Jim Hannan – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Jim Hannan built a solid, decade-long career in Major League Baseball. He took on the role of a reliable pitcher during one of baseball’s toughest eras for hitters.

He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1939. Over his career, he appeared in 276 major league games from 1962 through 1971, spending most of his time with the Washington Senators during their expansion years.

Hannan hung up his spikes in 1971 after short runs with the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers. He finished with 41 wins and a pretty respectable record for the pitcher-dominated late 1960s.

He started as a college standout at Notre Dame, then broke into the majors. He had some memorable moments, like his first shutout in 1965 and a standout 1968 season when he went 10-6 with a 3.02 ERA.

But there’s more to Hannan’s story than just stats. He grew from a wild-armed prospect into a seasoned veteran, witnessing some of baseball’s historic moments along the way.

He played through the final years of the original Washington Senators. After retiring, he made meaningful contributions to the game through the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association.

Jim Hannan’s Early Life and Path to Professional Baseball

Jim Hannan’s journey to the big leagues started in Jersey City, New Jersey. He grew up in a middle-class family that really valued education and hard work.

His path took him to Notre Dame University, where he earned a scholarship and sharpened the skills that would launch his MLB career.

Childhood and Family Background

James John Hannan was born on January 7, 1940, in Jersey City. His dad, James Hannan Sr., worked as a dental surgeon after attending Georgetown University. His mom, Irene, stayed home and raised Jim and his younger sister, Mary Sue.

As a kid in Jersey City, Hannan first cheered for the Brooklyn Dodgers, listening to games on the radio. But things changed when his dad started taking him to games at Roosevelt Stadium. That’s where he became a fan of the Jersey City Giants, the Class AAA affiliate of the New York Giants.

One moment really stuck with him. On April 18, 1946, seven-year-old Hannan watched Jackie Robinson’s pro debut at Roosevelt Stadium. His dad nudged him and said, “Do you see the player there wearing number 9? Remember this day. It’s going to be historic.”

Hannan had an unusual physical edge. A birth defect—a congenital fusion failure of his collar bone—let him move his arm more freely, which helped him throw with impressive velocity.

Education at Notre Dame

Hannan shined in high school baseball at St. Peter’s Prep. Scout Mel Logan noticed and connected him with Notre Dame University, promising a full scholarship if he could prove himself.

He showed off his pitching as a junior in 1959, putting up a 6-3 record for the Fighting Irish. He even got the win that sent them into the NCAA playoffs.

In the summer of 1959, he pitched for the Meadowbrook Phillies in the Hudson County Semipro League. His senior year at Notre Dame didn’t go as well. He started the season opener against Austin Peay but saw little action after a loss.

He graduated from Notre Dame in 1960. His college baseball days were over, but his pro journey was just getting started.

Early Baseball Journey

After graduation, Hannan kept playing amateur ball in New Jersey. He briefly joined the Otto Mack Anchors in the Jersey City Department of Recreation League, then played with West Orange in the Essex County League.

He really broke through with West Orange. Hannan went 10-3 and led the league in ERA and strikeouts. That kind of dominance caught the eye of Boston Red Sox scout Bill McCarren.

McCarren signed Hannan on August 25, 1960, to a pro contract worth $10,000 up front. If Hannan reached Class AAA, he’d get another $10,000, and another $10,000 if he made the majors.

But before he could start his pro career, he had to fulfill his ROTC military obligations. Hannan served as a second lieutenant in the Army military police at Fort Gordon, Georgia, for six months. Because of that, he didn’t report to the Red Sox minor league spring training camp in Ocala, Florida, until March 1961.

Major League Baseball Career Highlights

Jim Hannan started his pro career with the Boston Red Sox organization in 1960. The Washington Senators picked him up in 1961, and his rookie season in the minors put him on the radar for a decade-long MLB run from 1962 to 1971.

Red Sox Minor League Experience

The Boston Red Sox inked Hannan on August 25, 1960, for a $30,000 total contract—$10,000 at signing, another $10,000 for AAA, and $10,000 for making the majors.

After finishing his Army service, Hannan reported to spring training in March 1961. He landed with the Olean Red Sox in the New York-Penn League (Class D).

He wasted no time making an impression. Hannan went 17-7 with 254 strikeouts in 196 innings, threw five shutouts, and posted a 3.17 ERA.

The league named him Rookie of the Year for 1961. Those 254 strikeouts in Class D ball really showed what kind of power arm he had.

Despite all that, Boston left Hannan unprotected because of roster limits. The Red Sox had filled their 40-man roster with other bonus picks they valued more.

Draft to Washington Senators

The Washington Senators grabbed Hannan with the first pick in the November 1961 First-Year Player Draft. He got a mandatory signing fee of $12,500.

Manager Mickey Vernon spotted Hannan’s potential right away at spring training in 1962. Vernon even compared the 23-year-old’s fastball to Bobby Feller’s.

The Senators were coming off a 100-loss debut season in 1961 and needed young arms like Hannan to rebuild.

