Art Hefner

James Chester Arthur Hefner Jr. (August 2, 1913 – May 2, 1988) was an American professional baseball center fielder in the Negro leagues. He played with the New York Black Yankees in 1948,[4] and the Philadelphia Stars in 1949.[5]

Art Hefner
Center fielder
Born: (1913-08-02)August 2, 1913
Brevard, North Carolina
Died: May 2, 1988(1988-05-02) (aged 74)
Brevard, North Carolina
Batted: Left[1][2]
Threw: Right
Negro league baseball debut
April 25, 1948, for the New York Black Yankees
Last appearance
September 18, 1949, for the Philadelphia Stars[3]
Teams

Early life and career

Heffner was born in Transylvania County, North Carolina on August 2, 1913, the son of James Chester Arthur and Mary Hefner (né Davis).[6] He made his Negro Major leagues debut on April 25, 1948 with the New York Black Yankees.[7][8] In February 1949, following the disbanding of the Yankees (itself part of the larger Negro league contraction necessitated by the exodus of star players to the recently integrated Major Leagues), Heffner was initially drafted by the Birmingham Black Barons,[9] but then acquired by Philadelphia prior to the start of the regular season.[10]

Post-retirement

Following his baseball career, Hefner was employed by DuPont and served as a deacon in the Bethel "A" Baptist Church in Brevard.[6]

References
  1. D & C staff (May 5, 1948). "Fleet centerfielder...". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. p. 32. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  2. Record-Journal staff (August 5, 1948). "Insilicos Hosts to New York Black Yankees Tonight; Either Connell, Chapin to Oppose Negro Outfit". Record-Journal. p. 12. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  3. Eagle staff (September 19, 1949). "Dexter Nine Splits Bill With Philly Stars". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 13. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  4. "Art Hefner Seamheads profile". seamheads.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  5. Riley, James A. (1994). The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues. New York: Carroll & Graf. ISBN 0-7867-0959-6.
  6. Citizen-Times staff (May 4, 1988). "Arthur Hefner, Former Pro Baseball Player". Asheville Citizen-Times. p. 16. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  7. News staff (April 25, 1948). "Bushwicks Meet Black Yanks in Two". New York Daily News. p. C43. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  8. Eagle staff (April 26, 1948). "Dexters Split Twin Bill With Black Yankees". The Brooklyn Eagle. p. 14. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  9. Courier staff (February 19, 1949). "AL Teams Draft Stars of Clubs Calling It Quits". The Pittsburgh Courier.
  10. Courier-Journal staff (May 2, 1949). "Buckeyes Nip Stars 2–1 in Opener as Rain Limits Game to 5 Innings". The Louisville Courier-Journal. p. 11. Retrieved October 22, 2021.

Further reading
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