Former major league right-hander and all-star Steve Hagen Hagen died last week at the age of 83. Hagan pitched for the Indians, Rangers, Blue Jays and Braves from 1965-77, posting a 3.92 ERA in 1,632 innings and 354 career games (215 starts).
Hagan spent the first eight of his 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) in Cleveland, where he served as a starter and reliever his first two years before gaining a solid rotation foothold in 1967. During that breakout season, Hagan posted a 2.62 ERA and a league-leading six shutouts in 223 innings, earning Hagan his first and only career selection to the American League All-Star team. Hagan also hit his only career home run, a rare walk-off home run by a pitcher, on June 19, 1967 – the right-hander’s two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Indians a 4-2 win, capping off a complete victory over the Kansas City Athletics.
Unfortunately, Hagen developed a bone chip in his throwing elbow and underwent ulnar nerve surgery in 1968. Hagen told SABR’s Gregory H. Wolfe, “I was able to continue my career, but I was never the same after that,” Hagan felt he was recovering from surgery too quickly. Aside from some success in the second half of the 1970 season, Hagan’s numbers declined throughout the remainder of his time in Cleveland, causing him to lose his rotation job and spend the 1973 season entirely in the minor leagues.
The trade to Texas helped give Hagan a fresh start in his career, as he logged 500 1/3 innings (61 starts in 105 games) with the Rangers from 1974-76 and posted a 3.81 ERA. Hagan was selected by the Blue Jays in the expansion draft and pitched for Toronto in the team’s first season, but also returned to Texas and then to Atlanta in 1977, which ended up being Hagan’s last year in the major leagues. Carpal tunnel syndrome plagued Hagen later in his career, and after spending 1978 in the minors, he decided to retire.
We at MLB Trade Rumors extend our condolences to Hagen’s family, friends and loved ones.
