Former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher passes away
Photo credit: Ray Carlin-Imagn Images
Former Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians All-Star pitcher Steve Hargen has died.
The journeyman pitched for four teams in a 12-year major league career, winning 87 games as a starter and reliever.
Steve Hargen, an All-Star once in 12 seasons as a major league pitcher, and a member of the inaugural 1977 Toronto Blue Jays team, has died according to a post to his Facebook page. He was 83.
Hargan went 87-107 with a 3.92 ERA in 354 games (215 starts) for the Cleveland Indians (1965-72), Texas Rangers (1974-77), Blue Jays (1977), and Atlanta Braves (1977).
A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Hargan was chosen to the American League All-Star team in 1967, but didn't pitch in the game.
Hargen talked about disappointment of not being able to play in All-Star game
"The last game with the Indians prior to the All-Star Game, I pulled a leg muscle rounding third," Hargan said in a 2010 interview. "I got caught in the grass and pulled a hamstring, so I could hardly walk; that's the reason why I didn't pitch that day."
It dampened what was one of the highlights of Hargan's career. He agonized over the fact that an injury kept him from participating in the game.
"I felt bad about [the game] going that long and not being able to pitch," Hargan said. "Catfish [Hunter] pitched five innings. Here it was one of the most important games in my life, [and I was hurt]. That was my biggest recollection of not being able to participate because of pulling a muscle. I don't think I've ever pulled a muscle before in my life and haven't since."
Besides his time in the majors, Hargan also spent time pitching in Venezuela in the 1960s, and split the 1978 season with the Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations without receiving a promotion. He retired midway through the 1978 campaign.
Hargan retired to Palm Springs, Calif., where he lived until his death.
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