Val Heim
Encyclopedia
Val Raymond Heim is a former left fielder
who played in Major League Baseball
during the season. Listed at 5' 11", 170 lb., he batted right handed and threw left handed.
Born in Plymouth, Wisconsin
, Val Heim was one of many baseball players whose career was interrupted during World War II
.
Heim was signed by the Chicago White Sox
in 1940 and immediately was assigned to their minor league
system. He posted a combined .328 batting average
for two teams in 1941, gaining a promotion to the White Sox late in 1942.
In 1942, Heim hit .200 (9-for-45) with six runs
and seven RBI
for Chicago in thirteen games, including one stolen base
and a .294 on-base percentage. He joined the U.S. Navy at the end of the season.
Following his military discharge, Heim played in 1946 and 1948 in the White Sox minors system, but he never appeared in a major league game again. In a five-year minors career, he batted .285 and 35 home run
s in 570 games.
At age 90, Heim is one of the oldest living big leaguers. He currently lives in Superior, Nebraska
.
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
who played 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...
during the season. Listed at 5' 11", 170 lb., he batted right handed and threw left handed.
Born in Plymouth, Wisconsin
Plymouth, Wisconsin
Plymouth is a city in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, along the Mullet River. The population was 7,781 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is located within the Town of Plymouth, but is politically independent...
, Val Heim was one of many baseball players whose career was interrupted during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Heim was signed by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in 1940 and immediately was assigned to their 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...
system. He posted a combined .328 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 :...
for two teams in 1941, gaining a promotion to the White Sox late in 1942.
In 1942, Heim hit .200 (9-for-45) with six runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and seven 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...
for Chicago in thirteen games, including one stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
and a .294 on-base percentage. He joined the U.S. Navy at the end of the season.
Following his military discharge, Heim played in 1946 and 1948 in the White Sox minors system, but he never appeared in a major league game again. In a five-year minors career, he batted .285 and 35 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...
s in 570 games.
At age 90, Heim is one of the oldest living big leaguers. He currently lives in Superior, Nebraska
Superior, Nebraska
Superior is a city in Nuckolls County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,957.Superior bills itself as the "Victorian Capital of Nebraska", and holds an annual Victorian Festival...
.