Candy Harris
Encyclopedia
Alonzo "Candy" Harris was a Major League Baseball
player
for the Houston Astros
just at the beginning of the season (April 13-April 27). He had been signed by the Baltimore Orioles
as an amateur free agent before the 1966 season, then drafted by the Houston Astros
from the Orioles in the 1966 first-year draft (November 28, 1966).
During his one season in the Oriole farm system, Harris played a total of 97 games for three teams in the lower minors and hit a combined .287 (95-for 331). While playing for the Bluefield Orioles
, the speedy outfielder
led the Appalachian League
with 34 stolen bases in just 58 games.
Harris began the 1967 season with the Houston club, and at the age of 19 was the sixth-youngest player to appear in a National League
game that season. During his short time with the Astros, he was used as a pinch-runner five times and as a pinch-hitter one time, and never got a chance to play on defense. In his only major league
at bat
, he struck out against Mel Queen
of the Cincinnati Reds
.
From May 26 through the end of the season he was in the military service
, and never again played in a big league game.
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
Player (game)
A player of a game is a participant therein. The term 'player' is used with this same meaning both in game theory and in ordinary recreational games....
for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
just at the beginning of the season (April 13-April 27). He had been signed by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
as an amateur free agent before the 1966 season, then drafted by the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
from the Orioles in the 1966 first-year draft (November 28, 1966).
During his one season in the Oriole farm system, Harris played a total of 97 games for three teams in the lower minors and hit a combined .287 (95-for 331). While playing for the Bluefield Orioles
Bluefield Orioles
The Bluefield Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. Beginning in 2011, Bluefield will be affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. The team plays their home games at Bowen Field, a...
, the speedy outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
led the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
with 34 stolen bases in just 58 games.
Harris began the 1967 season with the Houston club, and at the age of 19 was the sixth-youngest player to appear in a National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
game that season. During his short time with the Astros, he was used as a pinch-runner five times and as a pinch-hitter one time, and never got a chance to play on defense. In his only major league
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...
at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, he struck out against Mel Queen
Mel Queen (MLB player/coach)
Melvin Douglas Queen was a professional baseball player, coach, scout and executive. He played all or part of nine seasons as an outfielder and pitcher in Major League Baseball, and also served for four seasons as a pitching coach...
of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
From May 26 through the end of the season he was in the military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
, and never again played in a big league game.
Trivia
- One other player made his major league debut on the same day as Harris...pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Tom SeaverTom SeaverGeorge Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
(April 13, 1967).