| Ed Hearn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: (1960-08-23)August 23, 1960 (age 64) Stuart, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 17, 1986, for the New York Mets | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 2, 1988, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .263 |
| Home runs | 4 |
| Runs batted in | 14 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Edward John Hearn (born August 23, 1960) is an American professionalbaseballcatcher who played for theNew York Mets andKansas City Royals ofMajor League Baseball from 1986 to 1988. He won the1986 World Series with the Mets.
Hearn was drafted by thePhiladelphia Phillies in the fourth round of the1978 Major League Baseball Draft after attendingFort Pierce Central High School. After four seasons in their organization in which he failed to reach higher than the double A level, he was released by the Phillies on January 7, 1983. However, he was soon signed as a minor league free agent by the New York Mets.
Hearn spent most of1983 with the Single-ALynchburg Mets before being promoted to Double-A Jackson, batting .274 with fivehome runs and 49 runs batted in between the two clubs.[1] In1984, he led theJackson Mets with a .312batting average and tied for second with eleven home runs. He earned his promotion to Triple-A in1985, spending the whole season with theInternational League'sTidewater Tides.
Hearn began the1986 season in Tidewater whenBarry Lyons won the back-up catcher job out ofspring training. ManagerDavey Johnson, however, reversed that decision in early May, and Hearn made his major league debut with the Mets on May 17 against theLos Angeles Dodgers atDodger Stadium. He went two for three with asingle and adouble offBob Welch, and caughtGreg Brock, who had stolen a base off him in the thirdinning, stealing in the seventh.[2]
While Hearn was on the Mets'World Series roster, he was the only player to not make a post-season appearance, as the backup to futureHall of FamerGary Carter during the teams'1986 season. He appeared in the team's 1986 music video "Let's Go Mets Go".
On March 27, 1987, the Mets traded Hearn, relieverRick Anderson, and minor league pitcherMauro Gozzo to theKansas City Royals for pitcherDavid Cone and minor league outfielderChris Jelic. In retrospect, with the all-star career of Cone and the journeyman careers of Hearn, Anderson and Gozzo, this trade is often listed as one of the most lop-sided in major league history.[3]
Hearn was on the opening day roster, and was slated to be the Royals' starting catcher in 1987, until a serious shoulder injury ended his season only nine games into it. After rehabbing his injury, Hearn spent the start of the 1988 season playing in theFlorida State League before returning to the Royals. However, he only saw action in 7 more games, and for his career, Hearn only appeared in thirteen games over two seasons for the Royals, batting .257 with no home runs and fourruns batted in.
Hearn spent the next four seasons attempting to get back with the majors while toiling away at AA and AAA in the Royals' andCleveland Indians' organizations. Following 17 games with Cleveland's AAA team, theColorado Springs Sky Sox, Hearn retired from baseball.[4]
Expecting to spend his retirement selling insurance inOverland Park, Kansas, in 1992 Hearn was diagnosed withfocal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Hearn immediately underwent akidney transplant and was required to take several types of medication on a daily basis. Due to the debilitating effects of the disease, and mood swings caused by the medication, in 1993 Hearn almost committed suicide, but was able to fight his way past it through faith and a chance request for him to give a motivational seminar.[5] Finding a renewed strength, Hearn struggled on despite being treated for skin cancer twice, undergoing two more kidney transplants, and being diagnosed withsleep apnea (requiring mechanical assistance to breathe while sleeping) - all of which forces him to take more than fifty types of medication on a daily basis.
Hearn currently works as amotivational speaker. In 2001, Hearn was awarded the prestigious Certified Speaking Profession designation from the National Speakers Association. He is the first and only professional athlete to receive this designation (only 8% of speakers throughout the world have received this distinguished honor).
Hearn also operates a charity: the Bottom of the Ninth Foundation,[6] which is a mentorship program for children.
Hearn has written anautobiography entitledConquering Life’s Curves – Baseball, Battles & Beyond.[7] He resides inShawnee, Kansas with his wife, Trish and son, Cody.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |