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Harry Heilmann

Personal Profile

Harry Heilmann
  • Birth Name:
    Harry Edwin Heilmann
  • Nickname:
    Slug
  • Date of Birth:
    August 3, 1894
  • Zodiac Sign:
    Leo
  • Place of Birth:
    San Francisco, California
  • Place of Death:
    Southfield, Michigan
  • Date of Death:
    July 9, 1951
  • Cause of Death:
    Cancer
  • Height:
    6' 1"
  • Weight:
    195 lb
  • Sex:
    Male
  • Nationality:
    American
  • Religion:
    Christianity

Family

Harry Heilmann

    Career

    Harry Heilmann
    • Profession:
      Sportsman
    • Debut:
      May 16, 1914 for the Detroit Tigers

    Trivia

    Harry Heilmann
    • In 1999, Heilmann ranked Number 54 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
    • Heilmann was elected to the Hall of Fame six months later in January 1952, after being named on 87% of the ballots.
    • From 1934 to 1950, Heilmann worked as a play-by-play announcer during Tigers radio broadcasts.
    • In 1994, Ted Williams rated Heilmann as one of the top 5 right-handed hitters and the 17th best overall hitter of all time.
    • His .342 batting average is still second only to Rogers Hornsby among right-handed hitters.
    • Heilmann retired for good in 1932 with career totals of 2,660 hits (No. 62 in MLB history), 542 doubles (No. 23 in MLB history), 151 triples (No. 49 in MLB history), 1,539 runs batted in (No. 39 in MLB history), 876 extra base hits (No. 57 in MLB history).
    • Even with arthritis in his wrists bothering him in 1929, Heilmann managed to hit .344 with 63 extra base hits and 120 RBIs.
    • Heilmann’s batting average dropped off somewhat in 1928 (.328) and 1929 (.344), though he was still among the league leaders in batting average both years.
    • On October 16, 1923, after Babe Ruth received his World Series winner's share‚ Heilmann‚ who was friends with Ruth despite having beaten him for the batting title‚ sold Ruth a $50‚000 life insurance policy.
    • Heilmann worked as a life insurance agent during the off-season in the 1920s.

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