His selection became a key piece of Washington’s long-term plans. They needed pitching talent to compete in the American League.

Transition to Major League Baseball

Hannan made his MLB debut on April 17, 1962, against the Detroit Tigers. He came in during the sixth inning with Washington down 6-1.

He froze for a moment with nerves on the mound. But after spotting Rocky Colavito at the plate—the same player whose glove model Hannan used—he settled down.

He retired the side in order on three ground balls. That first outing kicked off his 10-year MLB career.

Career Stats:

• 276 games (101 starts)
• 41-48 record
• 3.88 ERA
• 438 strikeouts
• 9 complete games
• 4 shutouts

His best season? That’d be 1968—a 10-6 record with a 3.02 ERA. He threw four complete games that year, with standout performances against Cleveland and Chicago.

He pitched for the Washington Senators (1962-1970), Detroit Tigers (1971), and Milwaukee Brewers (1971). As a righty, he became a steady presence in the Senators’ rotation during their expansion era.

Notable Seasons with the Washington Senators

Jim Hannan played nine seasons with the Washington Senators, from 1962 to 1970. He became a reliable pitcher, even though the team often struggled. His 1968 season stands out as his best, and his role changed from reliever to starter as the years went on.

Breakout Performances

Hannan’s 1968 season was his peak with the Senators. He finished 10-6 with a 3.02 ERA, ranking second-best on the team. His .625 winning percentage actually led the pitching staff that year.

He got hot from late June through early September, going 8-2 and pitching 102 consecutive innings without allowing a home run.

Two complete games really stood out. On June 2 against Cleveland, he retired 26 straight batters after giving up a two-run homer in the first. Then he tossed a 1-0 shutout against the White Sox on September 2.

He completed four games in 1968, nearly half his career total. His 75 strikeouts that year also set a personal best.

Pitching Roles and Achievements

Hannan bounced between starter and reliever with the Senators. Early on, he worked mostly out of the bullpen, picking up his first big league win in 1962.

He handled a lot of relief work from 1962 to 1966. In 1962, he led the team with four saves and showed off his middle relief skills. There was a stretch of 25 relief appearances from June to August 1962 where he allowed just three earned runs.

Manager Jim Lemon moved him into the starting rotation in 1968. That change paid off, as Hannan thrived with regular starts and steady innings.

With Washington, he finished with 41 wins and 48 losses over 276 games. He leaned on a heavy, sinking fastball and a hard slider, though control issues followed him throughout his career.

Team Dynamics in the 1960s

The Senators struggled a lot during Hannan’s years, managing only one winning season in 1969 with Ted Williams at the helm. They lost 100 or more games in each of Hannan’s first three seasons.

Manager changes played a role in Hannan’s development. Mickey Vernon liked his arm, even comparing him to Bobby Feller. Later, Gil Hodges helped him fix his slider grip, which led to better results.

The 1969 season was the only bright spot for the franchise during Hannan’s time. Ted Williams arrived as manager, attendance climbed, and the team finally posted a winning record at 86-76.

Hannan helped early in that season, beating the Yankees in the third game by allowing four hits and four runs over 5⅓ innings.

Financial troubles under owner Bob Short created a lot of uncertainty. Short’s threats to move the team to Dallas hung over spring training.

Trades, Later Career, and Retirement in 1971

After nine seasons with the Washington Senators, Jim Hannan’s career took a sharp turn in 1971. He became part of a blockbuster trade involving pitcher Denny McLain.

His final MLB season saw him split time between the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers before he called it quits.

Trade Involving Denny McLain

On October 9, 1970, the Washington Senators traded Hannan, Ed Brinkman, Aurelio Rodriguez, and Joe Coleman to the Detroit Tigers. In exchange, the Senators got Denny McLain, Don Wert, Elliott Maddox, and Norm McRae.

This trade was a gamble for both teams. McLain had just won back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 1968 and 1969 and was the first pitcher since 1934 to win 30 games in a season, going 31-6 in 1968.

But McLain’s career was already sliding by 1970. He’d run into suspensions and personal problems that affected his pitching. The Tigers decided to part with their former ace and a few others.

For Hannan, the trade meant leaving the only MLB organization he’d ever known. He’d spent nine years with the Senators, from 1962 to 1970, mostly on struggling teams except for that one winning season in 1969 under Ted Williams.

Brief Stint with Detroit Tigers

Hannan’s time with the Detroit Tigers in 1971 was short and not particularly memorable. He saw limited action for a team that had won the World Series only three years earlier, in 1968.

The Tigers still played well in 1971, finishing with a 91-71 record and second place in the American League East. Hannan, though, didn’t play a major role in their success.

He struggled to recapture his best form. After his career-best 10-6 record and 3.02 ERA in 1968 with Washington, things just didn’t click. The 31-year-old had always battled control issues, averaging 4.4 walks per nine innings over his career.

Detroit’s deep pitching staff probably limited his chances. The team already had established starters and relievers who were getting the job done, so Hannan found it tough to get regular innings.

