Detroit.

Jack Tobin goes 5 for 5 to pace the St. Louis Browns to a 12 – 10 win over the Tigers. Ty Cobb notches three hits and Harry Heilmann hits two triples and a single for Detroit.

6/10/1921 - Ty Cobb's Tigers were in Washington completing a series against the Senators. Before the game, Cobb changed his lineup by reversing Harry Heilmann and Bobby Veach. However, the skipper failed to tell the players of this switch. In the top of the first inning, Heilmann batted in Veach's spot and hit a two-run home run to left field. Umpire Billy Evans declared Heilmann out. When Veach finally got to bat in the fourth inning, he homered to right. There was also a Washington runner called out for coach's interference later in the game. The Tigers won, 6-3.

6/10/1921 – Ty Cobb’s Tigers were in Washington completing a series against the Senators. Before the game, Cobb changed his lineup by reversing Harry Heilmann and Bobby Veach. However, the skipper failed to tell the players of this switch. In the top of the first inning, Heilmann batted in Veach’s spot and hit a two-run home run to left field. Umpire Billy Evans declared Heilmann out. When Veach finally got to bat in the fourth inning, he homered to right. There was also a Washington runner called out for coach’s interference later in the game. The Tigers won, 6-3.

6/10/1921: The Tigers were in Washington for a strange game. In the top of the first inning, Harry Heilmann homered into the left field bleachers. It came off Harry Courtney with one runner on base. However, Heilmann was called out for batting out of turn by umpire Billy Evans. Detroit manager Ty Cobb had changed the lineup before the game but did not tell the players. Bobby Veach was skipped in the batting order in the initial frame. Veach batted in the fourth inning for the first time and homered to right field. In the fifth inning, Washington's Bucky Harris was called out on the base paths because of interference by Clyde Milan who was coaching third base at the time. There was a lot of confusion on the field during that play and eventually Harris and Sam Rice ended up standing at third base. When Rice stepped off the bag he was tagged out.

6/10/1921: The Tigers were in Washington for a strange game. In the top of the first inning, Harry Heilmann homered into the left field bleachers. It came off Harry Courtney with one runner on base. However, Heilmann was called out for batting out of turn by umpire Billy Evans. Detroit manager Ty Cobb had changed the lineup before the game but did not tell the players. Bobby Veach was skipped in the batting order in the initial frame. Veach batted in the fourth inning for the first time and homered to right field. In the fifth inning, Washington’s Bucky Harris was called out on the base paths because of interference by Clyde Milan who was coaching third base at the time. There was a lot of confusion on the field during that play and eventually Harris and Sam Rice ended up standing at third base. When Rice stepped off the bag he was tagged out.

In Detroit, RF Harry Heilmann hits a home run that is measured at 610 feet.

In Detroit, RF Harry Heilmann hits a home run that is measured at 610 feet.

Harry Heilmann beats Ruth for the batting title then sells him a $50,000 life insurance policy

Harry Heilmann beats Ruth for the batting title then sells him a $50,000 life insurance policy

The Browns top Detroit‚ 9 - 6‚ paced by Ken Williams' grand slam in the 3rd inning. Harry Heilmann and Ty Cobb get into an argument with the umpires and will be suspended‚ missing tomorrow's twinbill.

The Browns top Detroit‚ 9 – 6‚ paced by Ken Williams’ grand slam in the 3rd inning. Harry Heilmann and Ty Cobb get into an argument with the umpires and will be suspended‚ missing tomorrow’s twinbill.

The Tigers beat the Yanks‚ 10 - 4‚ in a series that features the top two hitters in the American League. Babe Ruth goes 3-for-8 against the Tigers‚ while Harry Heilmann is 5-for-10 against the Yanks. The two are neck and neck at .390 for the year. After the game‚ AL President Ban Johnson rules that Babe Ruth must give up his Sam Crawford bat‚ made for him by the future Hall of Famer. The bat is "four pieces of seasoned wood‚ carefully glued together." On August 21st‚ Johnson rules that only one-piece bats will be allowed‚ a rule that also affects Ken Williams‚ who is using a plugged bat.

