Home Run King Retires

Former Braves farm hand and all time Minor League Home Run King Mike Hessman formally announced his retirement today. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Baseball America’s J.J. Hooper reported that former Atlanta Braves first baseman Mike Hessman formally announced his retirement today.

If you’re saying who is this guy and why do I care, you aren’t alone. Hessman was selected in the 15th round of the 1996 draft, other notable selected that year were Jason Marquis (Braves second pick), Mark DeRosa (seventh round, eighth pick) and Marcus Giles (53 round, 54th pick), of the 60 players taken that year those four and Joe Nelson (fourth round, fifth pick) who managed two IP in 2001 were the only ones to reach the majors as a Brave.

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Hessman was a power hitting first baseman and made his debut in August 2003 against the Rockies. He had just 26 PA that year and his slash of .286/.423/.667/.1090 was enough to get him a return trip in 2004. That return trip wasn’t as productive -.130/.155/.261/.416 – and he was sent back to the minors.

He became the poster boy AAAA ballplayers, over the next six years he had cups of coffee with the Tigers and Mets but was never ever to stay in the majors. His final major league numbers were an unimpressive .188/.272/.422/.694 with 14 homers in 250PA.  Those numbers aside, Hessman was the greatest home run hitter you’ve probably never heard of.

Minor Sultan of Minor League Swat

Over 20 years in professional ball, Hessman hit 433 home runs in the minor leagues of the USA and Canada, one in rookie ball, 43 in A+, 45 in AA and 323 in AAA. He also hit six in Japan and one in the Venezuelan Winter League making his grand total 454. He also 418 doubles, 27 triples and drove in 804 OPR (other people’s runs) for a total of 1258 RBI at all levels.

Hessman hit 20 or more homers 13 times in his minor league career, including at least 23 in each of his first six seasons with the Toledo Mud Hens. In 2008 he was part of the US Olympic team that won a gold medal and hit a home run during the tournament.

In 2009 he did something else few players have ever done when he played all nine positions for the Mud Hens in a game against the Columbus Clippers. He wen1-for-5 with a single and four strikeouts got caught attempting to steal second and took the loss in his first career blown save that night. That wasn’t Hessman’s first appearance on the mound. In 2001 he pitched an inning in relief for Greenville and in 2005 he threw 2/3 of an inning in relief for the Mud Hens.

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Hessman’s hit homer number 433 on August 3, 2015 off of Dustin McGowan to take the record away from Buzz Arlett  who had held it since 1936. Unlike Crash Davis in Bull Durham. Hessman played the remaining 29 games of the season with Toledo before deciding to hang up his spikes.

That’s A Wrap

All too often we get wrapped up in the stars of the game and forget that there are hundreds of players toiling away in the minor leagues every season. Most of those players are there either to learn the trade or hoping to get a shot at the big leagues one more time while other’s like Hessman play because they love the game. Hitting home runs isn’t easy at any level so we here at the Take salute former Brave and new Minor Leagu Home Run King Mike Hessman on his record and his long career and wish him well in his retirement.