Eugene Hugh "Gene" Bearden (September 5, 1920 – March 11, 2004) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played nine seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, and New York Yankees. He is best known for his remarkable rookie season in 1948, during which he played a pivotal role in the Cleveland Indians' World Series championship.
Bearden was born in Lexa, Arkansas, and began his professional baseball career in the minor leagues in 1939. His career was interrupted by military service in the United States Army during World War II, where he sustained an injury to his throwing arm. After the war, he returned to baseball, developing an effective sidearm delivery.
He made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1947, but it was in 1948 that he achieved his greatest success. That year, Bearden compiled an outstanding 20–7 win-loss record with a league-leading 2.43 earned run average (ERA) over 37 appearances (30 starts). He was a key member of the Indians' pitching staff, which included Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Bob Lemon. In a historic one-game playoff against the Boston Red Sox to determine the American League pennant winner, Bearden started and pitched a complete game shutout, securing the pennant for Cleveland. He then made two appearances in the 1948 World Series against the Boston Braves, starting Game 3 and pitching in relief in Game 6, as the Indians won the series. His stellar rookie performance earned him a third-place finish in the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting.
Following his extraordinary rookie season, Bearden struggled to replicate his earlier success. He was traded to the Washington Senators in 1950 and subsequently played for the St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, and New York Yankees before retiring from MLB in 1957. Over his nine-season MLB career, Bearden accumulated a 45–38 record with a 4.15 ERA.
After his playing career, Bearden worked as a baseball scout for several years. He passed away on March 11, 2004, in Lakeland, Florida, at the age of 83. Gene Bearden remains a celebrated figure in Cleveland Indians history for his crucial contributions to their 1948 championship season.