Harry Danning facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harry Danning |
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Danning, circa 1947
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| Catcher | |||
| Born: September 6, 1911 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Died: November 29, 2004 (aged 93) Valparaiso, Indiana, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 30, 1933, for the New York Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 25, 1942, for the New York Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .285 | ||
| Home runs | 57 | ||
| Runs batted in | 397 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Harry Danning (born September 6, 1911, died November 29, 2004) was a famous American baseball player. People called him "Harry the Horse." He played his whole career as a catcher for the New York Giants. Harry was known as a great hitter and one of the best defensive catchers of his time. He batted and threw with his right hand. He was so good, he was chosen for the National League All-Star team four years in a row, from 1938 to 1941.
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Early Life and Family
Harry Danning was born in Los Angeles, California. His parents were Jewish immigrants. His father, Robert Danning, came from Poland and owned a furniture store. His mother, Jennie Danning, came from Latvia.
Harry was one of six children. His father loved baseball and took his sons to many games. They watched both the Pacific Coast League and the Negro League. This love for baseball inspired Harry and his older brother, