January 16, 2021 Sports, Rock & Roll and Americana Auction

Offered is a 1950's game used bat from Cleveland Indian Jim Hegan. He played for 17 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1941 to 1942 and 1946 to 1960, most notably for the Cleveland Indians with whom he won a World Series in 1948. Although Hegan was a light-hitting player, he was notable for being one of the best defensive catchers of his era and a capable handler of pitching staffs, earning five All-Star selections. After retiring as a player he continued to serve as a major league coach in a baseball career that spanned almost 40 years. Cleveland Indian Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller was quoted as saying, "He was one of the best defensive catchers in baseball history. Jim called a good game. We disagreed rarely. Jim was very good at keeping pitchers calm." Another Hall of Fame pitcher, Bob Lemon said of Hegan, "When I first started pitching, I used to shake him off sometimes. Invariably, they'd get a hit. So I stopped shaking him off." The bat measures 34 ½ inches, weighs 32 ounces and exhibits heavy use throughout including many ball marks, some dead wood on the back of the barrel.The handle is cracked but neatly in place, and the bat also has red rack marks. The facsimile signature well-stamped into the barrel. Excellent condition.