Steve Hargan Passes Away

"That breakout campaign saw Hargan post a 2.62 ERA and a league-leading six shutouts over 223 innings, and Hargan was named to the AL All-Star team for the first and only time in his career. Hargan also hit his only career home run on June 19, 1967, in a rare instance of a pitcher hitting a walkoff homer - the righty capped off a complete-game victory over the Kansas City Athletics"

" I was able to continue on with my career, but I wasn't the same after that," and Hargan felt he returned too quickly from his surgery. Apart from some success in the second half of the 1970 season, Hargan's numbers dropped off during the remainder of his time in Cleveland, resulting in both the loss of his rotation job and a 1973 season spent entirely in the minor leagues."

"A trade to Texas helped Hargan gain a fresh start in his career, and he had a 3.81 ERA over 500 1/3 innings (starting 61 of 105 games) with the Rangers from 1974-76. Taken by the Blue Jays in the expansion draft, Hargan pitched for Toronto during the team's inaugural season but also bounced back to Texas and then to Atlanta in 1977, which ended up being Hargan's last year of Major League action."

Steve Hargan pitched in the major leagues from 1965-77 for the Indians, Rangers, Blue Jays and Braves, compiling a 3.92 ERA across 1632 innings in 354 games (215 starts). He broke out in 1967 with a 2.62 ERA, six shutouts, an AL All-Star selection and a rare walkoff home run on June 19. Bone chips and an ulnar nerve surgery in 1968 diminished his effectiveness, leading to a lost rotation spot and a 1973 season in the minors. A trade to Texas revitalized him from 1974-76 with a 3.81 ERA over 500 1/3 innings. He finished his MLB career in 1977, battled carpal tunnel, spent 1978 in the minors and then retired. Hargan died at age 83.

Read at MLB Trade Rumors