Harry Anderson (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Harry Walter Anderson was an American
Major League Baseball
player. The native of North East, Maryland
, was nicknamed "Harry the Horse," standing 6 in 3 in (1.91 m) tall and weighing 205 pounds (93 kg). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
An outfielder
, Anderson attended West Chester University of Pennsylvania
and was signed as an amateur free agent in by the Philadelphia Phillies
. Anderson played 484 career games in 1957-1961 with the Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds
. Anderson's first two years in the Major Leagues were his finest. Playing as the Phils' regular left fielder
with occasional appearances as a first baseman
, Anderson finished in the Top 25 in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award in both and .
During the latter campaign, in his sophomore season in Philadelphia, he batted
.301 with 23 home runs and 97 runs batted in, all career highs. But Anderson's performance went into decline in and in June the Phillies traded him to the Reds with Wally Post
for young outfielder Tony González and journeyman Lee Walls
. González would be the Phils' starting centerfielder for much of the 1960s. Anderson, meanwhile, continued to struggle in Cincinnati and was sent to the minor leagues
during the May 1961 roster cutdown.
Overall, Anderson recorded 419 career hits
in 1,586 at bats in the Major Leagues. He died at age 66 in Greenville, Delaware
, six years after his 1992 induction into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
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. The native of North East, Maryland
North East, Maryland
North East is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,733 at the 2000 census.-History:The Turkey Point Light Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002...
, was nicknamed "Harry the Horse," standing 6 in 3 in (1.91 m) tall and weighing 205 pounds (93 kg). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
An 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...
, Anderson attended West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, about miles west of Philadelphia. It is one of the 14 state universities of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education . West Chester was ranked 69th in the Master's Universities ...
and was signed as an amateur free agent in by the 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...
. Anderson played 484 career games in 1957-1961 with the Phillies and 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....
. Anderson's first two years in the Major Leagues were his finest. Playing as the Phils' regular left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
with occasional appearances as a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, Anderson finished in the Top 25 in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award in both and .
During the latter campaign, in his sophomore season in Philadelphia, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.301 with 23 home runs and 97 runs batted in, all career highs. But Anderson's performance went into decline in and in June the Phillies traded him to the Reds with Wally Post
Wally Post
Walter Charles Post was a right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1949 through 1964, Post played for the Cincinnati Reds & Redlegs , Philadelphia Phillies , Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians...
for young outfielder Tony González and journeyman Lee Walls
Lee Walls
Raymond Lee Walls, Jr. , is a former professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1953-1964. Walls would play for the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also played one season in Japan in 1965 for the...
. González would be the Phils' starting centerfielder for much of the 1960s. Anderson, meanwhile, continued to struggle in Cincinnati and was sent to the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
during the May 1961 roster cutdown.
Overall, Anderson recorded 419 career hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 1,586 at bats in the Major Leagues. He died at age 66 in Greenville, Delaware
Greenville, Delaware
Greenville is a census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 2,326 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Greenville is located at ....
, six years after his 1992 induction into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
The Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame is a membership-based organization founded in 1976. The organization runs a museum with exhibits at Daniel S...
.