Lum Harris
Encyclopedia
Chalmer Luman Harris was an American
right-handed pitcher
, coach
, manager
, and scout
in Major League Baseball
.
Born in the village of "New Castle", Alabama
, his playing career began with the Atlanta Crackers
of the Southern Association
in 1937. His catcher
that season was Paul Richards
, who in 1938 became Atlanta's player-manager. Richards and Harris would form a decades-long association in baseball at the minor and major league levels.
Harris compiled a 35-63 record with a 4.16 earned-run average in 151 American League
games with the Philadelphia Athletics
and (briefly) Washington Senators
from 1941-47. The remainder of his major league career would be spent working in tandem with Richards, initially as a coach with the Chicago White Sox
(1951–54), Baltimore Orioles
(1955–61), and Houston Colt .45s
(1962–64). In each case he worked under Richards, who was either his manager, general manager, or (in Baltimore from 1955–58) both. Despite his playing background, Harris was never a pitching coach; he usually served as a third-base coach.
In 1965, Harris was promoted by Richards to manager of the newly rechristened Houston Astros, serving for the team's debut season in the Astrodome. It was actually his second major league managerial post: he had briefly managed Baltimore in September 1961 when Richards resigned to take the front office reins of the expansion franchise in Houston.
After Richards became the vice president for baseball operations (in effect, general manager) of the Atlanta Braves
of the National League
during 1966
, Harris followed as manager of AAA Richmond
, and, then, from 1968 to the middle of the 1972 season, as manager of the big-league Braves. Harris led Atlanta to the first-ever National League West Division championship in 1969
, but his Braves lost the National League Championship Series
to the eventual world champion New York Mets
.
When the Braves slumped in ensuing years, Richards was fired during the 1972
season, and Harris was replaced as the Braves' manager by the former Braves third baseman
Eddie Mathews
. Harris' final major league managerial record was 466-488.
Harris died of diabetes at age 81 in Pell City, Alabama
. He is buried in Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed pitcher
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...
, coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
, 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 scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
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...
.
Born in the village of "New Castle", Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, his playing career began with the Atlanta Crackers
Atlanta Crackers
The Atlanta Crackers were minor league baseball teams based in Atlanta, Georgia, between 1901 and 1965. The Crackers were Atlanta's home team until the Atlanta Braves moved from Milwaukee in 1966....
of the 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...
in 1937. His catcher
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...
that season was Paul Richards
Paul Richards (baseball)
Paul Rapier Richards was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and executive in Major League Baseball. During his playing career, he was a catcher and right-handed batter with the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
, who in 1938 became Atlanta's player-manager. Richards and Harris would form a decades-long association in baseball at the minor and major league levels.
Harris compiled a 35-63 record with a 4.16 earned-run average in 151 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...
games with the Philadelphia 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....
and (briefly) 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...
from 1941-47. The remainder of his major league career would be spent working in tandem with Richards, initially as a coach with 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...
(1951–54), 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...
(1955–61), and Houston Colt .45s
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...
(1962–64). In each case he worked under Richards, who was either his manager, general manager, or (in Baltimore from 1955–58) both. Despite his playing background, Harris was never a pitching coach; he usually served as a third-base coach.
In 1965, Harris was promoted by Richards to manager of the newly rechristened Houston Astros, serving for the team's debut season in the Astrodome. It was actually his second major league managerial post: he had briefly managed Baltimore in September 1961 when Richards resigned to take the front office reins of the expansion franchise in Houston.
After Richards became the vice president for baseball operations (in effect, general manager) of the 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....
of the 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...
during 1966
1966 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Los Angeles Dodgers ; Frank Robinson, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at Busch Stadium: National League, 2–1 ; Brooks Robinson, MVP-Other champions:*College World Series: Ohio State...
, Harris followed as manager of AAA Richmond
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
, and, then, from 1968 to the middle of the 1972 season, as manager of the big-league Braves. Harris led Atlanta to the first-ever National League West Division championship in 1969
1969 in baseball
-Expansion:Four expansion teams joined Major League Baseball for this season: the San Diego Padres, the Kansas City Royals, the Seattle Pilots, and the first MLB team in Canada, the Montreal Expos. To accommodate the additional teams, the two leagues were split into two divisions of East and West...
, but his Braves lost the National League Championship Series
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
to the eventual world champion New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
When the Braves slumped in ensuing years, Richards was fired during the 1972
1972 Atlanta Braves season
- Offseason :* December 2, 1971: Hal King was traded by the Braves to the Texas Rangers for Paul Casanova.- Notable transactions :* May 11, 1972: Steve Barber was released by the Braves....
season, and Harris was replaced as the Braves' manager by the former Braves 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...
Eddie Mathews
Eddie Mathews
Edwin Lee "Eddie" Mathews was an American Major League Baseball third baseman. He is regarded as one of the greatest third basemen ever to play the game.-Early life:...
. Harris' final major league managerial record was 466-488.
Harris died of diabetes at age 81 in Pell City, Alabama
Pell City, Alabama
Pell City is a city in St. Clair County, Alabama, United States. The city is the county seat of St. Clair County along with Ashville. At the 2000 census the population was 9,565. At the 2010 census, the city-limit population jumped to 12,695. -Geography:...
. He is buried in Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetery
Elmwood Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama)
Elmwood Cemetery is a cemetery established in 1900 in Birmingham, Alabama northwest of Homewood by a group of fraternal organizations. It was renamed in 1906 and gradually eclipsed Oak Hill Cemetery as the most prominent burial place in the city...
.
External links
- Baseball-Reference.com - career managing record and playing statistics