Toby Harrah
Encyclopedia
Colbert Dale Harrah (b. October 26, 1948 in Sissonville, West Virginia
) is a former professional baseball player who played with the Texas Rangers
both before and after their 1971 franchise shift before later being traded to the Cleveland Indians
and the New York Yankees
. In 1992, he briefly managed the Rangers.
He played high school baseball in his hometown of LaRue, Ohio and was scouted out but was not signed at graduation as most scouts thought he planned to attend college on a baseball scholarship. A few months later, Tony Lucadello
followed up and found that Harrah was not attending school, but was instead working in a factory in nearby Marion, Ohio
. Lucadello signed Harrah for the Philadelphia Phillies
in December, .
After one year in the Phillies organization, Harrah was drafted by the Washington Senators
in the fall of . He advanced to the major league club in ; the next year the franchise relocated and became the Texas Rangers
. He was the regular shortstop through , then moved to third base, although he still saw some action at short. He was selected to the American League All-Star team in , , and . He had a career best 93 RBIS in 1975.
In , Toby was traded to the Cleveland Indians
for Buddy Bell
, a player thought to be fairly similar in many respects. He was the Indians regular third baseman through and made the All-Star team in . That year he had 100 runs and a career best .304 batting average.
In , Harrah was traded to the New York Yankees
, where he was a part time player, then he was traded again to the Rangers, where he played regularly again for the and seasons, primarily at second base. With the retirement of Jeff Burroughs
in 1985, Harrah became the last active major leaguer to have played for the Washington Senators franchise. He was also the last player to see a pitch for the Senators in their final game on September 30, 1971 when Tommy McCraw
was caught stealing during his plate-appearance for the Senators final out in the bottom of the 8th.
Harrah was noted for his good eye at the plate, regularly in the top ten in the league for bases on balls, and often among the leaders in reaching base safely. He also had better than average power for a defensive infielder, hitting 195 career home runs.
He is currently the hitting coordinator for the Detroit Tigers
.
On June 25, 1976, he played an entire doubleheader without taking a single fielding chance. What was most unusual about this was that he managed to do so while playing shortstop
, given the predominance of right-handed hitters in a baseball lineup (who will usually hit the ball to the left side of the infield).
Just over one year later, on August 27, 1977, Harrah and teammate Bump Wills
would hit back-to-back inside-the-park home runs, the only time this feat has ever occurred in a Major League Baseball game.
On August 6, 1986, Harrah hit a second inning grand slam
for the Rangers, while Baltimore Oriole players Larry Sheets
and Jim Dwyer
both went deep for grand slams in the Orioles' nine-run fourth, establishing a new record for bases-full homers in one game (Texas beat Baltimore, 13-11).
Sissonville, West Virginia
Sissonville is an unincorporated census-designated place in Kanawha County, West Virginia, along the Pocatalico River. The population was 4,028 at the 2010 census...
) is a former professional baseball player who played with the Texas Rangers
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...
both before and after their 1971 franchise shift before later being traded to 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...
and the 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...
. In 1992, he briefly managed the Rangers.
He played high school baseball in his hometown of LaRue, Ohio and was scouted out but was not signed at graduation as most scouts thought he planned to attend college on a baseball scholarship. A few months later, Tony Lucadello
Tony Lucadello
Tony Lucadello was a professional baseball scout for the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies . During his career, he signed a total of 52 players who made it to the Major Leagues, most notably Hall of Famers Ferguson Jenkins and Mike Schmidt...
followed up and found that Harrah was not attending school, but was instead working in a factory in nearby Marion, Ohio
Marion, Ohio
Marion is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Marion County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus....
. Lucadello signed Harrah for 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...
in December, .
After one year in the Phillies organization, Harrah was drafted by 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...
in the fall of . He advanced to the major league club in ; the next year the franchise relocated and became the Texas Rangers
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...
. He was the regular shortstop through , then moved to third base, although he still saw some action at short. He was selected to the American League All-Star team in , , and . He had a career best 93 RBIS in 1975.
In , Toby was traded to 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...
for Buddy Bell
Buddy Bell
David Gus "Buddy" Bell is a former third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. After an 18-year career with four teams, most notably the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers, he managed the Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals for three seasons each...
, a player thought to be fairly similar in many respects. He was the Indians regular third baseman through and made the All-Star team in . That year he had 100 runs and a career best .304 batting average.
In , Harrah was traded to the 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...
, where he was a part time player, then he was traded again to the Rangers, where he played regularly again for the and seasons, primarily at second base. With the retirement of Jeff Burroughs
Jeff Burroughs
Jeffrey Alan Burroughs is a former player in Major League Baseball. From through , he played for the Washington Senators , Texas Rangers , Atlanta Braves , Seattle Mariners , Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays . Burroughs batted and threw right-handed...
in 1985, Harrah became the last active major leaguer to have played for the Washington Senators franchise. He was also the last player to see a pitch for the Senators in their final game on September 30, 1971 when Tommy McCraw
Tommy McCraw
Tommy Lee McCraw was a Major League first baseman and outfielder for the Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators , Cleveland Indians and California Angels ....
was caught stealing during his plate-appearance for the Senators final out in the bottom of the 8th.
Harrah was noted for his good eye at the plate, regularly in the top ten in the league for bases on balls, and often among the leaders in reaching base safely. He also had better than average power for a defensive infielder, hitting 195 career home runs.
He is currently the hitting coordinator for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Unusual baseball feats
Harrah was involved in three of the most unusual feats in Major League baseball history.On June 25, 1976, he played an entire doubleheader without taking a single fielding chance. What was most unusual about this was that he managed to do so while playing shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, given the predominance of right-handed hitters in a baseball lineup (who will usually hit the ball to the left side of the infield).
Just over one year later, on August 27, 1977, Harrah and teammate Bump Wills
Bump Wills
Elliot Taylor "Bump" Wills is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs . He also played two seasons in Japan for the Hankyu Braves...
would hit back-to-back inside-the-park home runs, the only time this feat has ever occurred in a Major League Baseball game.
On August 6, 1986, Harrah hit a second inning grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
for the Rangers, while Baltimore Oriole players Larry Sheets
Larry Sheets
Larry Kent Sheets , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter who played for the Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, and Seattle Mariners from 1984 to 1990 and 1993...
and Jim Dwyer
Jim Dwyer (baseball)
James Edward Dwyer is a former outfielder who enjoyed an eighteen year major league career for seven different teams between and . Listed at 5' 10", 165 lb., he batted and threw left-handed.-MLB career:...
both went deep for grand slams in the Orioles' nine-run fourth, establishing a new record for bases-full homers in one game (Texas beat Baltimore, 13-11).
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases