Card #220 - Jim Hearn - Pitcher: New York Giants

Today's story has a twist that you do not hear about very often.

Jim Hearn's career started off like many of his era. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent just before the 1942 season. He spent 1942 in Columbus, Georgia, with the Red Birds of the Southern Atlantic League. He then spent 1943-46 in the Army. He came back late in the season to the Cardinals farm system, and in 1947 he made the major league team. He had two decent seasons as a starter for the Cardinals, but in 1949 he bounced between AAA and the Majors. In 1950, he only appeared in 6 games and compiled a 10.00 ERA before the Cardinals put him on waivers.

He was signed by the New York Giants, and something really clicked in for him. Between 1950-1952, Hearn compiled an outstanding 42-19 record and was a key part to the Giants winning the 1951 pennant. Hearn was elected to the All-Star Game in 1952. Then it all turned south.

He stayed with the Giants for four more seasons, but never had winning season again. In October of 1956, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Stu Miller.

With the Phillies, he was a bullpen guy. He won 10 games and only lost 4 in two seasons. However, in 1959 he only pitched in 6 games, and was cut from the team, mostly ending his career.

I say mostly because on May 10, Hearn gave up 2 runs in relief to the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving them the lead. The game was then suspended to be completed on a later date. 12 days later, Hearn was cut from the team. The game resumed in July, the Pirates won, and Hearn was credited with the loss.

Overall, Hearn appeared in 396 games, winning 109 and losing 89. He had a career ERA of 3.81 with 63 complete games, ten shutouts and eight saves.

The back of Hearn's card is a bit different than the others as it doesn't have the player telling a story. It's just a brief encapsulation of his last few years as a Giant.

After his career, Hearn moved to Atlanta an opened up a golf school (now closed and replaced with a public safety building). He passed away in 1998 at the age of 77 in Boca Grande, Florida. He is buried in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.

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Collecting 1955 Bowman Baseball: As Seen on TV

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