Chuck Harrison (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Charles William Harrison (born April 25, 1941) is a retired American
professional baseball
player. He was a first baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played between through for the Houston Astros
(1965–1967) and Kansas City Royals
(1969, 1971). Listed at 5 inch, 190 lb (86.2 kg), Harrison batted and threw right-handed. He was signed by the Houston Colt .45s
(the Astros' original nickname) in 1963 out of the Texas Tech University
.
A native of Abilene, Texas
, Harrison was 24 years old when he entered the majors with the Astros in . He was a good athlete with an excellent glove work, who unfortunately lacked the prototypical power for a first baseman. His most productive season came in 1966, when he posted career numbers in games
(119), batting average
(.256), runs
(52), RBI
(52), hits
(111) and extrabases (34), including three four-hit games. But in 1967 Harrison became expendable with the emergence of Doug Rader
at first base. At the end of the season, he was sent by Houston along Sonny Jackson to the Atlanta Braves
in the same transaction that brought Denny Lemaster
and Denis Menke
to the Astros. A year later, he was purchased by the Royals from Atlanta.
In a five-season career, Harrison was a .238 hitter (241-for-1012) with 17 home run
s and 126 RBI in 328 games, including 94 runs, 43 doubles
, six triples
, and three stolen base
s. At first base, he committed just 22 errors in 2464 chances for a .991 fielding percentage
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He was a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played between through for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(1965–1967) and Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
(1969, 1971). Listed at 5 inch, 190 lb (86.2 kg), Harrison batted and threw right-handed. He was signed by the Houston Colt .45s
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(the Astros' original nickname) in 1963 out of the Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
.
A native of Abilene, Texas
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, Harrison was 24 years old when he entered the majors with the Astros in . He was a good athlete with an excellent glove work, who unfortunately lacked the prototypical power for a first baseman. His most productive season came in 1966, when he posted career numbers in games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
(119), batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.256), runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(52), RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(52), hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(111) and extrabases (34), including three four-hit games. But in 1967 Harrison became expendable with the emergence of Doug Rader
Doug Rader
Douglas Lee Rader , nicknamed "The Red Rooster", is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who was known primarily for his defensive ability, winning five straight Gold Glove Awards from 1970 to 1974....
at first base. At the end of the season, he was sent by Houston along Sonny Jackson to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the same transaction that brought Denny Lemaster
Denny Lemaster
Denver Clayton Lemaster Denver Clayton Lemaster Denver Clayton Lemaster (born (February 25, 1939 in Corona, California) was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 to 1972 for the Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, and Montreal Expos. During his decade-long career, LeMaster won 90...
and Denis Menke
Denis Menke
Denis John Menke is a former professional baseball infielder. He played all or part of thirteen seasons in Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1974. He played for the Milwaukee Braves , Atlanta Braves , Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds , all of the National League...
to the Astros. A year later, he was purchased by the Royals from Atlanta.
In a five-season career, Harrison was a .238 hitter (241-for-1012) with 17 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 126 RBI in 328 games, including 94 runs, 43 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, six triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and three stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s. At first base, he committed just 22 errors in 2464 chances for a .991 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.