Harry Bright
Encyclopedia
Harry James Bright was an American
first baseman
, third baseman
, utilityman and scout in Major League Baseball
, and a longtime player and manager
in minor league baseball
. Born in Kansas City, Missouri
, Bright stood 6' (183 cm) tall, weighed 190 pounds (86 kg), and threw and batted right-handed.
During his minor league playing career, Bright was known for his versatility in the field — he played every infield
position, caught
and played the outfield
— his batting ability, and his frequent changes of address: in a 12-year stretch, through , he played for 14 different minor league teams and at least four different MLB organizations. He led the Class C West Texas-New Mexico League
in batting average
in 1950 with a .413 mark. Two years later, as the 22-year-old playing manager of the Janesville Cubs
of the Class D Wisconsin State League
, Bright led the league in runs batted in with 101 — although Janesville finished seventh in the eight-team WSL. Bright's best minor league season came when he was a 30-year-old veteran playing for the 1960 Salt Lake City Bees in the Pacific Coast League
. He slugged 27 home runs, led the PCL with 119 RBI and batted .313. Bright was a fixture in the Pacific Coast League of the 1950s, having played three and a half seasons for the Sacramento Solons
(1955–58). He became a resident of Sacramento
, and later managed the Solons in .
Bright's first major league trials came with the Pittsburgh Pirates
, where he played in parts of the and seasons, and spent all of on the Pirate roster, appearing in 40 games in a utility role. On December 16, 1960, he was traded by Pirates to the American League
's new expansion franchise, the Washington Senators
, where he played two full major league seasons and enjoyed his most sustained success. In , he played in 113 games, mostly at first base, swatted 17 homers, knocked in 67 RBI and batted .273. But at season's end, the Senators swapped the 33-year-old Bright to the Cincinnati Reds
for a young first baseman, Rogelio Álvarez
.
Bright batted only once for the Reds before his contract was sold on April 21 to the defending world champion New York Yankees
, who were seeking a right-handed bat off their bench. He stuck with the club all season long, batting .236 with seven homers in 157 at bats as the Yanks copped another AL pennant. Then, in Game 1 of the 1963 World Series
, Bright made history when he was sent up as a ninth-inning pinch hitter
against Sandy Koufax
of the Los Angeles Dodgers
. Bright struck out, enabling Koufax to set a new mark (broken five years later by Bob Gibson
) for strikeouts (15) in a World Series game. Said Bright: "It's a hell of a thing. I wait 17 years to get into a World Series. Then I finally get up there, and 69,000 people are yelling — yelling for me to strike out." To compound matters, the game was played in Bright's home ballpark, Yankee Stadium
.
Bright struck out again in his only other World Series at bat, and by he had returned to the minors with the AAA Richmond Virginians
. His MLB career ended in , as a pinch hitter for the Chicago Cubs
. All told, Bright appeared in 309 MLB games over all or parts of eight seasons, batting .255 with 32 homers and 126 RBI.
In 1967, Bright "resumed" his minor league managerial career in the farm system of the Chicago Cubs after a 15-year hiatus, taking over the reins of the Quincy Cubs
of the Class A Midwest League
, a decade and a half after his stint as playing skipper of the Cubbies' Janesville affiliate. He later managed in the Kansas City Royals
, Oakland Athletics
, Milwaukee Brewers
and Atlanta Braves
organizations, and scouted for the Montreal Expos
. He died in Sacramento at the age of 70.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
, third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, utilityman and scout in 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...
, and a longtime player and 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...
in minor league baseball
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...
. Born in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Bright stood 6' (183 cm) tall, weighed 190 pounds (86 kg), and threw and batted right-handed.
