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{{Short description|American baseball player (1924–2019)}}

[[Image:Chuck Harmon.jpg|thumb|275px|right|''[[Topps]]'' baseball card - 1955 Series, #082]]

{{use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Chuck Harmon

|position=[[Third baseman]] / [[Outfielder]]

|image=Chuck Harmon (080422-B-6997B-004) (cropped).jpg

|caption=Harmon at [[Great American Ballpark]] in 2008

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|1924|4|23}}

|birth_place=[[Washington, Indiana]], U.S.

|death_date={{Death date and age|2019|3|19|1924|4|23}}

|death_place=[[Golf Manor, Ohio]], U.S.

|debutleague = NgL

|debutdate=

|debutyear=1947

|debutteam=Indianapolis Clowns

|debut2league = MLB

|debut2date=April 17

|debut2year=1954

|debut2team=Cincinnati Redlegs

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 15

|finalyear=1957

|finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]

|stat1value=.238

|stat2label=[[Home runs]]

|stat2value=7

|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]

|stat3value=59

|teams=

* [[Indianapolis Clowns]] (1947)

* [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati Redlegs]] ({{mlby|1954}}–{{mlby|1956}})

* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|1956}}–{{mlby|1957}})

* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|1957}})

| module = {{Infobox military person

| embed = yes

| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}

| branch = {{navy|United States}}

| serviceyears = 1943–1945

| rank =

| unit =

| battles = [[World War II]]

| awards = }}

}}

'''Charles Byron Harmon''' (April 23, 1924 – March 19, 2019) was an [[Americans|American]] professional [[baseball]] [[utility player]] in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB), who played for the [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati Redlegs]] (1954–1956), [[St. Louis Cardinals]] (1956–1957), and [[Philadelphia Phillies]] (1957). He batted and threw [[right-handed]].

==Early life==

'''Charles Byron (Chuck) Harmon''' (born [[April 23]] [[1924]] in [[Washington, Indiana]]) is a former [[utility player]] in [[Major League Baseball]] who played for the [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati Redlegs]] (1954-1956[''start'']), [[St. Louis Cardinals]] (1956[''end'']-1957[''start'']) and [[Philadelphia Phillies]] (1957[''end'']). He batted and threw right handed.

The tenth of twelve children,<ref name="mlb.com">{{cite web| url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120412&content_id=28513304&vkey=news_cin&c_id=cin| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130419192358/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120412&content_id=28513304&vkey=news_cin&c_id=cin| archive-date = 2013-04-19| title = Humble Chuck Harmon key figure in Cincinnati Reds history {{!}} reds.com: News}}</ref> Chuck Harmon was schooled as an athlete at Dunbar Elementary by legendary [[Franklin Wonder Five]] basketball player [[Burl Friddle]], Harmon played for the [[Washington High School (Washington, Indiana)|Washington High School]] Hatchets, who won two consecutive Indiana state basketball championships in 1941 and 1942. His brother Bill also played for the 1941 team.

Harmon served in the [[United States Navy|Navy]] during World War II spending all 3 years stateside at the [[Great Lakes Naval Training Station]], playing baseball.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baseball in Wartime – Those Who Served A to Z |url=http://baseballinwartime.com/those_who_served/those_who_served_atoz.htm |website=BaseballinWartime.com |accessdate=March 21, 2019}}</ref><ref name="sabr">{{Sabrbio|73f336f9|Chuck Harmon|J.P. Garrett|March 21, 2019}}</ref>

Harmon was a [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|College All-American]] in [[basketball]] at the [[University of Toledo]]. On [[April 17 in baseball|April 17]], [[1954 in baseball|1954]], he became the the first [[Black American]] to play with Cincinnati. In the same game he followed another Cincinnati black [[rookie]], [[Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican]] born [[Nino Escalera]]. Harmon hit over .300 during five consecutive [[minor league baseball|minor league]] seasons but never approached such numbers in the majors. He also played for the Cardinals and Phillies, and in Puerto Rico winter baseball for four years.

==College career==

In a four-season major league career, Harmon was a .238 hitter with seven [[home run]]s and 59 [[run batted in|RBI]] in 289 [[games played]].