Final MLB Season and Transition to Retirement

In 1971, the Washington Senators traded Hannan to the Milwaukee Brewers, and that’s where he wrapped up his professional baseball career. The Brewers were still new on the scene, only in their second year after moving from Seattle in 1969.

Milwaukee gave Hannan one last shot at the majors. But honestly, his time there was short. The team was rebuilding and putting its hopes in younger players.

Hannan finished his MLB run with 41 wins and 48 losses across 276 games. His career ERA landed at 3.88. Over 10 seasons, he jumped between starting and relieving.

He officially retired at the end of the 1971 season. At 31, he hung up his cleats. That wrapped up a decade-long journey that started when Washington picked him in the 1961 first-year minor league draft.

After calling it a career, Hannan stayed close to the game in different roles. He later got involved with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, eventually serving as president and chairman of the board.

Legacy and Post-Playing Contributions to Baseball

Jim Hannan made his biggest mark on baseball after he stopped playing in 1971. He founded the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and spent years fighting for former players’ rights and their well-being.

Role in MLB Players Alumni Association

He co-founded the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) and took on the role of its first president. The group, based in Colorado Springs, focuses on looking after baseball alumni and what they need.

Later, Hannan became chairman of the board. With him at the helm, the MLBPAA grew into a major support system for retired players.

The group helped start several cool baseball events, like the Cracker Jack Old Timers Classic and the Hall of Fame Classic.

Hannan really shaped the MLBPAA’s direction. He wanted a strong network to help players after their careers ended.

Leadership and Advocacy

Hannan dug into MLB’s pension plan, and his research became a big deal during player negotiations. His master’s thesis on the pension system actually helped Marvin Miller understand baseball’s benefit setup.

He gave advice to the Major League Baseball Players Association during talks about pension plans. Thanks to his work, players ended up with better retirement benefits.

As a player representative, Hannan saw firsthand what players went through. That experience steered his advocacy work later on.

He kept showing up for the MLBPAA throughout his life. His ongoing involvement made it clear he cared about helping other players.

Long-term Influence on Former Players

The MLBPAA, with Hannan leading, worked to spread baseball around the world. The group tried to grow the game beyond just the U.S.

Hannan helped set up programs for former players who needed a hand. These efforts gave financial and other kinds of support to alumni who were struggling.

He built systems for player welfare that still help retired players now.

The group’s mission grew bigger than just keeping players connected. It became a crucial resource for guys figuring out life after baseball.

Personal Life and Lasting Impact

Jim Hannan built a life that mattered beyond the ballfield, especially through his leadership with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and his strong community ties. His career shaped how he thought about helping others, and he kept that up long after he retired.

Community Involvement

Hannan co-founded the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) and served as its first president. He stayed active with the group throughout his life, becoming chairman of the board in 1996.

The MLBPAA became Hannan’s main way to give back to baseball. Under his guidance, the group launched the Cracker Jack Old Timers Classic and the Hall of Fame Classic. These events promoted baseball worldwide and supported former players.

Hannan focused the MLBPAA’s work on helping retired players who needed it most. The Colorado Springs-based group offered help to former major leaguers facing money or health problems. His vision turned the association into what colleagues called “a formidable force for advocating player rights.”

His research into Major League Baseball’s pension plan made a difference during his career. Hannan gave advice to the Major League Baseball Players Association as they pushed for better pension benefits for active players.

Reflections on Career

Hannan kept a philosophical take on his baseball journey. He once joked about his limited time at Notre Dame after losing a season opener to Austin Peay, saying, “teams from Notre Dame are not supposed to lose to schools named Austin Peay, and I guess I was the scapegoat.”

His favorite career moment? That came in a 1968 game against Cleveland. Hannan retired 26 Indians in a row between the first and ninth innings, giving up just three hits in a complete game win.

He often talked about seeing Jackie Robinson’s pro debut at Roosevelt Stadium in 1946. His dad told him to remember that day. Years later, Hannan shared this story at MLBPAA diversity seminars, adding with a laugh that he “hated” Robinson because “he killed my Giants” with four hits and four RBIs.

The pitcher credited his success to a weird physical advantage. He was born with a collar bone defect that let his arm move more freely, so he could throw harder than most pitchers.

Commemorations and Public Recognition

Hannan stayed close to his baseball roots through his parish at St. Ambrose Church in Annandale. He kept strong ties to the Washington area, where he spent most of his playing days with the Senators from 1962 to 1970.

Chuck Hinton, his former teammate, played a big part in bringing Hannan into the MLBPAA leadership. That invitation kicked off decades of service, which honestly became what most people remember Hannan for—much more than just his stats.

People in the baseball community noticed Hannan’s dedication through his involvement in alumni activities. He stayed active with the MLBPAA right up until he passed away in February 2024 at 85.

Career Statistics Summary:

• Games played: 276
• Win-loss record: 41-48
• ERA: 3.31 (career best in 1962)
• Teams: Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers

Hannan made an impact that went far beyond his 10 years on the field. He spent decades helping retired players and supporting the baseball community in ways that really mattered.