Isaiah Harris

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.

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

Early life and career

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

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

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

References
  1. "Yanks to Try Out Red Sox Negro Ace". The Commercial Appeal. September 29, 1949. p. 33. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "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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