Steven Lowell Hargan (born September 8, 1942), is a former professional baseball player who pitched in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL) ...
from 1965 to 1972 and 1974 to 1977.
The son of Lowell and Florence Hargan, he grew up in
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...
and excelled in basketball and football at
South Side High School Southside High School or South Side High School may refer to:
* Southside High School (Gadsden, Alabama)
* Southside High School (Dallas County, Alabama), a school in the Dallas County Schools system
* Southside High School (Batesville, Arkansas)
...
, from which he graduated in 1961. However, the school did not have an organized baseball team; he played on
Pony League, Junior Federation and
Connie Mack League teams and by the spring of 1961 he was being scouted by five Major League teams. He signed with the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...
, who offered him a contract after he pitched with other prospects in a tryout at
Cleveland Municipal Stadium
Cleveland Stadium, commonly known as Municipal Stadium, Lakefront Stadium or Cleveland Municipal Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium located in Cleveland, Ohio. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball a ...
.
On August 2, 1965, Hargan made his first major-league start, at home against the
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
. He said his debut "was quite exciting. I remember I started against
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich (born September 12, 1940) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1963 until 1979, almost entirely for the Detroit Tigers. A three-time All-Star, ...
and he was already an established pitcher. I was trying too hard and throwing as hard as I could." He cruised through the first three innings and led 4–0, but then he gave up two runs in the fourth inning, and was lifted after giving up three runs in the fifth without retiring a batter. He received a no-decision as the Indians lost 12–7. In front of friends and family, he recorded his first major-league win, against the
California Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...
on August 25 at
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium is a baseball stadium in the Elysian Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It is the home stadium of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers. Opened in 1962, it was constructed in less than three years at a cost of ...
, in the Angels' last season there.
In 1967, he pitched shutouts in his first two starts in April. By midseason his 9–7 record with a 2.68 ERA and 10 complete games in 17 starts earned him a berth on his first and only
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual professional baseball game sanctioned by Major League Baseball (MLB) and contested between the all-stars from the American League (AL) and National ...
. He pulled a hamstring in his last start before the
1967 All-Star Game and did not pitch in the game.
That year he led the
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
in shutouts with six.
Injuries hampered him throughout his career, including arm problems, an ankle fracture and later
carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the collection of symptoms and signs associated with median neuropathy at the carpal tunnel. Most CTS is related to idiopathic compression of the median nerve as it travels through the wrist at the carpal tu ...
.
He pitched for the Indians from 1965 through 1972, the
Texas Rangers from 1974–77, and the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
and
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in B ...
in 1977.
References
External links
o
RetrosheetVenezuelan Professional Baseball League
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hargan, Steve
1942 births
Living people
American expatriate baseball players in Canada
American League All-Stars
Atlanta Braves players
Baseball players from Fort Wayne, Indiana
Burlington Indians players (1958–1964)
Charleston Indians players
Cleveland Indians players
Columbus Clippers players
Dubuque Packers players
Industriales de Valencia players
Leones del Caracas players
American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
Major League Baseball pitchers
Oklahoma City 89ers players
Portland Beavers players
Selma Cloverleafs players
Texas Rangers players
Toledo Mud Hens players
Toronto Blue Jays players
Wichita Aeros players