Jack Heidemann
Encyclopedia
Jack Seale Heidemann is a former right-handed Major League Baseball
shortstop
who played from to with the Cleveland Indians
, St. Louis Cardinals
, New York Mets
and Milwaukee Brewers
. He attended Brenham High School. He is also the uncle of Brett Bordes, a minor league pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles
organization. He is also related to Bordes' father, Charles Bordes - who played minor league baseball - and grandfather, Bill Cutler
, who is the former president of the Pacific Coast League
.
Originally drafted 11th overall by the Indians in 1967, he made his debut on May 2, at the age of 19. The sixth youngest player that year in the Majors, he appeared in three games, collected three at-bats and hit .000 in that time.
In , as the ninth youngest player in the league, Heidemann-at 6'0" and 178 pounds-took the starting job at shortstop away from Larry Brown. As the team's starter, he hit only .211 with six home runs, although he did collect a hit in his first at-bat of the season. He was the only starting player not to hit 10 home runs for the 1970 Indians. He kept his job through the season, for the most part. In 81 games that year, he hit only .208 with no home runs and nine RBI. This former first round draft pick obviously wasn't living up to what was expected of him. He was injured for some time during the 1971 season, suffering from a concussion and knee injury. He suffered the concussion on May 17, when Tommy McCraw
hit a 140 (one source says 250) foot pop fly that should have been an out. Instead, Heidemann, Vada Pinson
and John Lowenstein
collided in the outfield, and McCraw actually got an inside the park home run.
He played in only 10 games in , relinquishing his starting job to Frank Duffy. In those 10 games, he came to bat 20 times and hit only .150.
He did not play any Major League baseball in . Although he was traded to the Oakland Athletics
with Ray Fosse
for Dave Duncan
and George Hendrick
, he was re-signed by the Indians before the 1974 season began.
was Heidemann's best season, even though he hit only .247. He started the season out with the Indians, but after collecting only one hit in his first 11 at-bats, he was traded to the Cardinals for Luis Alvarado
and Ed Crosby
on June 1. His average skyrocketed while with the Cardinals-he hit .271 with them in 47 games.
Even after his success with the Cardinals, he was still traded to the Mets with Mike Vail
for Ted Martinez
during the 1974/1975 offseason.
He spent most of on the bench, collecting 145 at-bats in 65 games. He hit .214 with one home run-his first since 1970-and 16 RBI.
He started the season with the Mets, but hit only .083 in his first 12 at-bats, so he was traded to the Brewers for minor leaguer Tom Deidel. With the Brewers that year, he hit .219 with two home runs. Overall, he hit .209 that year, collecting 10 RBI.
He finished his career in , playing his final game on May 10 of that year. Used almost entirely as a defensive replacement/pinch runner in the five games he played that year, he collected no hits in one at-bat, although he did score a run.
Overall, he hit .211 in his career with 9 home runs and 75 RBI. He was a .966 career fielder. He compares most statistically to Alvarado, and he spent 5 seasons with Dick Tidrow
, John Lowenstein
and Phil Hennigan
-longer than any other teammates. He collected his final hit off Dave Roberts
and his final home run off Bill Lee
.
At last check, he lived in Tempe, Arizona
.
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...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who played from to with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, 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...
, New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He attended Brenham High School. He is also the uncle of Brett Bordes, a minor league pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
organization. He is also related to Bordes' father, Charles Bordes - who played minor league baseball - and grandfather, Bill Cutler
Bill Cutler (baseball executive)
William S. Cutler served as the Pacific Coast League president from 1979 to 1997. He was inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame in 2005....
, who is the former president of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
.
Originally drafted 11th overall by the Indians in 1967, he made his debut on May 2, at the age of 19. The sixth youngest player that year in the Majors, he appeared in three games, collected three at-bats and hit .000 in that time.