The Tigers beat the Yanks‚ 10 – 4‚ in a series that features the top two hitters in the American League. Babe Ruth goes 3-for-8 against the Tigers‚ while Harry Heilmann is 5-for-10 against the Yanks. The two are neck and neck at .390 for the year. After the game‚ AL President Ban Johnson rules that Babe Ruth must give up his Sam Crawford bat‚ made for him by the future Hall of Famer. The bat is “four pieces of seasoned wood‚ carefully glued together.” On August 21st‚ Johnson rules that only one-piece bats will be allowed‚ a rule that also affects Ken Williams‚ who is using a plugged bat.

1923 - Yankee Sam Jones no-hits the Athletics, 2 - 0, beating Bob Hasty. Babe Ruth makes the only strikeout of the game as he slips a point behind Detroit's Harry Heilmann in the batting race. Not till Ken Holtzman's no-hitter in 1969 will another pitcher record a no-hitter with no strikeouts. In a twilight charity game, Babe Ruth plays 1B for Philadelphia's Ascension Catholic Club. Ruth scores the only run in a 2 - 1 loss to the Lit Brothers.

1923 – Yankee Sam Jones no-hits the Athletics, 2 – 0, beating Bob Hasty. Babe Ruth makes the only strikeout of the game as he slips a point behind Detroit’s Harry Heilmann in the batting race. Not till Ken Holtzman’s no-hitter in 1969 will another pitcher record a no-hitter with no strikeouts. In a twilight charity game, Babe Ruth plays 1B for Philadelphia’s Ascension Catholic Club. Ruth scores the only run in a 2 – 1 loss to the Lit Brothers.

Soon after Babe Ruth receives his World Series winner's share of $6,160.46, insurance agent Harry Heilmann, who beat Ruth for the batting title by 10 points, sells him a $50,000 life insurance policy. Beneficiaries are Mrs. Ruth and adopted daughter Dorothy.

Soon after Babe Ruth receives his World Series winner’s share of $6,160.46, insurance agent Harry Heilmann, who beat Ruth for the batting title by 10 points, sells him a $50,000 life insurance policy. Beneficiaries are Mrs. Ruth and adopted daughter Dorothy.

Tiger outfielder Ty Cobb and Browns first baseman George Sisler face one another as mound opponents and Harry Heilmann gets 6 hits in double header to take batting crown

Tiger outfielder Ty Cobb and Browns first baseman George Sisler face one another as mound opponents and Harry Heilmann gets 6 hits in double header to take batting crown

8/20/1926 - The Tigers were in Philadelphia to play the Athletics. In the second game of a twin bill, the team did not follow Ty Cobb's lineup at the start of the game but were not called on it the first time through the list. In the fourth inning, Harry Heilmann doubled and, with two out, scored on a hit by Charlie Gehringer. However, coach Kid Gleason asked umpire Billy Evans about the proper order and Evans negated the play and called out Gehringer for batting out of turn. Before the game, when the announcer had listed the Tigers lineup, the writers thought he had made a mistake and simply transposed the two names in their scorebooks. Apparently, so did O'Rourke, the correct batter, and Gehringer. The Tigers won in spite of the gaffe, 5-4.

8/20/1926 – The Tigers were in Philadelphia to play the Athletics. In the second game of a twin bill, the team did not follow Ty Cobb’s lineup at the start of the game but were not called on it the first time through the list. In the fourth inning, Harry Heilmann doubled and, with two out, scored on a hit by Charlie Gehringer. However, coach Kid Gleason asked umpire Billy Evans about the proper order and Evans negated the play and called out Gehringer for batting out of turn. Before the game, when the announcer had listed the Tigers lineup, the writers thought he had made a mistake and simply transposed the two names in their scorebooks. Apparently, so did O’Rourke, the correct batter, and Gehringer. The Tigers won in spite of the gaffe, 5-4.

Pounding five Boston pitchers for 22 hits, the 2nd-place Tigers outlast the Red Sox, 17 - 11. Harry Heilmann leads the cat attack with two homers and two singles.

Pounding five Boston pitchers for 22 hits, the 2nd-place Tigers outlast the Red Sox, 17 – 11. Harry Heilmann leads the cat attack with two homers and two singles.

ty cobb wins 1910 batting title

The Philadelphia A’s Ty Cobb makes what is celebrated at the time as his 4,000th hit

1928 - The Tigers draw 404 fans for their last meeting with the Red Sox, winning 8 - 0 behind Sam Gibson's five-hitter. Pat Simmons is knocked out in the 7th when he gives up consecutive triples to Al Wingo, batting 9th, John Stone, and Charlie Gehringer. Harry Heilmann has a home run and double for Detroit. Jack Rothrock is busy for Boston playing LF, SS, and pitching a scoreless last inning.

