1 inning major league player

[moogpowell]

Robin Yount's brother, Larry, is the only MLB pitcher to ever appear in a game yet never play in a game in his career. Just learned about this story this year: https://milwaukeerecord.com/sports/r...-accomplished/

[whiteymet]

Here is Harrington's story according to wikipedia.

His MLB appearance came on July 10, 1963, at Connie Mack Stadium, when he was called upon to pinch run following first baseman Roy Sievers' single; it was the eighth inning and the Phils led the San Francisco Giants, 10–2. Harrington advanced to second base one out later, following Don Hoak's single. But the inning ended when Clay Dalrymple grounded into a double play.[3] Harrington did not stay in the game on defense, as veteran Frank Torre took Sievers' post at first base in the ninth.

However I first recall reading about this in a book about Gene Mauch. In that book the story was Mauch used Harrington as a pinch runner and he was either thrown out stealing or was thrown out going first to third. Mauch was pissed. He never liked rookies ( he traded F. Jenkins to the Cubs for two older pitchers Larry Jackson and Bob Buhl) and promptly sent him back to the minors, never to be seen in the majors again!

[mrreality68]

Great Stories
and sad in someways for those that made it after working towards it to only play or/not play for such as short period

Keep them coming

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by whiteymet

Here is Harrington's story according to wikipedia.

His MLB appearance came on July 10, 1963, at Connie Mack Stadium, when he was called upon to pinch run following first baseman Roy Sievers' single; it was the eighth inning and the Phils led the San Francisco Giants, 10–2. Harrington advanced to second base one out later, following Don Hoak's single. But the inning ended when Clay Dalrymple grounded into a double play.[3] Harrington did not stay in the game on defense, as veteran Frank Torre took Sievers' post at first base in the ninth.

However I first recall reading about this in a book about Gene Mauch. In that book the story was Mauch used Harrington as a pinch runner and he was either thrown out stealing or was thrown out going first to third. Mauch was pissed. He never liked rookies ( he traded F. Jenkins to the Cubs for two older pitchers Larry Jackson and Bob Buhl) and promptly sent him back to the minors, never to be seen in the majors again!

Interesting Fred. From Baseball reference, it looks like Harrington was caught off third, maybe having rounded it and/or trying to score, as the play was described as a Dalrymple double play scored 1-6-5.

In the Philly papers the next day there was a nugget about how some managers, including Mauch, grade their players each game with a plus or minus on given plays. The author, not necessarily Mauch, stated that Harrington would have been docked with a minus for "reckless baserunning". Might not have been a typical gaffe though, since Cepeda was credited with "a miraculous fielding play" on what was undoubtedly the same batted ball (the only chance he had that inning).



Although Harrington was dumped to the minors a few days later, it may been due in part because the call-up Cal Emery played the same position and was leading the International League in HR and RBI with a .310 BA. Emery was also a local product, having starred at Penn State. So it looks like Harrington did himself no favors on the basepaths, but replacing him with another rookie might just have been a good baseball move at the time.

[Vintagecatcher]

George Yantz had one at bat on September 30,1912 for the Chicago Cubs, and he got a single!

Too bad he didn't have a cool nickname like "Moonlight."

Here is my 1910 Orange Border T210-3 of George Yantz.

Patrick

[doug.goodman]

I'll see Yantz's single, and raise you :

Roy Gleason had one at bat on September 28, 1963 for the Dodgers, and he got a double!

[whiteymet]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Interesting Fred. From Baseball reference, it looks like Harrington was caught off third, maybe having rounded it and/or trying to score, as the play was described as a Dalrymple double play scored 1-6-5.

In the Philly papers the next day there was a nugget about how some managers, including Mauch, grade their players each game with a plus or minus on given plays. The author, not necessarily Mauch, stated that Harrington would have been docked with a minus for "reckless baserunning". Might not have been a typical gaffe though, since Cepeda was credited with "a miraculous fielding play" on what was undoubtedly the same batted ball (the only chance he had that inning).



Although Harrington was dumped to the minors a few days later, it may been due in part because the call-up Cal Emery played the same position and was leading the International League in HR and RBI with a .310 BA. Emery was also a local product, having starred at Penn State. So it looks like Harrington did himself no favors on the basepaths, but replacing him with another rookie might just have been a good baseball move at the time.

Hi Todd:

Thanks for the research. Did a little of my own because the 1-6-5 double play you mentioned would not have included Cepeda. Found this on retrosheet:

PHILLIES 8TH: Sievers singled to left; HARRINGTON RAN FOR
SIEVERS; Demeter made an out to second; Debut game for Mickey
Harrington; Hoak singled to center [Harrington to second];
Dalrymple hit into a double play (first to shortstop to third)
[Harrington out at third, Hoak out at second]; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1
LOB. Giants 2, Phillies 10.

Thus it was a 3-6-5 double play. Since Cepeda made such a great play on the ball hit by Dalrymple he probably dove for the ball, threw to second for the force by the SS and since the ball was hit so hard the SS saw or knew Cepeda could not get back to first base for a return throw so the SS checked the runner who started on second (Harrington), who as you surmised most likely rounded the bag and was thrown out trying to get back to third.

Inglorious ML career!

[sreader3]

Gary Hargis pinch ran for Tim Foli with two outs in the 13th inning of the Pirates’ game against the Cubs on September 29, 1979. He made it to second on a single by Dave Parker. His only appearance in the majors; at least his team became World Champs!

[baseball tourist]

I love a good “cup of coffee” story and St. Louis Cardinals’ catcher, Bart Zeller has his - on May 21, 1970, against the Philadelphia Phillies, he was inserted to catch the bottom of the ninth inning. Zeller never had a plate appearance, but was credited with one put out, on Billy McCool's strikeout of Jim Hutto. Bart never appeared in a MLB game again.

Picked up Bart’s game bat, likely from 1964 (per LVS branding) when he was with the Class A, Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Northern League. Zeller likely caught a 19 year old pitcher named Steve Carlton, during his stint.