Jack Harshman
Encyclopedia
John Elvin Harshman is a former professional baseball pitcher
who played from 1945 through 1960. He played for the New York Giants
, Chicago White Sox
, Baltimore Orioles
, Boston Red Sox
, and Cleveland Indians
.
of the minor league
AA Pacific Coast League
. For his first five seasons, Harshman was being trained and conditioned to be a major league hitter instead of a pitcher. Jack's short stint in San Diego ended with a .254 batting average
in 67 at-bats.
In 1946, Jack moved over to the Class C Modesto Reds
, where he hit .288 in 56 games before being shipped back to the PCL San Diego squad for only 3 games. 1947 was his first busy season as he played in 151 games for the Victoria Athletics
in the Winter Leagues. Harshman smashed 36 home run
s while batting a modest .306. He then moved up yet again to the San Diego squad for just 11 games and a poor .148 average. Despite the sluggish ending, the Major League New York Giants
purchased his contract as a first baseman in December 1947.
1948 had a change of scenery for Jack. He went to the Jersey City Giants
of the AAA International League
. Jack posted fairly average but modest numbers for the squad, hitting 24 home runs, driving in 76 runs, and batting .245. He received a brief call up to the Giants, but only batted .250 in 9 plate appearances.
1949 was a breakout year for the young 21-year-old slugger. In 150 games for the AA Minneapolis Millers
, Harshman smashed 40 home runs and had 111 RBI. 1950 saw an unexpected change in Jack's progression. He batted a terrible .193 in 35 games for the Class A Jacksonville Tars
and a below average .230 for Minneapolis. His second Major League stint with the Giants went even worse, batting just .125 in 32 at bats.
It was around this point that management thought about changing Harshman's role in the organization. During his sluggish 1949 season, he was brought in to pitch two games for the Jacksonville Tars. He threw for 12 innings and a 6.75 ERA, splitting his 2 games for a 1-1 record.
In 1951 Harshman got back on track with his slugging career. In 154 games for the Nashville Volunteers, he crashed 47 home runs with a fair .251 average. However, his manager once again experimented with Jack potentially being a pitcher, letting him take the field in 5 games. He posted another 1-1 record, but lowered his ERA to 3.94.
Despite bringing a huge bat in the previous season, the decision was made to give Harshman double duty as a pitcher and occasional utility hitter. He batted .222 with 8 home runs and 15 RBI in just 135 at bats, but most of his work for the 1952 season came from on the mound. Jack pitched in 26 games with 14 starts, threw a total of 131 innings with 78 strikeouts, a 4.67 ERA, and an average 6-7 win-loss record.
1953 was Jack Harshman's breakout year. In the AA Southern Association
Nashville Volunteers, Jack posted a remarkable 23-7 record with a 3.27 ERA.
to purchase Jack Harshman's contract. Jack made his White Sox debut against the Cleveland Indians
on April 14, 1954. He started the game, but only lasted 3 2/3 innings after being tagged for 4 earned runs on 8 hits. After another poor 2 1/3 innings start on April 19, Harshman was demoted to the bullpen. He continued to struggle until he was given another start on June 6. He responded by throwing a 7-hit shutout against the Washington Senators. On July 25, he struck out 16 Red Sox hitters, including the great Ted Williams
in a complete game for a 5-2 win. At the time it was the most strikeouts in the long history of Fenway Park
. The record would stand for 32 years until a young flamethrower named Roger Clemens
fanned a Major League best 20 batters. After that, Jack settled down and had a largely successful season overall, including an exceptional performance for the month of August. Jack posted a 6-0 record with 47 strikeouts and a microscopic 0.77 ERA. His first full season posted some impressive numbers: A 14-8 win-loss record, a 2.95 ERA, 4 complete game shut-outs, and 134 strikeouts, which was good enough for 5th in the American League.
Harshman found moderate success in the 1955 season by putting up a 11-7 record and a 3.36 ERA while finishing 9th in the AL in strikeouts with 116. In 1956, Jack achieved a rarity in Major League Baseball that had only happened twice before. Both he and the opposing Baltimore Orioles
starting pitcher Connie Johnson
threw a one-hit complete game. Harshman picked up the win 1 to 0. Jack would go on to throw three more shutouts in the season, compiling a 15-12 record with a 3.10 ERA and 143 strikeouts, good enough for 8th in the league.
, Russ Heman
, and Jim Marshall
to the Baltimore Orioles for Tito Francona
, Billy Goodman
, and Ray Moore
.
