The first eight of Hargan’s 12 MLB seasons were spent in Cleveland, where he worked as both a starter and reliever in his first two years before gaining a foothold in 1967. During that breakout campaign, Hargan posted a 2.62 ERA and six league shutouts in 223 innings, and Hargan was named to the AL All-Star team for the first and only time in his career. Hargan also hit his only career home run on June 19, 1967, in a rare instance of a pitcher hitting a walkoff homer – the right-hander capped a complete-game win over the Kansas City Athletics with a two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Indians a 4–2 win.
Unfortunately, Hargan developed bone splints in his throwing elbow and underwent ulnar nerve surgery in 1968. As Hargan said Gregory H. Wolf of SABR“I was able to continue my career, but I wasn’t the same after that“, and Hargan felt he returned from his surgery too quickly. Aside from some success in the second half of the 1970 season, Hargan’s numbers declined for the remainder of his time in Cleveland, resulting in both the loss of his rotation job and a 1973 season spent entirely in the minor leagues.
A trade to Texas helped Hargan get a fresh start in his career, and he had a 3.81 ERA over 500 1/3 innings (starting in 61 of 105 games) with the Rangers from 1974-76. Hargan was acquired by the Blue Jays in the expansion draft and pitched for Toronto during the team’s first season, but also returned to Texas and then Atlanta in 1977, which ended up being Hargan’s final year in the Major League. Hargan suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome late in his career, and after spending 1978 in the minors, he decided to retire.
We at MLB Trade Rumors extend our condolences to Hargan’s family, friends and loved ones.
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