Mike Hedlund

Mike Hedlund
Mike Hedlund
	Pitcher
	Born: August 11, 1946 (age 78); Dallas, Texas
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
	May 8, 1965, for the Cleveland Indians
Last appearance
	September 30, 1972, for the Kansas City Royals
Career statistics
Win-Loss record	25-24
Earned Run Average	3.56
Strikeouts	211
Teams
	Cleveland Indians (1965, 1968); Kansas City Royals (1969–1972);

Michael David Hedlund (born August 11, 1946) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for six seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians in 1965 and 1968 and the Kansas City Royals from 1969 to 1972.

Cleveland Indians

Hedlund was born in Dallas, Texas, and signed as an amateur free agent with the Cleveland Indians upon graduation from Arlington High School in 1964. He was just eighteen years old when he made his major league debut on May 8, 1965 against the Boston Red Sox.^[1] He appeared in just six games, and pitched a total of 5.1 innings before returning to the minors.

He returned to the majors in 1968 as a September call up, and appeared in three games. After the season, he was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft.

Kansas City Royals

Hedlund went 3-6 with a 3.24 earned run average during the Royals' inaugural season. Used as both a starter and relief pitcher, he was far more effective out of the bullpen, posting a 1.69 ERA and earning two saves. His finest start came on September 18 when he held the Oakland Athletics to just one run, and struck out eight to earn the complete game victory.^[2]

After the season, Hedlund pitched in Venezuela for Winter ball. He did not allow an earned run for thes first 53 innings he pitched, and finishing with a 0.75 ERA. While in Venezuela, Hedlund would contract the "Hong Kong flu" and bronchitis. The illness caused him to lose thirty pounds.^[3]

Sources

^ "Boston Red Sox 15, Cleveland Indians 8". Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 1965.
^ "Kansas City Royals 6, Oakland A's 1". Baseball-Reference.com. September 18, 1969.
^ "The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time: #88 Mike Hedlund". Royals Retrospective. June 3, 2007.

Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)

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[1] "Boston Red Sox 15, Cleveland Indians 8". Baseball-Reference.com. May 8, 1965.

[2] "Kansas City Royals 6, Oakland A's 1". Baseball-Reference.com. September 18, 1969.

[3] "The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time: #88 Mike Hedlund". Royals Retrospective. June 3, 2007.

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