1928 – The Tigers draw 404 fans for their last meeting with the Red Sox, winning 8 – 0 behind Sam Gibson’s five-hitter. Pat Simmons is knocked out in the 7th when he gives up consecutive triples to Al Wingo, batting 9th, John Stone, and Charlie Gehringer. Harry Heilmann has a home run and double for Detroit. Jack Rothrock is busy for Boston playing LF, SS, and pitching a scoreless last inning.

The A's spot the Tigers six runs in the 1st inning, then rally to win, 11 - 10. Harry Heilmann has four hits, including two homers, for the losers, as do Marty McManus and Dale Alexander. The Tigers outhit the A's, 13-10. The A's victory increases their American League lead to 11 1/2 games over the Yankees, losers today to the Indians, 9 - 8.

The A’s spot the Tigers six runs in the 1st inning, then rally to win, 11 – 10. Harry Heilmann has four hits, including two homers, for the losers, as do Marty McManus and Dale Alexander. The Tigers outhit the A’s, 13-10. The A’s victory increases their American League lead to 11 1/2 games over the Yankees, losers today to the Indians, 9 – 8.

1931 - Cut-down day for major league rosters includes the retirement of Eddie Collins and Harry Heilmann. Collins becomes a coach for the Philadelphia Athletics and Heilmann will return briefly to the Cincinnati Reds next season.

1931 – Cut-down day for major league rosters includes the retirement of Eddie Collins and Harry Heilmann. Collins becomes a coach for the Philadelphia Athletics and Heilmann will return briefly to the Cincinnati Reds next season.

Harry Heilmann and Frank O’Rourke of the Milwaukee Brewers during spring training in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Harry Heilmann and Frank O’Rourke of the Milwaukee Brewers during spring training in Hot Springs, Arkansas

1944 - Five groups totaling 23 players, managers, umpires and sportwriters visit war theaters as part of the United Service Organizations program. Included are Mel Ott, Dutch Leonard, Frankie Frisch, Bucky Walters, Harry Heilmann, Carl Hubbell, Freddie Fitzsimmons, Bill Summers, Beans Reardon, Johnny Lindell, Tuck Stainback, Steve O'Neill, Leo Durocher, Joe Medwick, Nick Etten, Dixie Walker, Paul Waner and Rip Sewell.

1944 – Five groups totaling 23 players, managers, umpires and sportwriters visit war theaters as part of the United Service Organizations program. Included are Mel Ott, Dutch Leonard, Frankie Frisch, Bucky Walters, Harry Heilmann, Carl Hubbell, Freddie Fitzsimmons, Bill Summers, Beans Reardon, Johnny Lindell, Tuck Stainback, Steve O’Neill, Leo Durocher, Joe Medwick, Nick Etten, Dixie Walker, Paul Waner and Rip Sewell.

Tris Speaker

Babe Ruth all time, All Star Team

The Hall of Fame elects two new members: Harry Heilmann, with 203 votes, and Paul Waner with 195

The Hall of Fame elects two new members: Harry Heilmann, with 203 votes, and Paul Waner with 195

Harry Heilmann and Paul Waner welcomed into the Hall of Fame

Harry Heilmann and Paul Waner welcomed into the Hall of Fame

 

 

One of the best right-handed hitters in baseball history, Harry Heilmann won four batting titles on his way to the Hall of Fame. Some attributed his batting improvement after 1920 to a “lively ball”, but the more plausible reasons were the tutelage of teammate Ty Cobb, and maturity. Heilmann played fifteen seasons with Detroit as part of one of the best hitting teams in history, and later served as a popular announcer for the franchise. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1952.

Biography

Heilmann was 25 years old before he hit .300 in a season, but he retired at the age of 38 with a .342 lifetime mark. He listened closely to the advice Cobb gave him and became a line-drive hitting menace who rarely struck out. Joining Cobb and Bobby Veach, he formed an impressive outfield from 1921 to 1923. In 1924 Heinie Manush (also a Hall of Famer) joined Cobb and Heilmann in the Detroit outfield.

