Bucky Harris
Encyclopedia
Stanley Raymond "Bucky" Harris (November 8, 1896 – November 8, 1977) was a Major League Baseball
player, manager
and executive. In 1975, the Veterans Committee elected Harris, as a manager, to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
and raised mostly in Pittston, Pennsylvania
. Harris was discovered by baseball promoter Joe Engel
, who led the Chattanooga Lookouts
at Engel Stadium
. In 1919, at the age of 22, he came up to the Washington Senators
, where his initial performance was unimpressive. Harris' batting average was a meager .214, and he participated in only eight games in his first season. Despite this poor showing, club owner Clark Griffith
made him Washington's regular second baseman
in 1920, and before long, Harris was batting .300, while distinguishing himself as a tough competitor. The young player stood up even to the ferocious Ty Cobb
, who threatened Harris when he tagged Cobb in their first encounter.
Harris spent most of his playing career as a second baseman
with Washington Senators (1919–28). One of baseball's "boy managers", Harris both played for and managed the Senators beginning in 1924. At the age of 27, he was the youngest regular major league manager, also serving as the team's second baseman. Harris directed the team to a World Series
Championship in his rookie season and the AL
pennant the following year. Baseball historian William C. Kashatus noted that, during the 1924 World Series, Harris excelled as a player. "Not only did he set records for chances accepted, double plays and put-outs in the exciting seven-game affair, but he batted .333 and hit two home runs".
After leaving the Senators initially in 1928 (he would twice return to manage them again from 1935–42 and from 1950–54), Harris was traded to the Detroit Tigers
as player-manager. His playing career essentially ended in 1928, though he had a few cameo appearances with the Tigers in 1929 and 1931. He managed the Tigers twice (1929–33, 1955–56), Boston Red Sox
(1934), Philadelphia Phillies
(briefly known as the Blue Jays, 1943), and the 1947 World Champion
New York Yankees
. He closed his 29-year managing career with the 1956 Tigers
, then rejoined the Red Sox as assistant general manager
in 1957–58. He succeeded Joe Cronin
as Boston's GM in January 1959 and served two seasons in that post before his release in September 1960. On his watch, however, the BoSox finally broke the baseball color line
by promoting Pumpsie Green
from Triple-A on July 21, 1959. Late in his career, Harris was a scout for the Chicago White Sox
and special assistant for the expansion Washington
franchise that existed from 1961–71.
Bucky Harris died in Bethesda, Maryland
, on his 81st birthday, and was buried at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church (in Hughestown, Pennsylvania
).
During his 29-season managerial career, Harris presided over two world championships and three pennants. He is sixth in MLB manager career wins with 2,157 wins to his name.
Harris is mentioned in a version of Abbott & Costello's famous Who's on First?
routine.
Parents: Thomas Harris, born ca. 1867, England
or Wales
, and Catherine (Rupp) Harris, born Hughestown, Pennsylvania
; brother: Merle Harris, born Pennsylvania
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and executive. In 1975, the Veterans Committee elected Harris, as a manager, to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Biography
Harris was born in Port Jervis, New YorkPort Jervis, New York
Port Jervis is a city on the Delaware River in western Orange County, New York, with a population of 8,860 at the 2000 census. The communities of Deerpark, Huguenot, Sparrowbush, and Greenville are adjacent to Port Jervis, and the towns of Montague, New Jersey and Matamoras, Pennsylvania face the...
and raised mostly in Pittston, Pennsylvania
Pittston, Pennsylvania
Pittston is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. It gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an active anthracite coal mining city, drawing a large portion of its labor force from European immigrants. The population was...
. Harris was discovered by baseball promoter Joe Engel
Joe Engel
thumb|Joe Engel, 1913Joseph William Engel was an American right-handed pitcher and scout in Major League Baseball who spent nearly his entire career with the Washington Senators, and went on to become a promoter and team owner in the minor leagues. He was born in Washington, D.C...
, who led the Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
at Engel Stadium
Engel Stadium
Engel Stadium is a stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The stadium was built in 1930 and holds 12,000 people. It was the home of the Chattanooga Lookouts until 1999 when they moved to their current stadium, AT&T Field. Tennessee Temple University has held their home games at Engel since the Lookouts...
. In 1919, at the age of 22, he came up to the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, where his initial performance was unimpressive. Harris' batting average was a meager .214, and he participated in only eight games in his first season. Despite this poor showing, club owner Clark Griffith
Clark Griffith
Clark Calvin Griffith , nicknamed "the Old Fox", was a Major League Baseball pitcher, manager and team owner.-Biography:...
made him Washington's regular second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
in 1920, and before long, Harris was batting .300, while distinguishing himself as a tough competitor. The young player stood up even to the ferocious Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
, who threatened Harris when he tagged Cobb in their first encounter.
Harris spent most of his playing career as a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
with Washington Senators (1919–28). One of baseball's "boy managers", Harris both played for and managed the Senators beginning in 1924. At the age of 27, he was the youngest regular major league manager, also serving as the team's second baseman. Harris directed the team to a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
Championship in his rookie season and the AL
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennant the following year. Baseball historian William C. Kashatus noted that, during the 1924 World Series, Harris excelled as a player. "Not only did he set records for chances accepted, double plays and put-outs in the exciting seven-game affair, but he batted .333 and hit two home runs".
After leaving the Senators initially in 1928 (he would twice return to manage them again from 1935–42 and from 1950–54), Harris was traded to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
as player-manager. His playing career essentially ended in 1928, though he had a few cameo appearances with the Tigers in 1929 and 1931. He managed the Tigers twice (1929–33, 1955–56), Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1934), Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(briefly known as the Blue Jays, 1943), and the 1947 World Champion
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He closed his 29-year managing career with the 1956 Tigers
1956 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the American League with a record of 82-72, 15 games behind the New York Yankees.- Offseason :...
, then rejoined the Red Sox as assistant general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
in 1957–58. He succeeded Joe Cronin
Joe Cronin
Joseph Edward Cronin was a Major League Baseball shortstop and manager.During a 20-year playing career, he played from 1926–45 for three different teams, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Cronin was a major league manager from 1933–47...
as Boston's GM in January 1959 and served two seasons in that post before his release in September 1960. On his watch, however, the BoSox finally broke the baseball color line
Baseball color line
The color line in American baseball excluded players of black African descent from Organized Baseball, or the major leagues and affiliated minor leagues, until Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization for the 1946 season...
by promoting Pumpsie Green
Pumpsie Green
Elijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green is a former Major League Baseball backup infielder who played with the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets . He was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed....
from Triple-A on July 21, 1959. Late in his career, Harris was a scout for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
and special assistant for the expansion Washington
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
franchise that existed from 1961–71.
Bucky Harris died in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
, on his 81st birthday, and was buried at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church (in Hughestown, Pennsylvania
Hughestown, Pennsylvania
Hughestown is a borough in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,541 at the 2000 census....
).
During his 29-season managerial career, Harris presided over two world championships and three pennants. He is sixth in MLB manager career wins with 2,157 wins to his name.
Harris is mentioned in a version of Abbott & Costello's famous Who's on First?
Who's on First?
Who's on First? is a vaudeville comedy routine made most famous by Abbott and Costello. In Abbott and Costello's version, the premise of the routine is that Abbott is identifying the players on a baseball team to Costello, but their names and nicknames can be interpreted as non-responsive answers...
routine.
Parents: Thomas Harris, born ca. 1867, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
or Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and Catherine (Rupp) Harris, born Hughestown, Pennsylvania
Hughestown, Pennsylvania
Hughestown is a borough in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,541 at the 2000 census....
; brother: Merle Harris, born Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.