Harmon and longtime teammate and friend [[Art Grove]] then reunited with Friddle to play for the [[University of Toledo]], where they helped an all-freshman squad (that included [[Gary, Indiana]]'s [[Dave Minor|Davage Minor]]) advance to the championship game of the [[National Invitation Tournament]] (NIT), losing to [[St. John's University (New York City)|St. John's]]. Grove and Minor went on to play professional basketball. After a three-year stint in the [[U.S. Navy]],<ref name="mlb.com"/> Harmon returned to the University of Toledo, where he served as the Rockets' co-captain in both the 1947–48 and 1948–49 seasons.<ref name="xosn.com">{{Cite web |url=https://admin.xosn.com/fls/18000/mediaguide/m-baskbl/2013/2013History.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=18000 |title=Archived copy |access-date=April 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330181748/https://admin.xosn.com/fls/18000/mediaguide/m-baskbl/2013/2013History.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=18000 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Harmon was also a baseball star for the Rockets.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://admin.xosn.com/fls/18000/2014baseballmediaguide/history%26records.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191255/https://admin.xosn.com/fls/18000/2014baseballmediaguide/history%26records.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/opinion/2004/02/25/Trailblazer-Rockets-Harmon-made-history/stories/200402250042|title=Trailblazer Rockets Harmon made history|website=Toledo Blade|accessdate=March 21, 2019}}</ref> During the summer of 1947, Harmon briefly played professional baseball with the [[Negro league]] [[Indianapolis Clowns]], using the alias "Charlie Fine" to preserve his collegiate eligibility.<ref name="sabr" /><ref>{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.nlbemuseum.com/history/players/harmon.html |title=Chuck Harmon |publisher=nlbemuseum.com |date= |accessdate=August 4, 2020}}</ref>

==Professional basketball==

Following his playing career, Harmon worked as a [[scout (sport)|scout]] with the [[Cleveland Indians]] and [[Atlanta Braves]] in baseball, and the [[Indiana Pacers]] in basketball. Later he worked as an administrative assistant for the [[Hamilton County, Ohio|Hamilton County Court System]] in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]]. He remains active in ''SWAP'' (Seniors With A Purpose) and other youth related services.

For its 1950–51 season, the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) was integrated. Harmon tried out for the [[Boston Celtics]] but was cut along with [[Isaac Walthour|Isaac "Rabbit" Walthour]], another black star, although [[Chuck Cooper (basketball)|Chuck Cooper]] did make the Celtics squad. Harmon finished that season as player-coach of Utica in the [[American Basketball League (1925–1955)|American Basketball League]], becoming one of, if not the first, African-American to coach an integrated professional basketball team.

==Professional baseball==

Harmon was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in [[1995 in baseball|1995]].

On April 17, 1954, he became the first [[African American]] to play for the [[Cincinnati Reds]]' franchise, known during the mid-1950s as the '''''Redlegs'''''. Pinch-hitting for pitcher [[Corky Valentine]] against [[Lew Burdette]], Harmon flied out in the seventh inning of a 5–1 loss to the [[Milwaukee Braves]] at [[County Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MLN/MLN195404170.shtml|title=Cincinnati Redlegs at Milwaukee Braves Box Score, April 17, 1954|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=March 21, 2019}}</ref> In that game he came to bat after another [[rookie]], [[Nino Escalera]], an [[Afro-Latin American]] from [[Puerto Rico]] who pinch hit immediately before Harmon to become the first black player to appear for the Cincinnati franchise.

Harmon got his first hit on April 25, 1954. Starting and leading off for the Reds at home in [[Crosley Field]] in a 3–2 win over the [[Chicago Cubs]], Harmon singled in the first inning off [[Howie Pollet]]. He later doubled and scored on an error, and drew one walk.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN195404252.shtml|title=Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Redlegs Box Score, April 25, 1954|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=March 21, 2019}}</ref> His final game was the site of his first, [[Milwaukee]]'s County Stadium on September 15, 1957 where, appearing as a pinch runner for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], he scored his final run on a double play.<ref name="baseball-reference.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MLN/MLN195709150.shtml|title=Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Braves Box Score, September 15, 1957|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=March 21, 2019}}</ref>

On April 20, 2004 (the 50th anniversary of Harmon's debut as the Reds' first African-American player), the [[Cincinnati Reds]] honored him during Chuck Harmon Recognition Night at [[Great American Ball Park]]. The pregame ceremonies included the unveiling of a special historic plaque, which now hangs near the entrance of the ballpark.

Harmon hit over .300 during five consecutive [[minor league baseball|minor league]] seasons but never approached such numbers in the majors. He also played for the Cardinals and Phillies.

