Harry Heitmann
Encyclopedia
Henry Anton "Harry" Heitmann (October 6, 1896 in Albany, New York
– December 15, 1958 in Brooklyn, New York) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He pitched in one game for the Brooklyn Robins
during the 1918 baseball season, getting the start against the St. Louis Cardinals
on July 27, 1918, in the second game of a doubleheader.
Heitmann had been called up to the majors after a glittering debut season in the minors with Rochester, where he went 17-6 with a 1.32 ERA. Unfortunately, his major league career would not be anywhere near as successful—although for nearly one hundred years there was a discrepancy in the account of just how unsuccessful Heitmann was in his one ML game. Written newspaper accounts claim he faced four batters and got none of them out, while the published box score indicated he faced five batters and got one out. In both accounts, the four batters who reached safely all did so on base hits, and all came around to score, tagging Heitmann with the loss. Official baseball statistics went with the box score version, crediting Heitmann with pitching one-third of an inning and finishing his career with an ERA of 108.00.
However, recent research by the Society for American Baseball Research
confirms the newspaper accounts. As of 2011, Heitmann is now credited with facing four batters, giving up four hits and four runs, and being one of 19 players who retired from the major leagues with an ERA of infinity.
The aftermath of Heitmann's appearance has also become part of baseball lore. According to contemporary accounts, Heitmann was pulled from the game, then—even as the game continued—he immediately packed up his belongings, left the stadium, and enlisted in the Navy
. (Other accounts have Heitmann already enlisted in the Navy, and leaving the stadium to return to the Brooklyn Naval base.)
Whether or not this legend is strictly true is open to debate. In any event, Heitmann's naval career didn't last that long; by 1919 he was again pitching for Rochester. Heitmann enjoyed a relatively long and successful minor league career that lasted until 1928, switching from pitching to being primarily an outfielder/first baseman by the mid-1920s. He finished his minor league career with a 68-46 win/loss record, and a .292 batting average in nearly 2,000 at bats.
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
– December 15, 1958 in Brooklyn, New York) was a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in 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...
. He pitched in one game for the Brooklyn Robins
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
during the 1918 baseball season, getting the start against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
on July 27, 1918, in the second game of a doubleheader.
Heitmann had been called up to the majors after a glittering debut season in the minors with Rochester, where he went 17-6 with a 1.32 ERA. Unfortunately, his major league career would not be anywhere near as successful—although for nearly one hundred years there was a discrepancy in the account of just how unsuccessful Heitmann was in his one ML game. Written newspaper accounts claim he faced four batters and got none of them out, while the published box score indicated he faced five batters and got one out. In both accounts, the four batters who reached safely all did so on base hits, and all came around to score, tagging Heitmann with the loss. Official baseball statistics went with the box score version, crediting Heitmann with pitching one-third of an inning and finishing his career with an ERA of 108.00.
However, recent research by the Society for American Baseball Research
Society for American Baseball Research
The Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
confirms the newspaper accounts. As of 2011, Heitmann is now credited with facing four batters, giving up four hits and four runs, and being one of 19 players who retired from the major leagues with an ERA of infinity.
The aftermath of Heitmann's appearance has also become part of baseball lore. According to contemporary accounts, Heitmann was pulled from the game, then—even as the game continued—he immediately packed up his belongings, left the stadium, and enlisted in the Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
. (Other accounts have Heitmann already enlisted in the Navy, and leaving the stadium to return to the Brooklyn Naval base.)
Whether or not this legend is strictly true is open to debate. In any event, Heitmann's naval career didn't last that long; by 1919 he was again pitching for Rochester. Heitmann enjoyed a relatively long and successful minor league career that lasted until 1928, switching from pitching to being primarily an outfielder/first baseman by the mid-1920s. He finished his minor league career with a 68-46 win/loss record, and a .292 batting average in nearly 2,000 at bats.