Phil Hennigan
Encyclopedia
Phillip Winston Hennigan (Born: April 10, 1946 in Jasper, Texas
) is a right-handed former Major League Baseball
pitcher who played from 1969 to 1973 with the Cleveland Indians
and New York Mets
. He attended Jasper High School
in Jasper, Texas
and then Sam Houston State University
.
Drafted by the Cleveland Indians
in the fourth round of the 1966 draft, Hennigan began his professional career that same year. Pitching for the Reno Silver Sox
, Hennigan went 3-8 with a 4.03 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 96 innings of work.
He missed all of 1967 due to military service. In 1968, he pitched for Reno again, going 5-7 with a 3.26 ERA in 80 innings. He struck out 76 batters and walked 32.
In 1969, he mostly pitched for the Waterbury Indians
although he saw a few games in the majors. With the Waterbury Indians, he went 10-10 with a 3.39 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 154 innings of work. He made his big league debut on September 2 of that year, pitching a third of an inning against the Minnesota Twins
. The single batter he faced in that game (and the first batter he ever faced in the majors) was Hall of Famer Rod Carew
. Carew flew out to center. Overall, he went 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA in nine relief appearances in his rookie season.
Hennigan made 41 relief appearances and one start for the Indians in 1970, going 6-3 with a 4.02 ERA, 43 strikeouts and 44 walks in 71 2/3 innings of work. He spent seven games with the Wichita Aeros
that year as well, going 2-2 with an 8.00 ERA in 27 innings of work.
In 1971, Hennigan went 4-3 with a 4.94 ERA in 57 relief appearances. His 57 appearances led the team, and were fifth overall in the league. He was also eighth in the league with 14 saves and fourth with 38 games finished. He also appeared in seven games for Wichita that year, going 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 15 innings.
Although 1972 was arguably Hennigan’s best season, it would also be his last as an Indian. In 38 games, he went 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA. In 67 1/3 innings of work, he struck out 44 batters, walking only 18. He also saved five games.
Following the 1972 season, he was traded to the Mets for pitchers Bob Rauch
and Brent Strom
. He appeared in 30 games with the Mets in 1973, going 0-4 with a 6.23 ERA. He played his final big league game on July 7, 1973.
Overall, Hennigan went 17-14 with a 4.26 ERA over five big league seasons. In 176 games, he pitched 280 2/3 innings, walking 133 batters and striking out 188. He saved 25 games and finished exactly 100. As a batter, he collected three hits in 30 at-bats for a .100 average. His first hit was the only extra base hit of his career – a double off of Bob Locker
. He committed two errors for a .980 fielding percentage.
In the minors, he went 21-27 with a 3.80 ERA.
Jasper, Texas
Jasper is the county seat of Jasper County, Texas, in the United States. The population was 8,247 at the 2000 census. Jasper is situated in the Deep East Texas subregion, about northeast of Houston. The city is best known for the 1998 murder of James Byrd, Jr., an event which gained national...
) is a right-handed former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher who played from 1969 to 1973 with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. He attended Jasper High School
Jasper High School (Jasper, Texas)
Jasper High School is a high school located in Jasper, Texas. The school is part of the Jasper Independent School District. It serves grades 9-12 and the principal is Victor Williams. The assistant principal is Brenda Payne.-Mission:"Jasper I. S. D...
in Jasper, Texas
Jasper, Texas
Jasper is the county seat of Jasper County, Texas, in the United States. The population was 8,247 at the 2000 census. Jasper is situated in the Deep East Texas subregion, about northeast of Houston. The city is best known for the 1998 murder of James Byrd, Jr., an event which gained national...
and then Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is the third oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. It is located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first...
.
Drafted by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in the fourth round of the 1966 draft, Hennigan began his professional career that same year. Pitching for the Reno Silver Sox
Reno Silver Sox (minor league team)
The Reno Silver Sox were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1947 to 1992. The team name is derived from the nickname of Nevada, the "Silver State". There was another baseball team known as the Reno Silver Sox who played in the Golden Baseball League...
, Hennigan went 3-8 with a 4.03 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 96 innings of work.
He missed all of 1967 due to military service. In 1968, he pitched for Reno again, going 5-7 with a 3.26 ERA in 80 innings. He struck out 76 batters and walked 32.
In 1969, he mostly pitched for the Waterbury Indians
Waterbury Indians
The Waterbury Indians, a one-time Eastern League affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, played at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury, Connecticut from 1968 to 1969 and again from 1985 to 1986.-Year-by-year record:-Sources:*...
although he saw a few games in the majors. With the Waterbury Indians, he went 10-10 with a 3.39 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 154 innings of work. He made his big league debut on September 2 of that year, pitching a third of an inning against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. The single batter he faced in that game (and the first batter he ever faced in the majors) was Hall of Famer Rod Carew
Rod Carew
Rodney Cline "Rod" Carew is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, second baseman and coach. He played from 1967 to 1985 for the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels and was elected to the All-Star game every season except his last. In 1991, Carew was inducted into the National...
. Carew flew out to center. Overall, he went 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA in nine relief appearances in his rookie season.
Hennigan made 41 relief appearances and one start for the Indians in 1970, going 6-3 with a 4.02 ERA, 43 strikeouts and 44 walks in 71 2/3 innings of work. He spent seven games with the Wichita Aeros
Wichita Aeros
The Wichita Aeros was a minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas, that played in the AAA American Association from 1970 through 1984....
that year as well, going 2-2 with an 8.00 ERA in 27 innings of work.
In 1971, Hennigan went 4-3 with a 4.94 ERA in 57 relief appearances. His 57 appearances led the team, and were fifth overall in the league. He was also eighth in the league with 14 saves and fourth with 38 games finished. He also appeared in seven games for Wichita that year, going 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 15 innings.
Although 1972 was arguably Hennigan’s best season, it would also be his last as an Indian. In 38 games, he went 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA. In 67 1/3 innings of work, he struck out 44 batters, walking only 18. He also saved five games.
Following the 1972 season, he was traded to the Mets for pitchers Bob Rauch
Bob Rauch
Robert John Rauch is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the New York Mets in 1972....
and Brent Strom
Brent Strom
Brent Terry Strom is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1972 to 1973 and 1975 to 1977 for the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres...
. He appeared in 30 games with the Mets in 1973, going 0-4 with a 6.23 ERA. He played his final big league game on July 7, 1973.
Overall, Hennigan went 17-14 with a 4.26 ERA over five big league seasons. In 176 games, he pitched 280 2/3 innings, walking 133 batters and striking out 188. He saved 25 games and finished exactly 100. As a batter, he collected three hits in 30 at-bats for a .100 average. His first hit was the only extra base hit of his career – a double off of Bob Locker
Bob Locker
Robert Awtry Locker is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1975 for five different teams. The sinker-balling Locker never made a start in his big-league career.- Biography :...
. He committed two errors for a .980 fielding percentage.
In the minors, he went 21-27 with a 3.80 ERA.