Johnnie Heving
Encyclopedia
John Aloysius Heving was a professional baseball
player. A catcher
, he played all or part of eight season in Major League Baseball
between 1920 and 1932. Heving batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Covington, Kentucky
. His younger brother, Joe
, was a major league pitcher
from 1930-45.
, appearing in one game with them. He spent the next three seasons out of professional baseball before returning to the majors with the Boston Red Sox
in 1924-25. After spending 1926-27 with the minor league
Toledo Mud Hens
, he returned to the Red Sox in 1928-30. His most productive season came in 1929 with Boston, when he posted career highs in batting average
(.319) and runs batted in (23) in 76 games played
.
, for whom he played in 1931-32. He hit his only major league home run
for the A's on June 13, 1931 against his old team, the Browns, and pitcher Lefty Stewart
.
.
In an eight-season major league career, Heving was a .265 hitter (261-for-985) with one home run
and 90 RBI
in 399 games.
Heving died in Salisbury, North Carolina
, at the age of 72.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. A catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, he played all or part of eight season 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...
between 1920 and 1932. Heving batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Covington, Kentucky
Covington, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 43,370 people, 18,257 households, and 10,132 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,301.3 people per square mile . There were 20,448 housing units at an average density of 1,556.5 per square mile...
. His younger brother, Joe
Joe Heving
Joseph William Heving was a professional baseball player. Heving played as a pitcher for the New York Giants, Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , Boston Red Sox and Boston Braves .In 1944, Heving led all American League pitchers in appearances with 63, despite being the only grandfather...
, was a major league 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...
from 1930-45.
Browns and Red Sox
A non-power hitting backup catcher, Heving reached the majors in 1920 with the St. Louis BrownsBaltimore 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...
, appearing in one game with them. He spent the next three seasons out of professional baseball before returning to the majors with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in 1924-25. After spending 1926-27 with the minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
, he returned to the Red Sox in 1928-30. His most productive season came in 1929 with Boston, when he posted career highs in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.319) and runs batted in (23) in 76 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
Athletics
After the 1930 season, he was claimed on waivers by the Philadelphia AthleticsOakland 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....
, for whom he played in 1931-32. He hit his only major league home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
for the A's on June 13, 1931 against his old team, the Browns, and pitcher Lefty Stewart
Lefty Stewart
Walter Cleveland "Lefty" Stewart was a professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of ten seasons in Major League Baseball between 1921 and 1935. He played for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, and Cleveland Indians.-External links:...
.
Minor leagues
In 1933, he returned to the minor leagues once again with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He continued to play on and off in the minors until 1946. From 1940-42, he served as player-manager of the Salisbury Giants of the North Carolina State LeagueNorth Carolina State League
The North Carolina State League was a "Class D" league in Minor League Baseball. The original version of the league existed from 1913-1917 as the successor to the Carolina Association...
.
In an eight-season major league career, Heving was a .265 hitter (261-for-985) with one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and 90 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 399 games.
Heving died in Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
, at the age of 72.