During his minor league playing career, Bright was known for his versatility in the field — he played every infield
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
position, caught
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and played the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
— his batting ability, and his frequent changes of address: in a 12-year stretch, through , he played for 14 different minor league teams and at least four different MLB organizations. He led the Class C West Texas-New Mexico League
West Texas-New Mexico League
The West Texas-New Mexico League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1937 through 1955. The league was not active in 1943-1945 because of World War II...
in batting average
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 :...
in 1950 with a .413 mark. Two years later, as the 22-year-old playing manager of the Janesville Cubs
Janesville Cubs
The Janesville Cubs were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1941 to 1942 and from 1947 to 1953. They played in the Wisconsin State League and were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. They were based in Janesville, Wisconsin. They played their home games at the Rock County 4H...
of the Class D Wisconsin State League
Wisconsin State League
There was a class D league called the Wisconsin State League which began in 1905. In 1908 it changed its name to the Wisconsin-Illinois League. Another Wisconsin State League began in 1940, shut down for World War II from 1943 through 1945, then operated from 1946 through 1953...
, Bright led the league in runs batted in with 101 — although Janesville finished seventh in the eight-team WSL. Bright's best minor league season came when he was a 30-year-old veteran playing for the 1960 Salt Lake City Bees in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. He slugged 27 home runs, led the PCL with 119 RBI and batted .313. Bright was a fixture in the Pacific Coast League of the 1950s, having played three and a half seasons for the Sacramento Solons
Sacramento Solons
The Sacramento Solons were a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Pacific Coast League during several periods . The current Sacramento River Cats began play in 2000...
(1955–58). He became a resident of Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, and later managed the Solons in .
Bright's first major league trials came with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, where he played in parts of the and seasons, and spent all of on the Pirate roster, appearing in 40 games in a utility role. On December 16, 1960, he was traded by Pirates to the American League
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...
's new expansion franchise, the Washington Senators
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...
, where he played two full major league seasons and enjoyed his most sustained success. In , he played in 113 games, mostly at first base, swatted 17 homers, knocked in 67 RBI and batted .273. But at season's end, the Senators swapped the 33-year-old Bright to 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....
for a young first baseman, Rogelio Álvarez
Rogelio Álvarez
Rogelio Álvarez Hernández is a retired professional baseball player whose career spanned 18 seasons, including parts of two in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds . Over his career in the majors, Álvarez batted .211 with two runs, seven hits and two runs batted in...
.
Bright batted only once for the Reds before his contract was sold on April 21 to the defending world champion 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...
, who were seeking a right-handed bat off their bench. He stuck with the club all season long, batting .236 with seven homers in 157 at bats as the Yanks copped another AL pennant. Then, in Game 1 of the 1963 World Series
1963 World Series
The 1963 World Series matched the two-time defending champion New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Dodgers sweeping the Series in four games to capture their second title in five years, and their third in franchise history....
, Bright made history when he was sent up as a ninth-inning pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
against Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. Bright struck out, enabling Koufax to set a new mark (broken five years later by Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson
Robert "Bob" Gibson is a retired American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Hoot" and "Gibby", he was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 17-year Major League Baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals...
) for strikeouts (15) in a World Series game. Said Bright: "It's a hell of a thing. I wait 17 years to get into a World Series. Then I finally get up there, and 69,000 people are yelling — yelling for me to strike out." To compound matters, the game was played in Bright's home ballpark, Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
.
Bright struck out again in his only other World Series at bat, and by he had returned to the minors with the AAA Richmond Virginians
Richmond Virginians
The Richmond Virginians was the name of a minor league baseball Class AAA International League franchise that played in Richmond, Virginia, from 1954 through 1964....
. His MLB career ended in , as a pinch hitter for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. All told, Bright appeared in 309 MLB games over all or parts of eight seasons, batting .255 with 32 homers and 126 RBI.
In 1967, Bright "resumed" his minor league managerial career in the farm system of the Chicago Cubs after a 15-year hiatus, taking over the reins of the Quincy Cubs
Quincy Cubs
The Quincy Cubs were a minor league baseball team located in Quincy, Illinois. The team played in the Midwest League. Their home stadium was QU Stadium. The franchise lasted from 1965 to 1973, when the Cubs relocated to Dubuque, Iowa as the Dubuque Packers ....
of the Class A Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
, a decade and a half after his stint as playing skipper of the Cubbies' Janesville affiliate. He later managed in the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
organizations, and scouted for the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He died in Sacramento at the age of 70.