John Heath
| John Heath | |
|---|---|
| Jeff | |
| Born | 1915 Fort William, Ontario |
| Years in Thunder Bay | by 1915 |
John Heath (born 1915) was a major league baseball outfielder who played 14 seasons in the American League and National League. John Heath was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 as an athlete.[1]
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
John Heath was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on 26 September 1987 in the athlete category for baseball, representing Fort William.[1]
Career
Born in Fort William, Ontario, in 1915, Heath began his career in Major League Baseball with the Cleveland Indians of the American League in 1936. He remained with the Cleveland club for ten years. During his third season in the majors, he finished as the runner-up to Jimmie Foxx for the American League batting title. In 1941, he recorded 199 hits, surpassing the totals of both Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams that year. During that same season, he led the American League with 20 triples and ranked second in total bases.[1]
Throughout his 1,383-game career, Heath played for the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Boston Braves. He maintained a batting average above .300 for seven different seasons. His defensive play was also recognized, particularly in 1948 when he led the National League in fielding percentage. He was honored with two selections to the All-Star team during his career.[1]
In 1948, while playing for the Boston Braves, the team qualified for the World Series. However, Heath was unable to participate in the championship series after suffering a broken leg during the final game of the regular season. He played one more year before retiring from professional baseball after the 1949 season. He concluded his career with 1,477 hits, 887 RBIs, 102 triples, 279 doubles, and 194 home runs, which included three grand slams. His lifetime batting average stood at .293, including a .306 average in his final year of play.[1]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (by 1915) rests on the following dated evidence. Born in Fort William in 1915, but the profile only provides evidence of his professional career outside the area from 1936 onwards.[1]
Honours and achievements
- Played 1,383 games over 14 seasons in Major League Baseball
- Runner-up for the American League batting title in his third major league season
- Led the American League in triples with 20 in 1941
- Recorded 199 hits in 1941, the highest total in the American League that year
- Maintained a batting average over .300 for seven seasons
- Led the National League in fielding in 1948
- Selected to the Major League Baseball All-Star team twice
- Member of the 1948 Boston Braves team that reached the World Series
- Retired with career statistics of 1,477 hits, 887 RBIs, and 194 home runs[1]
- Possibly the same as John Weldon Heath; the name matches, but too little is shared to merge the pages.
- Possibly the same as Jeff Heath; the name matches and some details fit, but too little is shared to merge the pages.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "John 'Jeff' Heath", athlete profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/athlete-profile/b177db22-ba55-430c-933e-64c935ab80ca (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.