===See also===

In between, Harmon played winter ball in [[Puerto Rico]] with the [[Leones de Ponce (baseball)|Leones de Ponce]] and [[Criollos de Caguas (baseball)|Criollos de Caguas]] clubs in the 1953–54

and 1955–56 seasons,<ref>[https://irp.cdn-website.com/33d0c3d0/files/uploaded/Negro%20Leaguers%20in%20Puerto%20Rico.pdf Negro Leaguers in Puerto Rico]. ''Center for Negro League Baseball Research''. Retrieved on March 21, 2019.</ref> respectively, while appearing with the Puerto Rican champion Caguas in the [[1956 Caribbean Series]].<ref>

Antero Núñez, José. Series del Caribe. Jefferson, Caracas, Venezuela: Impresos Urbina, C.A., 1987.</ref>

In a four-season major league career, Harmon was a .238 hitter with seven [[home run]]s and 59 [[run batted in|RBI]] in 289 [[games played]]. After his [[Major League Baseball|Major League]] career ended, he played four seasons in the minors, from 1958 to 1961 in [[Triple-A (baseball)|AAA]] leagues for five teams.<ref name="baseball-reference.com"/>

Following his playing career, Harmon worked as a [[scout (sport)|scout]] with the [[Cleveland Indians]] and [[Atlanta Braves]] in baseball, and the [[Indiana Pacers]] in basketball. Later he worked as an administrative assistant for the [[Hamilton County, Ohio|Hamilton County Court System]] in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]]. He remained active in ''SWAP'' (Seniors With A Purpose) and other youth-related services.

==Personal life==

In 1977, Harmon was inducted as part of the inaugural class of the University of Toledo Athletic Hall of Fame.<ref name="xosn.com"/> He was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in {{Baseball year|1995}}.

In 1997, [[Golf Manor, Ohio]] (a suburb of Cincinnati) renamed one of its streets "Chuck Harmon Way" after its longtime resident.<ref>[http://chuckharmon.org/CH_Article8.pdf Harmon Honored] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725170224/http://chuckharmon.org/CH_Article8.pdf |date=July 25, 2011 }}, ''[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]'', August 10, 1997</ref> In addition, in cooperation with the Cincinnati Reds, a renovated ball field was named in his honor in the multi-use municipal Volunteer Park.

On April 20, 2004 (the 50th anniversary of Harmon's debut as the Cincinnati Reds' first African-American player), the Reds honored him during Chuck Harmon Recognition Night at [[Great American Ball Park]]. The pregame ceremonies included the unveiling of a special historic plaque, which now hangs near the entrance of the ballpark.

Harmon was married for 62 years to his wife, Daurel "Pearl" Harmon,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/over-generations-breaking-baseball-barriers/2011/06/04/AGK8s6IH_story.html |title=Over generations, breaking baseball barriers |date=2011-06-05 |author1=Spencer S. Hsu |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}</ref> who died in November 2009, two days before her 83rd birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tributes.com/show/Daurel-Harmon-87314987|title=Daurel Harmon Obituary - Cincinnati, Ohio - Tributes.com|website=www.tributes.com|accessdate=March 21, 2019}}</ref> They had three children.<ref name="mlb.com"/>

Harmon died March 19, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wcpo.com/sports/baseball/reds/chuck-harmon-first-african-american-reds-player-dead-at-94|title=Chuck Harmon, first African-American Red, hailed in death|date=March 20, 2019|website=WCPO|accessdate=March 21, 2019}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[List of Negro league baseball players who played in Major League Baseball]]

*[[List of first black Major League Baseball players by team and date]]

===Sources=References==

{{Reflist}}

*[http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/H/Harmon_Chuck.stm Baseball Library]

*[http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/harmoch01.shtml Baseball Reference]

==External links==

*[http://library.cincymuseum.org/aag/bio/harmon.html Cincinnati Historical Society Library]

{{baseballstats |mlb=115484 |espn=22574 |br=h/harmoch01 |fangraphs=1005372 |brm=harmon001cha |retro=H/Pharmc101}}

*[http://www.indbaseballhalloffame.org/inductees.html Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame]

*[http://library.cincymuseum.org/aag/bio/harmon.html Cincinnati Historical Society Library]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:Cincinnati Redlegs players|Harmon, Chuck]]}}

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