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Greg Harris

Greg Harris Marquee

b. November 2, 1955 · New York Mets 1981, Cincinnati Reds 1982–1983, Montreal Expos 1984, 1995, San Diego Padres 1984, Texas Rangers 1985–1987, Philadelphia Phillies 1988–1989, Boston Red Sox 1989–1994, New York Yankees 1994

He was ambidextrous and carried a six-fingered glove that fit either hand, and for years he asked to be allowed to use both in a game. Montreal let him in September 1995, in what turned out to be his last season, and he faced batters right-handed and left-handed in the same inning — the only pitcher of the modern era to do so.

Fifteen seasons gave him 74 wins against 90, a 3.69 earned run average, 1,467 innings, 54 saves and 703 appearances. He was a reliever, then a starter, then a reliever again: 73 games and 20 saves for Texas in 1986, 30 starts and 13 wins for Boston in 1990, 80 relief appearances for Boston in 1993.

Eight clubs used him, and a different pitcher of the same name — Greg Harris, seven years younger — was working the same leagues at the same time, which confused box scores for a decade. No Hall of Fame ballot ever listed him.

Batting, season by season

YearTeam GABR H2B3B HRRBIBB SOSBAVG
1981 NYM 172214 100 00130 .182
1982 CIN 351803 000 3190 .167
1983 CIN 1100 000 0000 .000
1984 MON/SDP 34933 100 0020 .333
1985 TEX 58000 000 0000
1986 TEX 73000 000 0000
1987 TEX 42000 000 0000
1988 PHI 66923 010 0020 .333
1989 BOS/PHI 59611 010 1020 .167
1990 BOS 34000 000 0000
1991 BOS 53000 000 0000
1992 BOS 70000 000 0000
1993 BOS 80000 000 0000
1994 BOS/NYY 38000 000 0000
1995 MON 45301 100 0010 .333
Career 70568715 320 41290 .221

Pitching, season by season

YearTeam WLG GSSVIP HERBB SOERA
1981 NYM 351614 168.265 3428544.46
1982 CIN 263410 191.196 4937674.83
1983 CIN 0010 01.02 33127.00
1984 MON/SDP 22341 354.138 1525452.48
1985 TEX 54580 11113.074 31431112.47
1986 TEX 108730 20111.1103 3542952.83
1987 TEX 5104219 0140.2157 76561064.86
1988 PHI 46661 1107.080 2852712.36
1989 BOS/PHI 44590 1103.185 3858763.31
1990 BOS 1393430 0184.1186 82771174.00
1991 BOS 11125321 2173.0157 74691273.85
1992 BOS 49702 4107.282 3060732.51
1993 BOS 67800 8112.195 47601033.77
1994 BOS/NYY 35380 250.264 4526487.99
1995 MON 23450 048.145 1416472.61
Career 749070398 541467.01329 6016521141 3.69

On this day & linked events

1955

Born November 2, 1955

Lynwood, CA, USA

1981

Major-league debut: Greg Harris

Greg Harris made a major-league debut on May 20, 1981.

1995

Final major-league game: Greg Harris

Greg Harris played a final major-league game on September 29, 1995.

Image: Indianapolis Indians, public domain