WVU PITCHING GREAT HAS DIED
May 13, 2011 03:27 PM | General
One of West Virginia University’s all-time pitching greats has died. Jim Heise, who nearly led the Mountaineers to the College World Series in 1955 and still ranks high on the school all-time list for wins, earned run average and strikeouts, died April 21 in Orlando, Fla.
Heise coached baseball at Boone High School and later was assistant principal at Winter Park High before retiring in 2002.
A Scottsdale, Pa., native, Heise was a three-year letterman for Coach Steve Harrick at West Virginia, finishing his career with 24 victories, a 2.22 earned run average and 277 strikeouts - all three marks still ranking high in WVU annals.
As a junior in 1955, Heise won 10 games and fanned 111 in leading West Virginia to a Southern Conference championship and the school’s second ever NCAA tournament appearance. When he left WVU in 1956, Heise owned 10 pitching records.
Heise later pitched briefly in the majors with the Washington Senators, where he made eight appearances with the big club in 1957. His last season of professional baseball was 1960. His father Clarence Heise, also pitched in the majors for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Heise, 80, is survived by his wife of 51 years, Peggy, two daughters, and a granddaughter.
Here is a a link to his obituary
Heise coached baseball at Boone High School and later was assistant principal at Winter Park High before retiring in 2002.
A Scottsdale, Pa., native, Heise was a three-year letterman for Coach Steve Harrick at West Virginia, finishing his career with 24 victories, a 2.22 earned run average and 277 strikeouts - all three marks still ranking high in WVU annals.
As a junior in 1955, Heise won 10 games and fanned 111 in leading West Virginia to a Southern Conference championship and the school’s second ever NCAA tournament appearance. When he left WVU in 1956, Heise owned 10 pitching records.
Heise later pitched briefly in the majors with the Washington Senators, where he made eight appearances with the big club in 1957. His last season of professional baseball was 1960. His father Clarence Heise, also pitched in the majors for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Heise, 80, is survived by his wife of 51 years, Peggy, two daughters, and a granddaughter.
Here is a a link to his obituary
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