Bucky Harris

For the cricketer and footballer, see Stanley Harris (footballer).

Bucky Harris
Second Baseman/Manager/Executive
Born: November 8, 1896 Port Jervis, New York
Died: November 8, 1977(1977-11-08) (aged 81) Bethesda, Maryland
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 28, 1919 for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
June 12, 1931 for the Detroit Tigers
Career statistics
Batting average	.274
Hits	1297
Runs batted in	506
Stolen bases	167
Managerial record	2157-2218
Teams
As Player Washington Senators (1919-1928) Detroit Tigers (1929, 1931) As Manager Washington Senators (1924-1928, 1935-1942, 1950)-1954) Detroit Tigers (1929-1933, 1955-1956) Boston Red Sox (1934) Philadelphia Phillies (1943) New York Yankees (1947-1948)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion 1924, 1947 American League champion 1925 Managerial record: 2157-2218 General Manager of the Boston Red Sox (1959-1960)
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1975
Election Method	Veteran's Committee

Stanley Raymond "Bucky" Harris (November 8, 1896 – November 8, 1977) was a Major League Baseball player, manager and executive. In 1975, the Veterans Committee elected Harris, as a manager, to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Biography

Harris was born in Port Jervis, New York and raised mostly in Pittston, Pennsylvania. Harris was discovered by baseball promoter Joe Engel, who led the Chattanooga Lookouts at Engel Stadium. In 1919, at the age of 22, he came up to the Washington Senators, where his initial performance was unimpressive. Harris' batting average was a meager .214, and he participated in only eight games in his first season. Despite this poor showing, club owner Clark Griffith made him Washington's regular second baseman in 1920, and before long, Harris was batting .300, while distinguishing himself as a tough competitor. The young player stood up even to the ferocious Ty Cobb, who threatened Harris when he tagged Cobb in their first encounter.

Harris spent most of his playing career as a second baseman with Washington Senators (1919–28). One of baseball's "boy managers", Harris both played for and managed the Senators beginning in 1924. At the age of 27, he was the youngest regular major league manager, also serving as the team's second baseman. Harris directed the team to a World Series Championship in his rookie season and the AL pennant the following year. Baseball historian William C. Kashatus noted that, during the 1924 World Series, Harris excelled as a player. "Not only did he set records for chances accepted, double plays and put-outs in the exciting seven-game affair, but he batted .333 and hit two home runs".

After leaving the Senators initially in 1928 (he would twice return to manage them again from 1935–42 and from 1950–54), Harris was traded to the Detroit Tigers as player-manager. His playing career essentially ended in 1928, though he had a few cameo appearances with the Tigers in 1929 and 1931. He managed the Tigers twice (1929–33, 1955–56), Boston Red Sox (1934), Philadelphia Phillies (briefly known as the Blue Jays, 1943), and the 1947 World Champion New York Yankees. He closed his 29-year managing career with the 1956 Tigers, then rejoined the Red Sox as assistant general manager in 1957–58. He succeeded Joe Cronin as Boston's GM in January 1959 and served two seasons in that post before his release in September 1960. On his watch, however, the BoSox finally broke the baseball color line by promoting Pumpsie Green from Triple-A on July 21, 1959. Late in his career, Harris was a scout for the Chicago White Sox and special assistant for the expansion Washington franchise that existed from 1961–71.

Bucky Harris died in Bethesda, Maryland, on his 81st birthday, and was buried at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church (in Hughestown, Pennsylvania).

During his 29-season managerial career, Harris presided over two world championships and three pennants. He is sixth in MLB manager career wins with 2,157 wins to his name.

Harris is mentioned in a version of Abbott & Costello's famous Who's on First? routine.

Parents: Thomas Harris, born ca. 1867, England or Wales, and Catherine (Rupp) Harris, born Hughestown, Pennsylvania; brother: Merle Harris, born Pennsylvania.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases

References

• Kashatus, William C. (2002). Diamonds in the Coalfields: 21 Remarkable Baseball Players, Managers, and Umpires from Northeast Pennsylvania. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786411764.

External links

Bucky Harris at the Baseball Hall of Fame

• Profile at Baseball Library
• Bucky Harris managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• Signature analysis and signing habits of Bucky Harris, at PSA Card
• Bucky Harris at Find a Grave

Sporting positions
Preceded by Donie Bush	Washington Senators Manager 1924-1928	Succeeded by Walter Johnson
Preceded by George Moriarty	Detroit Tigers Manager 1929-1932	Succeeded by Del Baker
Preceded by Marty McManus	Boston Red Sox Manager 1934	Succeeded by Joe Cronin
Preceded by Joe Cronin	Washington Senators Manager 1935-1942	Succeeded by Ossie Bluege
Preceded by Hans Lobert	Philadelphia Phillies Manager 1943	Succeeded by Freddie Fitzsimmons
Preceded by Bill Dickey	New York Yankees Manager 1947-1948	Succeeded by Casey Stengel
Preceded by Joe Kuhel	Washington Senators Manager 1950-1954	Succeeded by Chuck Dressen
Preceded by Fred Hutchinson	Detroit Tigers Manager 1955–1956	Succeeded by Jack Tighe
Preceded by Joe Cronin	Red Sox General Manager 1959 - 1960	Succeeded by Pinky Higgins (1962)