Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Ed Hearn

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Ed Hearn
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Memories of
Ed Hearn

Ed Hearn
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 294 of 1252 players

Edward John Hearn
Born: August 23, 1960 at Stuart, Fla.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 6.03 Weight: 215

Ed Hearn was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on April 14, 2013, September 22, 2022, and February 25, 2024.

First Mets game: May 17, 1986
Last Mets game: October 5, 1986

Share your memories of Ed Hearn

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

jay
Ed signed a baseball for me while me was in the minors in 1989. I still keep in touch with him and he is truly one of the nicest guys around.

Tom the Fan
The Hearn/Cone trade was one the best the Mets ever made. It hurts to see Cone doing so well for the Yanks.

JARED FROM BROOKLYN
Yeah!!!! The man behind the mask. Really nice guy I spoke to him on AOL once. Took over when Carter got hurt and the Mets never broke stride. Won 8 out of 11.

Phil Gimli-mead
If memory serves me right, he managed to get picked off second base by the catcher while the batter was receiving an intentional walk against Chicago I think. Probably not fair to mention that as Kansas City thought he was worth Cone.

Kooz
I remember he hit a home run against Houston in a 7-run inning in July '86.

Mr. Sparkle
Ed was hit bad with some disease and has been fighting it for years. "Ward" as they called him for his resemblance to Ward Cleaver was a classy guy who has lived through a ton of adversity. It's not fair that the Ed Hearns of the world get such a raw deal and the Goodens of the world keep getting second chances.

Dave
February 24, 2001
The 1986 Mets were a team of All stars with Keith, Gary, Straw and Doc, but the guy who is an All Star in the game of life is Ed Hearn. Ed's battle with adversity has made him a inspiration to all who have also battled "Life's Curves". I highly recommend all Mets fans to get a copy of his book "Conquering Life's Curves Baseball Battles and Beyond".

Rich M.
August 14, 2001
Does anyone else remember in 1986 when David Letterman used to talk about Ed Hearn almost every night? He would talk about how well the Mets were doing and then say, "Man, and what about Ed Hearn!!!" They would flash his picture all the time, and get a huge roar from the crowd. I recall Hearn actually going on the show a few times that year - Letterman loved him. Even though it was sort of sarcastic, Hearn ate it up, always smiled, looked like he was having fun. Until Todd Pratt, Ed was the best backup catcher in Mets history in terms of good guys in the clubhouse.

john presto
May 11, 2002
A forever Met fan family,while visiting FL, we ran into Ed at a video store opening in Ft. Pierce, back in '86. He posed for photos after photos and chatted with fans as long as they wanted (for no charge also!) When we got back to NY, I had one snapshot made into ana 8 by 11, and sent it back to Ed to be signed. He returned it that week, with a nice letter. What a guy! That picture still hangs on my wall. That same year I bought a coffee mug of the '86 world champs, and Ed's name is NOT on it! How sad. Still a big fan, Ed, God bless you.

Moochster
May 25, 2002
Ed Hearn recently underwent a sucessful kidney transplant. He was my favorite met as a kid, and still is. A great guy.

j presto
July 9, 2002
Ed was at a video store opening in Ft. Pierce, FL in the winter of '86. He stayed beyond his scheduled time to chat, sign autographs and have pictures taken. I asked him if he would autograph the picture after I got the film developed. He was more than gracious, giving me his home address to send it to him. Upon returning home to NY, I had the picture developed and made into an 8x11, and sent it to him. Sure enough he returned it signed on the front, with a nice letter on the back, as well as another letter. To this day, the picture hangs on my wall, with find memories of this special guy. With all the things he's faced in his life, I wish him all the best. God Bless Ed Hearn.

3rd Base
August 4, 2002
Too much talent, yet too little time to show it. In my eyes, Ed Hearn established himself as a great pitcher - - Piazza, though he's very good, couldn't light a candle to Ed Hearn ... and could Gary Carter have asked for a better back-up?! God Bless Ed Hearn thru all the trials he has encountered. From one victim of life's harsh challenges, to another ... my hats off to Ed Hearn!

Karl de Vries
January 9, 2003
I read somewhere that Hearn was working on writing a book about the 86 championship year...the rumor was around 1996, I've been informed that his life has been rather turbulent, I was wondering if anyone had heard anything because I am still waiting for the definitive book to the 86 year.