 

In the 1920’s Heilmann led all AL batters with a .364 average. His .558 slugging percentage was topped only by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Al Simmons. For that decade “Slug” averaged 220 hits, 110 runs, 45 doubles, 12 triples, 16 homers, and 130 RBI per 154 games. He won the batting title in 1921, 1923, 1925, and 1927. He was consistent – his average in his batting title seasons ranged from .393 to .403.

 

Heilmann’s batting titles all came over famous adversaries: in 1921 he beat out Cobb by five points; in 1923 Heilmann’s career-high .403 bested Ruth by ten points; in 1925 Heilmann used a September push to overtake Tris Speaker on the final day; and in 1927 he again won on the season’s last day, this time over Al Simmons. Thus, Heilmann topped four Hall of Famers for his batting crowns.

 

Despite arthritis in his hands, Heilmann drove in 120 runs for the 1929 Tigers in just 125 games, batting .344 with 41 doubles. In an astounding slap in the face, Detroit released him after the season and he finished his career with the Reds in 1932. He returned to the Tiger organization in 1933 to broadcast their games on radio, a post he held for 18 years. He died in Detroit in 1951, one year before his induction into the Hall of Fame. A few days after his death, Detroit hosted the All-Star Game, and they had a moment of silence in honor of Heilmann.

 

 

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Factoids, Quotes, Milestones and Odd Facts

Played For
Detroit Tigers (1914-1929)
Cincinnati Reds (1930-1932)

Best Season, 1923
At the time, his .403 batting average was the 19th highest of all-time. He won his second batting crown and slugged .632 with a .481 OBP (topped only by Babe Ruth). Other totals included 211 hits, 121 runs, 44 doubles, 11 triples, 18 homers, 115 RBI, 74 walks, 40 K’s, and nine steals.
Full Bio
Heilmann was 25 years old before he hit .300 in a season, but he retired at the age of 38 with a .342 lifetime mark. He listened closely to the advice Cobb gave him and became a line-drive hitting menace who rarely struck out. Joining Cobb and Bobby Veach, he formed an impressive outfield from 1921 to 1923. In 1924 Heinie Manush (also a Hall of Famer) joined Cobb and Heilmann in the Detroit outfield.

In the 1920’s Heilmann led all AL batters with a .364 average. His .558 slugging percentage was topped only by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Al Simmons. For that decade “Slug” averaged 220 hits, 110 runs, 45 doubles, 12 triples, 16 homers, and 130 RBI per 154 games. He won the batting title in 1921, 1923, 1925, and 1927. He was consistent – his average in his batting title seasons ranged from .393 to .403.

Heilmann’s batting titles all came over famous adversaries: in 1921 he beat out Cobb by five points; in 1923 Heilmann’s career-high .403 bested Ruth by ten points; in 1925 Heilmann used a September push to overtake Tris Speaker on the final day; and in 1927 he again won on the season’s last day, this time over Al Simmons. Thus, Heilmann topped four Hall of Famers for his batting crowns.

Despite arthritis in his hands, Heilmann drove in 120 runs for the 1929 Tigers in just 125 games, batting .344 with 41 doubles. In an astounding slap in the face, Detroit released him after the season and he finished his career with the Reds in 1932. He returned to the Tiger organization in 1933 to broadcast their games on radio, a post he held for 18 years. He died in Detroit in 1951, one year before his induction into the Hall of Fame. A few days after his death, Detroit hosted the All-Star Game, and they had a moment of silence in honor of Heilmann.

Big League Debut: May 16, 1914
Had it not been for the extremely talented Tiger outfield trio of Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, and Bobby Veach, Heilmann would have been in the starting lineup much sooner than 1916.

Post-Season Notes
The closest Heilmann’s teams ever came to first place was four games out in 1916, when Detroit finished in third place.

Milestones
The fact that Crawford stood in his way, his short-season in 1918 due to the war, and a few injuries late in his career, prevented Heilmann from reaching 3,000 hits. He came up 340 hits shy of the milestone.

Hitting Streaks
23 games (1921)
23 games (1921)
21 games (1926)
21 games (1926)
Transactions
On October 14, 1929, Heilmann was sold to the Cincinnati Reds.

Data courtesy of Restrosheet.org

Replaced
Sam Crawford

Replaced By
The Tigers replaced him with Roy Johnson in 1930. The Reds replaced Heilmann with Estel Crabtree.

Best Strength as a Player
Hitting

Largest Weakness as a Player
Heilmann was one of the slowest players of his era.

Other Resources & Links

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