Interview with James Hegan, May 15, 1979

Interview Summary

Jim Hegan was born in Massachusetts, and was a catcher, coach, and scout in Major League baseball. In this interview, he discusses his Minor League career, playing baseball while in the military service, his first spring training in 1939, spring training in 1946, the Cleveland Indians team in 1946, Bill Veeck's promotions and views on public relations, and how the players felt about Veeck's promotions. He talks about Lou Boudreau as a manager and his practice of calling the pitches, Veeck's poll on rehiring Boudreau as manager, team meetings with player representatives, barnstorming with Bob Feller and Satchel Paige in 1946 and 1947, Paige as a pitcher for Cleveland, the reaction other players had to Paige's arrival, and the effect of Feller's business interests on his playing performance. He talks about the 1948 season, traveling by train, Larry Doby as a player and as a person, Doby's relationship with his teammates, the segregation of black players, Doby's personality compared to Jackie Robinson's, Bob Lemon's no-hitter versus Detroit, the 1948 World Series, A.B. "Happy" Chandler as a baseball commissioner, and the changes in baseball since 1951.

Interview Keyword

Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler Baseball Baseball Commissioner Jim Hegan

Interview LC Subject

Baseball--United States Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991 Hegan, Jim Hegan, Jim--Interviews

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.