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Isaiah Harris

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For the middle-distance runner, see Isaiah Harris (athlete).
Isaiah Harris
Pitcher
Born: (1925-07-02)July 2, 1925
Parkin, Arkansas
Died: September 18, 2001(2001-09-18) (aged 76)
Memphis, Tennessee
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Negro league baseball debut
1949, for the Memphis Red Sox
Last appearance
1956, for the Memphis Red Sox
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Isaiah "Lefty" Harris (July 2, 1925 – September 18, 2001) was an American professional baseball pitcher in Negro league baseball who played for the Memphis Red Sox from 1949 to 1956.

Early life and career

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Harris was born in Parkin, Arkansas and pitched for black amateur baseball teams near Parkin before joining the Memphis Red Sox in 1949.[1] A left-handed pitcher, Harris was known for having good control of his pitches, which included a fastball and curveball.[2] He allowed only one hit on April 7 against the Chicago American Giants, struck out 16 American Giants in a game on May 17, and threw a two-hitter against the Houston Eagles on June 16.[3][4][5] In his first season, he ended the year with a 17-4 win-loss record and led the Negro American League in strikeouts.[1][6] In September, he received interest from the New York Yankees for a tryout. [1] He also was scouted by the Chicago Cubs.[7] However, he remained with Memphis after the 1949 season ended.[8] In October, he started in an exhibition game for Memphis against the Satchel Paige All-Stars.[9]

Success with Memphis Red Sox

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Harris pitched a no-hitter on August 12 against the Kansas City Monarchs.[10][11] He faced Don Newcombe in an exhibition game on October 22 against the combined Jackie Robinson All-Stars and Indianapolis Clowns.[12]

On July 14, 1951, he hit a home run an estimated 450 feet while pitching 12 innings in a win against the Indianapolis Clowns in Niagara Falls, New York.[13] He was named to the East-West All-Star Game in 1952.[14]

By July 1953, The Commercial Appeal reported that the Yankees, Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates were scouting Harris.[2] He returned to the East-West All-Star Game in 1953, throwing three scoreless innings.[15] He threw a two-hitter against the Louisville Clippers on August 16, 1954 and was named to the East-West All-Star Game again later that month.[16][17] He was named to his fourth East-West All-Star Game in 1955.[18] He played with the Red Sox through at least the 1956 season.[19]

Post-baseball

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After baseball, he worked for ADM. He died in Memphis, Tennessee on September 18, 2001.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Yanks to Try Out Red Sox Negro Ace". The Commercial Appeal. September 29, 1949. p. 33. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Major league teams shown an interest in Isaiah Harris". The Commercial Appeal. July 29, 1953. p. 21. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Red Sox Win, 2-0". The Commercial Appeal. April 8, 1949. p. 39. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Sox Rookie Whiffs 16". Memphis Press-Scimitar. May 18, 1949. p. 20. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Harris Stars for Sox". Memphis Press-Scimitar. June 17, 1949. p. 21. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Isaah Harris Nominated". The Commercial Appeal. September 22, 1949. p. 31. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Stepin Fetchit to be here Tuesday as Sox-Tatums Battle". Delta Democrat Times. September 19, 1949. p. 5. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Riley, James A. (1994). The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues. New York: Carroll & Graf. ISBN 0-7867-0959-6.
  9. ^ "Satchel Paige Shows With Allstars Today". The Commercial Appeal. October 16, 1949. p. 27. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Memphis Pitcher Hurls No-Hitter". The Jackson Sun. August 12, 1950. p. 9. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Red Sox Play Today". The Commercial Appeal. August 13, 1950. p. 26. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Newcombe-Harris On Hill Sunday". Memphis Press-Scimitar. October 20, 1950. p. 26. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Red Sox Edge Clowns". The Commercial Appeal. July 15, 1951. p. 30. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Red Sox-Monarchs Slate Twin-Bill". Memphis Press-Scimitar. August 16, 1952. p. 16. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Smith, Wendell (August 22, 1953). "Only 10,000 Fans See West Defeat East, 5-1". Pittsburgh Courier. p. 15. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Red Sox Whip Clippers". The Commercial Appeal. August 17, 1954. p. 23. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Charleston, O'Neal, Game's Top Pilots, To Direct All-Stars". Pittsburgh Courier. August 21, 1954. p. 12. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Eight Memphis Red Sox Players Set for East-West Game". Alabama Tribune. July 29, 1955. p. 6. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Memphis Red Sox to Face K.C. Monarchs Here Friday". The Sikeston Herald. May 16, 1956. p. 12. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Isiah Harris obituary". The Commercial Appeal. September 23, 2001. p. 26. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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