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Roric Harrison

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Roric Harrison
Pitcher
Born: (1946-09-20) September 20, 1946 (age 78)
Los Angeles, California
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 18, 1972, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
July 23, 1978, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
Win–loss record30–35
Earned run average4.24
Strikeouts319
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Roric Edward Harrison (born September 20, 1946) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last American League pitcher to hit a home run in an American League game (October 3, 1972) before the introduction of the designated hitter.[1]

Early years

Harrison signed with the Houston Astros out of Westchester High School in Westchester, California in 1965. Harrison amassed a 13–28 record in Houston's farm system and pitched just two innings for the Oklahoma City 89ers in 1969 when he was dealt to the Seattle Pilots with Dooley Womack for Jim Bouton.

He pitched for the franchise's (now known as the Milwaukee Brewers) triple A affiliate, the Portland Beavers in 1970, and went 6–11 with a 5.57 earned run average. During Spring training the following season, he and Marion Jackson were traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Marcelino López.

Baltimore Orioles

Harrison improved to 15–5 with a 2.81 ERA for the Orioles' triple A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings in 1971. The best pitcher in the International League that year, he attended spring training with the Orioles in 1972. He made the team, but as a relief, as Baltimore's four starters had each won 20 or more games the previous year.[2][3] He did, however, make two emergency starts in the second games of doubleheaders, going 1–1 with a 6.75 in his two starts. For the season, he went 3–4 with a 2.30 ERA and four saves.

Atlanta Braves

After just one season in Baltimore, Harrison was traded along with Davey Johnson, Pat Dobson and Johnny Oates to the Atlanta Braves for Earl Williams and Taylor Duncan on the last day of the Winter Meetings on December 1, 1972.[4] Harrison was used as both a starter and reliever in Atlanta, compiling an 11–8 record and 4.16 ERA in both roles. He also added two home runs to his career total despite having only three hits all season (the other was a double).

Harrison was 20–23 with a 4.45 ERA in his career for Atlanta when he was dealt to the Cleveland Indians during the 1975 season for pitcher Blue Moon Odom.[5]

Journeyman

Harrison went 7–7 with a 4.79 ERA in nineteen starts for the Indians in 1975. During Spring training 1976, he was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals for Harry Parker. After one season playing triple A ball for the franchise, he was released. He played minor league ball with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers before seeing major league experience again with the Minnesota Twins in 1978. In nine games, he was 0–1 with a 7.50 ERA.

References

  1. ^ "Baltimore Orioles 4, Cleveland Indians 3". Baseball-Reference.com. October 3, 1972.
  2. ^ "Roric Harrison 1972 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "The Birds Own the Ball". Sports Illustrated. April 10, 1972. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  4. ^ Durso, Joseph. "A's Send Epstein to Rangers; Scheinblum, Nelson to Reds," The New York Times, Saturday, December 2, 1972. Retrieved April 13, 2020
  5. ^ Indians Deal Odom In Roster Shuffle
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