Bill Harris (1950s pitcher)

William Thomas Harris (December 3, 1931 – May 28, 2011) was a Canadian pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Dodgers teams. Listed at 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m), 187 pounds (85 kg), Harris batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Born in Duguayville, New Brunswick, he attended Dorchester School.[1][2]

Bill Harris
Pitcher
Born: December 3, 1931
Duguayville, New Brunswick
Died: May 28, 2011(2011-05-28) (aged 79)
Kennewick, Washington
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 27, 1957, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
September 26, 1959, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average3.12
Strikeouts/Walks3/1
Innings pitched8​2⁄3
Teams

Harris appeared in only two Major League Baseball games with the National League Dodgers – a losing start to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1957[3] and a relief appearance against the Chicago Cubs in 1959.[4]

About his Major League Baseball debut, Harris said, "It was at Shibe Park against the Phillies and I did O.K. but lost 3–2. I was pinch-hit for in the seventh inning and Sandy Koufax came on in relief. Roy Campanella was the catcher and it turned out to be his last game".[5]

In addition, Harris pitched in 14 Minor league seasons from 1951 through 1964, seven of them for the Montreal Royals of the International League, a Triple-A affiliate of the Dodgers.

Harris' most productive season came in 1952, when he posted a 25–6 record with a minuscule 0.83 earned run average and 12 shutouts in 294 innings of work.[6]

Harris marveled at the talent that was around him in Montreal. "I think we had a team in Montreal that would beat most of the major league teams. Sparky Anderson was my second baseman. We also had Rocky Nelson (1B), John Roseboro (C), George Shuba (OF), Dick Williams (OF) and Chico Fernández (SS). Those were some great names", he explained.[5]

Besides this, Harris went 14–10 with a 3.09 ERA for the Royals in 1958, helping them to clinch the International League pennant.

Overall, Harris registered a 170–131 and a 3.39 ERA in 431 career appearances (300 starts), including one perfect game and two one hitters, while pitching 2,461 innings.[5][6]

Harris also pitched six seasons in winter ball, in both Panama (2) and Venezuela (4), playing for two of those years in the Caribbean Series.[5]

In 2008, Harris gained induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Marys, Ontario.

Harris was a long-time resident of Kennewick, Washington, where he owned the popular tavern Billy's Bullpen for many years.[7]

Harris died at his home in Kennewick, at the age of 79, after suffering bleeding ulcers.[8]

References
  1. "Bill Harris Statistics and History". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  2. Baseball Players of the 1950s: A Biographical Dictionary of All 1,560 Major Leaguers – Rick Marazzi and Len Fiorito. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2004. Format: Hardcover, 450 pp. Language: English. ISBN 0-7864-1281-X
  3. "Philadelphia Phillies 3, Brooklyn Dodgers 2". retrosheet.org. September 27, 1957. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  4. "Chicago Cubs 12, Los Angeles Dodgers 2". retrosheet.org. September 26, 1959. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  5. Baseball Players of the 1950s
  6. "Bill Harris Register Statistics & History". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  7. "Billy Harris — Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum". baseballhalloffame.ca. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  8. "Times & Transcript – Obituary". Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
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