Bob P
January 20, 2003
If you go to www.edhearn.com, you will get some details on Ed's life before, during and after the 1986 season. He did write a book in 1996, called "Conquering Life's Curves." But it was not about the '86 Mets...it appears to be an autobiography that is meant as a feel-good story. George Brett wrote the forward.
The website has a some info about Ed, as you might expect. He apparently is a motivational speaker now.

Jo Ann Reed
January 31, 2004
I met Ed Hearn in Florida in 1986. We had our son's picture taken with Ed. Today our son is playing baseball at Indian Hills Community College and for Christmas we bought him Ed's book Conquering Life's Curves: Baseball Battles and Beyond. It is truly an inspirational book about his battles in life. A real hero.

Geoff
March 23, 2004
I am personal friends with Ed Hearn. He and I met in Des Moines, Iowa right before I was to lose a kidney in 2000. Ed was battling with his own kidney problems at the time, and he took time out of his own schedule and life to make sure that I did not go through my ordeal alone. I am fortunate to have such a fantastic person to be able to call a friend.
Ed has had his kidney transplant that I believe is working well. I have gone on to fight a Life Threatening Disease called Pulmonary Hypertension. It is a rare disease. Ed has been there for me again, so that I know that someone else is in my corner.
Ed's book, Conquering Life's Curves is a fantastic overview of Ed's life, and his family's life. I am honored to have Ed, his wife Tricia, and his son Cody as friends. Ed always tells me to "Keep Swingin' for the Fences"!! What a concept.

VIBaseball
June 20, 2004
In today's NY Post, there's an update on Ed and his Job-like endurance in the face of adversity. I just looked at edhearn.com and the site lays out all the things that make up good character. Obviously this is what sustains him -- I hope he hangs in there.
My main memory of him as a player is that he started for a stretch in August '86 when Gary Carter had a knee injury. He performed capably, as he did whenever called upon.

Susan
June 28, 2004
What a great website! I am blessed to have known the majority of 1986 NY Mets when they played minor league baseball in my hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia. They all were very special and unique-and believe me, I say that as a friend, not a "groupie". Ed and I still stay in touch. (In fact, I am so flattered that he mentions me in his book.) He is, as everyone has noted, one of the good guys of baseball. Keep your prayers coming for him as he is continually plagued by health problems. To my knowledge he was never planning on writing a book about the '86 Mets-and we speak fairly often. He was called Ward because he had Ward Cleaver-like qualities (decent, fair, kind). I have been around baseball most of life, and Ed is at the top of the list for being a great human being and a shining example of what our kids should look up to. He is grateful for what he has, namely a wonderful wife and child. If everyone could live each day as a gift like he does, we'd live in a much better world.

Bob from Ronkonkoma
September 30, 2004
Me and a Buddy took our dads to a fathers day double header against the Pirates in 86. Eddie started one one of the games and smacked a homer. Will always remember that

Jonathan Stern
September 24, 2005
It was Barry Lyons who ended a game in Chicago by being picked off second, not Ed Hearn.
The 1986 Mets never missed a beat whenever Hearn replaced Carter behind the plate. And subsequently, after going through the worst life has to offer, Hearn became an outstanding motivational speaker. I heard an WFAN interview with him recently and he is terrific. He even made a nice comment about how Shea, though considered ugly by most, is Baseball Paradise to him. And why not? 1986 truly was baseball like it oughta be, at least on the field. What a great guy.

Go Mets 2006
August 24, 2006
A kid up the block from me used to call him Ed "Hit Man" Hearn after the boxer. I always felt bad that he didn't get to play in the '86 NLCS or World Series but I guess that's what happens when you are Gary Carter's back-up. I am also glad to hear how he survived all his hardships. he seems like a great guy.

Mrs. Spunky
August 28, 2008
I know Ed and in fact speak with him pretty often. Since I have grown up in baseball I can honestly say he is one of the greatest guys on the planet. He has fought adversity with courage and strength and is blessed to have a fabulous wife and son. You will always have fans, Eddy!

community chest
October 31, 2023
The first few times Hearn subbed for Carter, his name was roundly booed during the introductions. I was at Shea on at least one of those occasions. It wasn't Hearn himself who was being booed, of course; few fans had ever heard of him. It was the absence of Gary Carter from the lineup. Then Hearn caught on, proved himself a capable backup, hit a few homers, and the booing stopped.