| Jay Heard | |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Left |
| Birth Date: | 17 January 1920 |
| Birth Place: | Athens, Georgia |
| Death Place: | Birmingham, Alabama |
| Debutleague: | NgL |
| Debutyear: | 1945 |
| Debutteam: | Birmingham Black Barons |
| Debut2league: | NPB |
| Debut2year: | 1952 |
| Debut2team: | Hiroshima Carp |
| Debut3league: | MLB |
| Debut3date: | April 24 |
| Debut3year: | 1954 |
| Debut3team: | Baltimore Orioles |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | May 28 |
| Finalyear: | 1954 |
| Finalteam: | Baltimore Orioles |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 0–0 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 13.50 |
| Stat3label: | Innings pitched |
| Teams: |
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Jehosie "Jay" Heard (January 17, 1920 – November 18, 1999) was an American professional baseball player. A native of Athens, Georgia, he was a left-handed pitcher who stood 5feet tall and weighed . He pitched two games in Major League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles, becoming the franchise's first African American player in Baltimore.[1]
Heard began his pro career in the Negro leagues after serving in the United States Army during World War II.[2] During his career in the Negro leagues, he pitched for the Birmingham Black Barons, Memphis Red Sox, Houston Eagles and New Orleans Eagles.[3] In 1952, at age 32, he joined the organized minor leagues, winning 20 games for the Victoria Tyees of the Class A Western International League.[4] Promoted the following season to the top level of the minors, the Open Classification Pacific Coast League, Heard won 16 games for the Portland Beavers.[4] The Orioles, newly transplanted to Baltimore as the former St. Louis Browns, purchased Heard's contract that winter.
Heard was a member of the first Baltimore team to play in the American League since . He made two appearances for the 1954 Orioles as a relief pitcher, both times against the Chicago White Sox. In his April 24 debut, he faced four batters and retired all of them.[5] But in his second game, more than a month later on May 28, Heard allowed six hits and five runs, all earned, in two innings. A grand slam home run by Chicago's light-hitting Cass Michaels was the most damaging blow.[6]
He then returned to the minors, where he pitched at the upper levels through 1957.[4]
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