In 1958 many of Jack's numbers improved. His ERA was a career-low 2.89, 3rd best in the AL, and he compiled a career-high 161 strikeouts to go with 3 shutouts. However, run support was scarce and he ended the season with a 12-15 record.
for Billy Hoeft
on June 15, 1959. Harshman would only spend one month with the Red Sox, going 2-3 with a 6.57 ERA in 2 starts and 6 games of relief.
On July 30, the Cleveland Indians
bought the contract of Jack Harshman. At this point, Jack finally settled down and posted up a 5-1 record to go with a 2.59 ERA in 66 innings of work.
1960 would prove to be the final season for Jack Harshman in the majors. At the age of 32, his back problems were catching up with him. Jack was forced onto the disabled list on April 24 after checking in to the Cleveland Lakeside Hospital to treat problems connected to slipped discs. It would take three months before Harshman would take the mound again. Right from the start Jack could not regain his groove. On July 24 the Red Sox teed off on Harshman for 5 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks before being pulled after just 3 innings. He would never get back on track, ending his final season with a 2-4 record and a 3.98 ERA.
In October, Jack Harshman was released by the Indians. In 1961, Jack participated in spring training
in an effort to make the Los Angeles Angels roster, but instead ended up with a familiar team from his first professional year, the AAA Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres. He would go on to pitch in only 4 games, compiling a 0-1 record and a 6.00 ERA.
Pitcher
In 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...
who played from 1945 through 1960. He played for the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, 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...
, 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...
, 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"...
, and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
From Slugger to Pitcher
Jack Harshman began his professional career at the age of 17 in 1945 for the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres (PCL)
The San Diego Padres were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1936 through 1968. The team that would eventually become the Padres was well traveled prior to moving to San Diego. It began its existence in 1903 as the Sacramento Solons, a charter member of the PCL...
of the minor league
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...
AA 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...
. For his first five seasons, Harshman was being trained and conditioned to be a major league hitter instead of a pitcher. Jack's short stint in San Diego ended with a .254 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 67 at-bats.
In 1946, Jack moved over to the Class C Modesto Reds
Modesto Nuts
The Modesto Nuts are a minor league baseball team in Modesto, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Colorado Rockies. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats 4,000 fans...
, where he hit .288 in 56 games before being shipped back to the PCL San Diego squad for only 3 games. 1947 was his first busy season as he played in 151 games for the Victoria Athletics
Victoria Athletics
The Victoria Athletics were a Western International League baseball team based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada that existed from 1946 to 1951. From 1947 to 1949, they were affiliated with the New York Yankees. They played their home games at Royal Athletic Park.Gil McDougald played for them....
in the Winter Leagues. Harshman smashed 36 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s while batting a modest .306. He then moved up yet again to the San Diego squad for just 11 games and a poor .148 average. Despite the sluggish ending, the Major League New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
purchased his contract as a first baseman in December 1947.
1948 had a change of scenery for Jack. He went to the Jersey City Giants
Jersey City Giants
The Jersey City Giants was the name of a high-level American minor league baseball franchise that played in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the top farm system affiliate of the New York Giants from 1937 through 1950. The Jersey City club played in the International League...
of the AAA International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. Jack posted fairly average but modest numbers for the squad, hitting 24 home runs, driving in 76 runs, and batting .245. He received a brief call up to the Giants, but only batted .250 in 9 plate appearances.
1949 was a breakout year for the young 21-year-old slugger. In 150 games for the AA Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
, Harshman smashed 40 home runs and had 111 RBI. 1950 saw an unexpected change in Jack's progression. He batted a terrible .193 in 35 games for the Class A Jacksonville Tars
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
and a below average .230 for Minneapolis. His second Major League stint with the Giants went even worse, batting just .125 in 32 at bats.
It was around this point that management thought about changing Harshman's role in the organization. During his sluggish 1949 season, he was brought in to pitch two games for the Jacksonville Tars. He threw for 12 innings and a 6.75 ERA, splitting his 2 games for a 1-1 record.
In 1951 Harshman got back on track with his slugging career. In 154 games for the Nashville Volunteers, he crashed 47 home runs with a fair .251 average. However, his manager once again experimented with Jack potentially being a pitcher, letting him take the field in 5 games. He posted another 1-1 record, but lowered his ERA to 3.94.
Despite bringing a huge bat in the previous season, the decision was made to give Harshman double duty as a pitcher and occasional utility hitter. He batted .222 with 8 home runs and 15 RBI in just 135 at bats, but most of his work for the 1952 season came from on the mound. Jack pitched in 26 games with 14 starts, threw a total of 131 innings with 78 strikeouts, a 4.67 ERA, and an average 6-7 win-loss record.
1953 was Jack Harshman's breakout year. In the AA Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
Nashville Volunteers, Jack posted a remarkable 23-7 record with a 3.27 ERA.
