Jim Hegan – last legal courtesy player.<\/p><\/div>\n

The last legal use of a courtesy player came on July 2, 1949.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 With one out, in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Saint Louis Browns (there\u2019s a change right there) were leading the Cleveland Indians 4-0, when Indians\u2019 SS Ray Boone<\/strong> was hit by a pitch and unable to continue. Indians\u2019 manager Lou Boudreau (who also started the game at 3B for the Tribe \u2013 a player-manager, there\u2019s another change) brought in Jim Hegan<\/strong> (who had started the game \u2013 and was still in \u2013 at catcher) as a courtesy runner for Boone. Boudreau needed the permission of Browns\u2019 manager Zach Taylor to make the switch, which is why the slow-footed Hegan was used.\u00a0 Note: Given the need for approval from the opposing manager, courtesy players \u2013 particularly runners \u2013 were often chosen from among the less fleet-footed players available.\u00a0 Hegan scored on a sacrifice fly as the Indians closed the gap to 4-2. Since the courtesy substitution came in the bottom of the ninth, neither Hegan nor Boone returned to their position. \u00a0Note: Most instances (more than half) of courtesy players, particularly runners, have followed a hit by pitch \u2013 although base running injuries (spikings, sprains, collisions) and to a lesser extent equipment changes (damaged shoes) have also contributed.<\/p>\n

The previous use of a courtesy player (July 2, 1949)<\/strong><\/span> also involved Boudreau\u2019s Indians and, while it is less significant (not being the last legal use), it does serve to illustrate more about how the game has changed. Instead of the ninth inning, this switch came in the first.\u00a0 This time, the Indians were playing the Red Sox in Boston.\u00a0 Sox starter Joe Dobson got into trouble quickly: single by SS Ray Boone; walk to LF Allie Clark; double by 3B Ken Keltner<\/strong> (bringing home Boone); intentional walk to CF Larry Doby (loading the bases); Grand Slam by 2B Joe Gordon.\u00a0 The next batter (here\u2019s another of those changes), as was the often and accepted practice following a home run, was hit by a pitch. \u00a0That hitter was player-manager<\/em> Lou Boudreau<\/strong> (starting at 1B that day).\u00a0 Keltner, who had batted earlier in the inning, came in as a courtesy runner for Boudreau and scored (here\u2019s another change, at least for AL fans) on a hit by Indians\u2019 starting pitcher Bob Feller.\u00a0 When the Indians took the field in the bottom of the inning Keltner was at third base and Boudreau back at first.<\/p>\n

These two examples represent the final two \u201clegal\u201d uses of courtesy players.\u00a0 On August 10, 1952, Pittsburgh fans witnessed the illegal use of a courtesy fielder.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 It came in game two of a double header against the visiting Cubs.\u00a0 In the top of the ninth of a 4-3 game (Cubs leading), Pirates\u2019 catcher Clyde McCullough<\/strong> was injured.\u00a0 The Pirates, however, had used their two remaining catchers as pinch hitters \u2013 Ed Fitz Gerald<\/strong> in the sixth inning and Joe Garagiola in the eighth. Cubs\u2019 manager Phil Caverretta (a player-manager, by the way) agreed to let Pirates\u2019 skipper Billy Meyer bring Fitz Gerald in to catch. The umpires mistakenly allowed the switch, which was was no longer legal under rule 3.04.<\/p>\n