George Harper (outfielder)
George Harper | |
---|---|
Outfielder | |
Born: Arlington, Kentucky, U.S. | June 24, 1892|
Died: August 18, 1978 Magnolia, Arkansas, U.S. | (aged 86)|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 15, 1916, for the Detroit Tigers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 28, 1929, for the Boston Braves | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .303 |
Home runs | 91 |
Runs batted in | 530 |
Teams | |
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George Washington Harper (June 24, 1892 – August 18, 1978) was an American professional baseball player. From 1916 to 1929, he played as an
Early life
Harper was born in
Career
In 1917 and 1918, he played 91 games in right field for the Detroit Tigers, next to Ty Cobb in center field. Harper played right field for the Tigers as they transitioned the position from Hall of Fame member Sam Crawford to another Hall of Fame member Harry Heilmann.
After moving to the National League, Harper was three times among the league's leaders in batting average and on-base percentage: 1922, 1927 and 1928. Harper started for the 1927 Giants in place of the terminally ill Ross Youngs. Even with Youngs out, that year's Giants team had six future Hall of Famers in the starting lineup and one future Hall of Fame pitcher. Harper had a .435 on-base percentage that year, good enough for third best in the National League, but the team finished in third place.[3]
On May 10, 1928, Harper was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for catcher Bob O'Farrell.[1] On September 20, the Cardinals were facing the Giants when Harper hit three home runs in one game.[4] Writing for the North American Newspaper Alliance, Walter S. Trumbull said that Harper had likely won the pennant for St. Louis with that performance.[5] The Cardinals went to the 1928 World Series, where they were swept by the New York Yankees. Harper appeared in three games, collecting one hit in eleven plate appearances.[1]
He finished his career with a .303 batting average, 91 home runs, and 530 RBI. He remained active in the minor leagues through 1936 and included a year as player/manager for the
In 1936, Harper's last year playing professional baseball, he hit .297 in 118 games between the Jackson Senators and the Augusta Tigers of the South Atlantic League.[1] By February 1937, Harper was living in Shreveport, Louisiana; he was not under contract with any team, but he indicated that he would entertain playing, managerial or executive offers in baseball.[8]
Later life
Harper died in 1978 at age 86 at a hospital in Magnolia, Arkansas, and he is buried in New Hope Cemetery.[9] He had been inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame eight years earlier.[10]
References
- ^ a b c d "George Harper Stats | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
- The Times (Shreveport).
- ISBN 9780738532622.
- ^ "Boxscore of George Harper's 3-Home Run Game at Retrosheet". retrosheet.org. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ Trumbull, Walter (September 21, 1928). "George Harper's homers wallop New York Giants". Lincoln Journal Star.
- ^ "Jackson ball club gets George Harper in deal with Lions". The Clarion-Ledger. January 29, 1936.
- ^ Hart, Weldon (February 17, 1936). "Sports situation". Austin Statesman.
- The Times (Shreveport). February 28, 1937.
- ISBN 9781476609300.
- ^ "Baseball and Baseball Administration". Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)