Chicago White Sox
Despite his successful transition from a first baseman slugger to a young phenom pitcher, the New York baseball Giants allowed the Chicago White SoxChicago 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...
to purchase Jack Harshman's contract. Jack made his White Sox debut against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
on April 14, 1954. He started the game, but only lasted 3 2/3 innings after being tagged for 4 earned runs on 8 hits. After another poor 2 1/3 innings start on April 19, Harshman was demoted to the bullpen. He continued to struggle until he was given another start on June 6. He responded by throwing a 7-hit shutout against the Washington Senators. On July 25, he struck out 16 Red Sox hitters, including the great Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
in a complete game for a 5-2 win. At the time it was the most strikeouts in the long history of Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. The record would stand for 32 years until a young flamethrower named Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
fanned a Major League best 20 batters. After that, Jack settled down and had a largely successful season overall, including an exceptional performance for the month of August. Jack posted a 6-0 record with 47 strikeouts and a microscopic 0.77 ERA. His first full season posted some impressive numbers: A 14-8 win-loss record, a 2.95 ERA, 4 complete game shut-outs, and 134 strikeouts, which was good enough for 5th in the American League.
Harshman found moderate success in the 1955 season by putting up a 11-7 record and a 3.36 ERA while finishing 9th in the AL in strikeouts with 116. In 1956, Jack achieved a rarity in Major League Baseball that had only happened twice before. Both he and the opposing 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...
starting pitcher Connie Johnson
Connie Johnson
Connie Johnson, born Clifford Johnson Jr. , was an American professional baseball player, a pitcher in the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball.-Kansas City Monarchs:...
threw a one-hit complete game. Harshman picked up the win 1 to 0. Jack would go on to throw three more shutouts in the season, compiling a 15-12 record with a 3.10 ERA and 143 strikeouts, good enough for 8th in the league.
Baltimore Orioles
1956 turned out to be the last solid season for Harshman, as the rest of his career was downhill from thereon out. After an 8-8 season with the 1957 White Sox, Jack was involved in a seven player deal that sent Harshman, Larry DobyLarry Doby
Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Doby was an American professional baseball player in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball....
, Russ Heman
Russ Heman
Russell Frederick Heman is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. The , right-hander was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1952 season...
, and Jim Marshall
Jim Marshall (baseball)
Rufus James Marshall is a former first baseman and manager in American Major League Baseball. Marshall managed the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland Athletics but never enjoyed a winning season in either post...
to the Baltimore Orioles for Tito Francona
Tito Francona
John Patsy "Tito" Francona is a former outfielder/first baseman in professional baseball. He is the father of former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona.-Career:...
, Billy Goodman
Billy Goodman
William Dale Goodman was an infielder and left-handed batter who played Major League Baseball with the Boston Red Sox , Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox and Houston Colt .45's ....
, and Ray Moore
Ray Moore (baseball)
Raymond Leroy Moore was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins from to ....
.
In 1958 many of Jack's numbers improved. His ERA was a career-low 2.89, 3rd best in the AL, and he compiled a career-high 161 strikeouts to go with 3 shutouts. However, run support was scarce and he ended the season with a 12-15 record.
Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians
Harshman became a journeyman in 1959, playing for three different teams throughout the season. Jack got off to an awful start for the Orioles with an 0-6 record and a 6.85 ERA before being traded to the Boston Red SoxBoston 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"...
for Billy Hoeft
Billy Hoeft
William Frederick Hoeft was a pitcher in Major League Baseball whose career spanned 15 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Braves, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants. He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.-Detroit Tigers :Hoeft was signed by the Detroit...
on June 15, 1959. Harshman would only spend one month with the Red Sox, going 2-3 with a 6.57 ERA in 2 starts and 6 games of relief.
On July 30, the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
bought the contract of Jack Harshman. At this point, Jack finally settled down and posted up a 5-1 record to go with a 2.59 ERA in 66 innings of work.
1960 would prove to be the final season for Jack Harshman in the majors. At the age of 32, his back problems were catching up with him. Jack was forced onto the disabled list on April 24 after checking in to the Cleveland Lakeside Hospital to treat problems connected to slipped discs. It would take three months before Harshman would take the mound again. Right from the start Jack could not regain his groove. On July 24 the Red Sox teed off on Harshman for 5 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks before being pulled after just 3 innings. He would never get back on track, ending his final season with a 2-4 record and a 3.98 ERA.
In October, Jack Harshman was released by the Indians. In 1961, Jack participated in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in an effort to make the Los Angeles Angels roster, but instead ended up with a familiar team from his first professional year, the AAA Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres. He would go on to pitch in only 4 games, compiling a 0-1 record and a 6.00 ERA.