In , as the ninth youngest player in the league, Heidemann-at 6'0" and 178 pounds-took the starting job at shortstop away from Larry Brown. As the team's starter, he hit only .211 with six home runs, although he did collect a hit in his first at-bat of the season. He was the only starting player not to hit 10 home runs for the 1970 Indians. He kept his job through the season, for the most part. In 81 games that year, he hit only .208 with no home runs and nine RBI. This former first round draft pick obviously wasn't living up to what was expected of him. He was injured for some time during the 1971 season, suffering from a concussion and knee injury. He suffered the concussion on May 17, when Tommy McCraw
Tommy McCraw
Tommy Lee McCraw was a Major League first baseman and outfielder for the Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators , Cleveland Indians and California Angels ....
hit a 140 (one source says 250) foot pop fly that should have been an out. Instead, Heidemann, Vada Pinson
Vada Pinson
Vada Edward Pinson, Jr. was an American center fielder and coach in Major League Baseball. Pinson played in the major leagues for 18 years, from 1958 through 1975, and his greatest seasons were with the Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds, for whom he played from 1958–68.Pinson combined power, speed and...
and John Lowenstein
John Lowenstein
John Lee Lowenstein , is a former professional baseball player who played Major League Baseball primarily as an outfielder from to...
collided in the outfield, and McCraw actually got an inside the park home run.
He played in only 10 games in , relinquishing his starting job to Frank Duffy. In those 10 games, he came to bat 20 times and hit only .150.
He did not play any Major League baseball in . Although he was traded to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
with Ray Fosse
Ray Fosse
Raymond Earl Fosse is a former professional baseball player who was a catcher in the Major Leagues. He was drafted in the first round of the 1965 amateur draft by the Cleveland Indians. Fosse also holds the distinction of being the Indians' first ever draft pick, as 1965 was the first year of the...
for Dave Duncan
Dave Duncan (baseball)
David Edwin Duncan is an American former professional baseball player and current pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals...
and George Hendrick
George Hendrick
George Andrew Hendrick Jr. is a former major league outfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels. However Hendrick is best remembered as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom he played for from 1979–84. He was a...
, he was re-signed by the Indians before the 1974 season began.
was Heidemann's best season, even though he hit only .247. He started the season out with the Indians, but after collecting only one hit in his first 11 at-bats, he was traded to the Cardinals for Luis Alvarado
Luis Alvarado
Luis César Alvarado Martínez , born in Lajas, Puerto Rico, was a utility infielder in Major League Baseball....
and Ed Crosby
Ed Crosby
Edward Carlton Crosby is a former utility infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians . Crosby batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
on June 1. His average skyrocketed while with the Cardinals-he hit .271 with them in 47 games.
Even after his success with the Cardinals, he was still traded to the Mets with Mike Vail
Mike Vail
Michael Lewis Vail is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played from 1975-1984....
for Ted Martinez
Ted Martínez
Teodoro Noel Martínez Encarnación is a former professional baseball infielder. He played all or part of nine seasons in Major League Baseball, mostly as a shortstop and second baseman, for the New York Mets , St...
during the 1974/1975 offseason.
He spent most of on the bench, collecting 145 at-bats in 65 games. He hit .214 with one home run-his first since 1970-and 16 RBI.
He started the season with the Mets, but hit only .083 in his first 12 at-bats, so he was traded to the Brewers for minor leaguer Tom Deidel. With the Brewers that year, he hit .219 with two home runs. Overall, he hit .209 that year, collecting 10 RBI.
He finished his career in , playing his final game on May 10 of that year. Used almost entirely as a defensive replacement/pinch runner in the five games he played that year, he collected no hits in one at-bat, although he did score a run.
Overall, he hit .211 in his career with 9 home runs and 75 RBI. He was a .966 career fielder. He compares most statistically to Alvarado, and he spent 5 seasons with Dick Tidrow
Dick Tidrow
Richard William Tidrow was a Major League Baseball player for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and New York Mets from 1972 to 1984. He was primarily known as a setup man, or pitcher before the closer; however, on occasion he would also start games...
, John Lowenstein
John Lowenstein
John Lee Lowenstein , is a former professional baseball player who played Major League Baseball primarily as an outfielder from to...
and Phil Hennigan
Phil Hennigan
Phillip Winston Hennigan is a right-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1969 to 1973 with the Cleveland Indians and New York Mets...
-longer than any other teammates. He collected his final hit off Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts (pitcher)
David Arthur Roberts was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for eight teams from 1969 to 1981. He was second in the National League with a 2.10 earned run average in for the San Diego Padres, after which he was traded to the Houston Astros, where he spent the...
and his final home run off Bill Lee
Bill Lee (left-handed pitcher)
William Francis Lee III , nicknamed "Spaceman", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Boston Red Sox from - and the Montreal Expos from -...
.
At last check, he lived in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
.