Home run king Mike Hessman announces retirement
Mike Hessman, a fixture of Toledo sports for most of the last decade, announced over the weekend that he has hung up his batting gloves for the final time in order to pursue a career in coaching.
The 37 year-old slugger sits at the top of the minor league home run list, with 433 career MiLB homers. The record-breaking hit, which was fittingly his final career home run, came as a grand slam against Lehigh Valley back on August 3. With this hit he surpassed Buzz Arlett, who had held the record for the previous 78 years.
His career was sensational for not only this feat, but for his amazing consistency as well. During the 19 seasons that he was in the league, Hessman played in 2,095 minor league games, scored 1,095 runs, and recorded 1,207 RBIs.
Affectionately dubbed the "The King" by Mud Hens fans, Hessman had numerous stints with Major League teams, including time spent with the Detroit Tigers during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Hessman hit .188, with 14 home runs and 33 RBIs in 229 big league at-bats.
Fond Hessman memories are in high supply for the Mud Hens faithful, from the time he played all nine positions for Toledo in a 2009 game to when he represented the USA as a member of the national baseball team during the 2008 Summer Olympics. In his first season with the Mud Hens back in 2005, Hessman led the team to their first Governors' Cup championship in 38 years. During his final season with the team, Hessman hit .237 with 16 home runs and 57 RBIs, capped off by the record-breaking homer. He has come full-circle.
When asked about his time in Toledo, Mike responded, "I'd like to thank the Mud Hens organization, the fans and the city of Toledo. Toledo holds a special place in my heart. I've had some of my best seasons in a Toledo uniform. Starting with the championships we shared as well as some personal achievements. Thanks again for the memories, they will never be forgotten."
Hessman's nearly two decade-long journey will go down as one of the greatest minor league careers of all-time. Toledoans will one day tell their children and grandchildren stories of the great Mike Hessman, the player who rewrote the minor league record books during his seven years at Fifth Third Field.
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