University of Missouri Athletics

Heckman was a Jefferson City Helias HS product who was a dominant starter for some very good Mizzou baseball teams. He was an honorable-mention All-America pitcher (1981) who set numerous records during his time on the mound. He won 10 games in three consecutive seasons (1979-80-81), and no other Missouri pitcher has won double-figure games more than once. He helped lead Mizzou to a Big Eight Conference championship in 1980 and to NCAA Regional appearances in 1980 and ’81. Heckman completed his playing days holding Mizzou and Big Eight Conference records for career victories (36), and his 11 complete games in 1981 is also an MU single-season record. Both of those marks still stand. He led Mizzou in ERA in 1978 (1.94) and 1979 (2.33). He was an all-Big Eight selection his last two seasons and his 323.2 career innings pitched stood as the school record for 11 years.  He was also an outstanding student who twice was selected as an academic all-American.