Harry Heilmann played professional baseball for 19 years between 1913 and 1932, including 17 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds.
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55 Facts About Harry Heilmann
2.
Harry Heilmann was a play-by-play announcer for the Tigers for 17 years from 1934 to 1950.
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3.
At the time of his retirement in 1932, Harry Heilmann ranked sixth in major league history with 542 doubles and eighth with 1,543 RBIs.
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4.
Harry Heilmann remains one of only six players in American League history to hit.
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5.
From 1942 to 1950, Harry Heilmann was the exclusive radio voice of the Tigers throughout the state.
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6.
Harry Heilmann died from lung cancer in July 1951; he was posthumously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame six months later in January 1952 after garnering 86.
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7.
Harry Heilmann's father, Richard W Heilmann, was born in 1860 at Sacramento, California, the son of an Irish mother and a father from Saxony.
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8.
Harry Heilmann's mother, Mary Heilmann, sometimes referred to as Mollie, was born in 1864 in County Roscommon, Ireland.
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9.
Harry Heilmann's father operated a soap business, ran as a Republican for the office of Supervisor of San Francisco's Ninth Ward in 1896, and died in June 1897 at age 36.
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10.
Harry Heilmann's older brother, Walter, was a gifted athlete who attended Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco.
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11.
Harry Heilmann followed his older brother to what is Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, where he played baseball, track and field, and basketball.
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12.
Harry Heilmann graduated from Sacred Heart in 1912 at age 17 with a collegiate certificate.
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13.
Harry Heilmann appeared in a semipro baseball game in 1913 for a team from Hanford, California.
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14.
Harry Heilmann made his major league debut with the Tigers on May 16,1914, and played in 68 games that year, batting.
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15.
Harry Heilmann missed the latter portion of the season after suffering from dizzy spells.
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16.
Harry Heilmann returned to the Tigers in 1916 and appeared in 136 games, including 30 games at first base and 77 as an outfielder.
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17.
Harry Heilmann became a favorite in Detroit for his actions off the field.
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18.
Harry Heilmann's heroic act was reported in the national press, and he was loudly applauded at the next day's game.
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19.
Harry Heilmann continued to improve at the plate in 1917, ranking among the American League leaders with 85 RBIs, five home runs and 11 triples ; but he was called "Slug" due to his notoriously slow running and difficulties in the field.
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20.
In 1921, Harry Heilmann appeared in 149 games, including 145 as the Tigers' starting right fielder.
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21.
Harry Heilmann was the first right-handed batter to win the American League batting title since Nap Lajoie in 1905.
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22.
Harry Heilmann was known as a line drive hitter who clubbed the ball harder than any batter of his era with the exception of Babe Ruth.
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23.
Harry Heilmann's one major handicap as a player was a lack of speed that led to his being known by the nickname "Slug".
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24.
In February 1922, Harry Heilmann refused to sign his contract, demanding to be paid $15,000.
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25.
On March 3,1922, Harry Heilmann signed a contract for $12,500 with the Tigers, agreeing to report to spring training the following week.
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26.
Harry Heilmann had to have his collarbone rebroken and reset, and it was then discovered that Harry Heilmann had broken his shoulder.
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27.
The injuries were so severe that Harry Heilmann remained hospitalized until a week before the end of the season, and even after leaving the hospital, he feared he might never play again.
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28.
In January 1923, while preparing for spring training and recuperating from his collar and shoulder injuries, Harry Heilmann took up handball and quickly developed a reputation as one of the best players in the country.
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29.
Harry Heilmann ranked among the American League leaders with 115 RBIs, 211 hits, 18 home runs, 121 runs scored, 331 total bases, 44 doubles, and 73 extra base hits.
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30.
Harry Heilmann worked as a life insurance agent during the off-season in the 1920s.
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31.
Harry Heilmann appeared in 145 games as the Tigers' starting right fielder in 1924 and had his best defensive season, leading the league with 31 outfield assists; he never had more than 18 in any other season.
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32.
Harry Heilmann finished ninth in the voting for the 1924 American League Most Valuable Player award.
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33.
In 1925, Harry Heilmann appeared in 150 games, 147 as Detroit's starting right fielder, and won his third batting title, this time in a close race with Tris Speaker.
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34.
Harry Heilmann was again among the American League leaders in most offensive categories, with 293 times on base, a 7.
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35.
In 1927, Harry Heilmann again appeared in 141 games, 135 as the starter in right field.
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36.
In 1928, Harry Heilmann appeared in 151 games for the Tigers, 125 as the team's starting right fielder and 24 as the starting first baseman.
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37.
In 1929, Harry Heilmann was suspended in the spring for "indifferent training" and then finished the season on the bench.
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38.
Harry Heilmann was then sold by the Tigers to the Cincinnati Reds for a sum reported to be somewhat under $25,000.
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39.
Harry Heilmann totaled 68 extra base hits, 19 home runs and 91 RBIs and ranked among the National League leaders with 43 doubles and 64 bases on balls.
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40.
Harry Heilmann worked in the insurance business in Cincinnati while he played for the Reds.
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41.
Harry Heilmann ran in 1933 for the office of Detroit City Treasurer, losing decisively to Charles L Williams by a margin of 138,478 votes for Williams to 68,695 for Heilmann.
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43.
Harry Heilmann began broadcasting a sports interview show on WXYZ in 1936.
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44.
Harry Heilmann was the voice of the Tigers in 1940 and 1945 when the Tigers won the American League pennant and won the 1945 World Series over the Chicago Cubs.
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45.
Harry Heilmann became known for his gift as a story-teller and for his knowledge of the game.
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46.
In March 1946, Harry Heilmann sustained five broken ribs and a broken chest bone in an automobile accident in Florida during spring training.
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47.
Harry Heilmann was honored between games of a double-header and presented with a solid gold pass for all games played at Briggs Stadium.
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48.
Harry Heilmann was ill for much of the winter after the 1950 season.
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49.
Harry Heilmann was hospitalized at Morrell Hospital in Lakeland, and the Detroit Free Press reported two days later that he was in critical condition with a lung condition.
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50.
Harry Heilmann was taken by ambulance from the airport to Henry Ford Hospital, where he remained hospitalized.
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51.
Harry Heilmann was released from the hospital and returned home in May 1951.
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52.
Harry Heilmann was hospitalized again at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit on June 24 as his condition worsened, and he died there on July 9,1951.
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53.
Harry Heilmann was buried at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, Michigan.
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54.
Harry Heilmann was represented by his widow at the induction ceremony in July 1952.
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55.
Harry Heilmann has continued to be recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
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