Hal Naragon

Who is Hal Naragon?

Harold Richard Naragon is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

In a 10-season MLB career, Naragon was a .266 hitter, with 262 hits, six home runs, and 87 RBI in 424 games played.

His most productive season came in 1959, when he posted career-highs in games and hits while dividing his playing time with Cleveland and Washington. He also caught for the Indians in the 1954 World Series against the New York Giants. He spent much of his career backing up starting catchers Jim Hegan and Earl Battey.

Following his playing career, Naragon was the bullpen coach for the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers from 1963–1969, working on two American League pennant-winning teams and one World Series champion. He became closely allied with pitching coach Johnny Sain and twice was released in the offseason when Sain clashed with his managers in Minnesota and Detroit.

Naragon graduated from Barberton High School and the Magics play their home baseball games on Hal Naragon Field.