Vic Harris (second baseman)
Encyclopedia
Victor Lanier Harris is a former Major League Baseball
player. He played all or part of eight seasons in the majors between and . He also played three seasons in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes
from until .
by the Oakland Athletics
. In July 1972 he was traded to the Texas Rangers
, and made his major league debut for them the following day. He spent the rest of the season as the Rangers' regular second baseman, replacing Lenny Randle
. In 61 games, Harris batted an anemic .140.
The following season, , the Rangers moved Harris to center field, replacing Joe Lovitto
. In his first, and what would prove to be only, season as a regular, Harris batted .249 with 8 home runs. That offseason, Harris and Bill Madlock
were traded to the Chicago Cubs
for future Hall-of-Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins
.
Harris started the season back at second base, where he was the starter for most of the first half of the season. However, after hitting just .195 in 62 games, Harris was sent back to the minor leagues and replaced by Dave Rosello and Billy Grabarkewitz
. Harris spent on the Cubs' bench, being used mostly as a pinch hitter
and batting .179. That winter, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
for infielder Mick Kelleher
.
, serving as a utilityman, playing all three outfield positions along with second base, third base, and shortstop. In , after hitting just .150, Harris was let go by the Giants. He was signed to a minor league contract by the Milwaukee Brewers
. After a season back in the minors, Harris played in 34 games for the Brewers in 1980 to close out his major league career.
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. He played all or part of eight seasons in the majors between and . He also played three seasons in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes
Kintetsu Buffaloes
The was a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka, Japan, which were in the Pacific League. The team was owned by Kinki Nippon Railway Co. and later sold to the Orix Group, the owner of the Orix BlueWave baseball team, in 2004...
from until .
Early career
Harris was drafted in the first round of the secondary phase of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft1970 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1970 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The regular and secondary phases of the January draft proved more fruitful to major league clubs than the June draft...
by the 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....
. In July 1972 he was traded to 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...
, and made his major league debut for them the following day. He spent the rest of the season as the Rangers' regular second baseman, replacing Lenny Randle
Lenny Randle
Leonard Shenoff Randle is a former Major League Baseball player. He was the first-round pick of the Washington Senators in the secondary phase of the June 1970 Major League Baseball Draft, tenth overall.-Early years:...
. In 61 games, Harris batted an anemic .140.
The following season, , the Rangers moved Harris to center field, replacing Joe Lovitto
Joe Lovitto
Joseph Lovitto, Jr. was a center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Texas Rangers . He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
. In his first, and what would prove to be only, season as a regular, Harris batted .249 with 8 home runs. That offseason, Harris and Bill Madlock
Bill Madlock
Bill "Mad Dog" Madlock, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. From 1973 to 1987, Madlock was a right-handed hitter who won several National League batting titles. His record of four batting titles as a third baseman would be eclipsed in 1988 by Wade Boggs. Since 1970, only Tony Gwynn has...
were traded to 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...
for future Hall-of-Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins, CM, is a Canadian former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was a three-time All-Star and the 1971 NL Cy Young Award winner. In 1991, Jenkins was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. During a 19-year career, he pitched for four different teams,...
.
Harris started the season back at second base, where he was the starter for most of the first half of the season. However, after hitting just .195 in 62 games, Harris was sent back to the minor leagues and replaced by Dave Rosello and Billy Grabarkewitz
Billy Grabarkewitz
Billy Cordell Grabarkewitz , is a retired professional baseball player who played third base, second base, and shortstop in the Major Leagues from 1969-1975. His best season was 1970, when he was the starting third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and was selected as an All-Star...
. Harris spent on the Cubs' bench, being used mostly as a 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...
and batting .179. That winter, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for infielder Mick Kelleher
Mick Kelleher
Michael Dennis Kelleher is the first base coach for the New York Yankees. He succeeded Tony Peña, who became the bench coach....
.
Journeyman
Harris spent the next three seasons with the Cardinals and then the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, serving as a utilityman, playing all three outfield positions along with second base, third base, and shortstop. In , after hitting just .150, Harris was let go by the Giants. He was signed to a minor league contract by the 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...
. After a season back in the minors, Harris played in 34 games for the Brewers in 1980 to close out his major league career.