Tommy Harper
From SoSH
| Born: | October 14, 1940 |
| Birthplace: | Oak Grove, Louisiana |
| Hometown: | |
| Height: | 5' 10" |
| Weight: | 168 lbs |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Drafted: | Undrafted: 1960 signed with Cincinnati Reds as amateur free agent |
| College: | San Francisco State University |
| High School: | |
| Other Teams: | Cincinnati Reds 1962-1967, Cleveland Indians 1968, Seattle Pilots 1969, Milwaukee Brewers 1970-1971 California Angels 1975, Oakland Athletics 1975, Baltimore Orioles 1976 |
| Years with Boston: | 1972-1974 |
Contents |
Overall Career
Tommy Harper was born on Monday, October 14, 1940, in Oak Grove, Louisiana and enjoyed a 15-year career from 1962 to 1976. Harper was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 9, 1962, with the Cincinnati Reds. Although he preferred the outfield, Harper played mostly at third base for the Pilots and Brewers at the beginning of his career. Blending speed and power, Harper became only the fifth member of the "30-30 Club," hitting 31 HR and stealing 38 bases for the 1970 Brewers. As a young, highly touted outfielder with the Reds in 1965, he hit 18 homers and led the NL with 126 runs scored.
After a disappointing 1967 season (.217), he was traded to Cleveland, where he continued to slump in a platoon role. Rescued by the Seattle Pilots in the 1968 expansion draft, he led the ML with 73 stolen bases in 1969, the highest AL total since Ty Cobb's 96 in 1915.
Before the 1972 season, he was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers with minor leaguer Pat Skrable, Lew Krausse, and Marty Pattin to the Boston Red Sox for Jim Lonborg, Ken Brett, Billy Conigliaro, Joe Lahoud, George Scott, and Don Pavletich.
With the Red Sox, he returned to the outfield. In 1973 he was the Red Sox' MVP, hitting 17 HR, scoring 71 runs, and stealing an AL-high 54 bases.
On December 2, 1974, he was traded by the Red Sox to the California Angels for Bob Heise.
Harper's Moments in the Sun
- 24-consecutive-game hitting streak (July 17-August 8, 1966)
- 1970 American League All-Star selection
- Led NL in runs (126, 1965)
- Twice led AL in stolen bases (73 in 1969 & 54 in 1973)
- His career 408 stolen bases ranks him 61st on all-time list
Trivia
- He was also the first player to come to bat in Milwaukee Brewers history
- When Tommy played for the Boston Red Sox, he had such a big Afro that he could barely get his cap on his head.
- With his 54 stolen bases in 1973, Tommy is the last Red Sox player to lead the league in steals.
Transactions
- Before 1960 Season: Signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent.
- November 21, 1967: Traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Cleveland Indians for George Culver, Fred Whitfield, and Bob Raudman.
- October 15, 1968: Drafted by the Seattle Pilots from the Cleveland Indians as the 3rd pick in the 1968 Expansion Draft.
- October 11, 1971: Traded by the Milwaukee Brewers with Pat Skrable, Lew Krausse, and Marty Pattin to the Boston Red Sox for Jim Lonborg, Ken Brett, Billy Conigliaro, Joe Lahoud, George Scott, and Don Pavletich.
- December 2, 1974: Traded by the Boston Red Sox to the California Angels for Bob Heise.
- August 13, 1975: Purchased by the Oakland Athletics from the California Angels.
- November 20, 1975: Released by the Oakland Athletics.
- April 9, 1976: Signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles.
- December 17, 1976: Released by the Baltimore Orioles.
External Links
- Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
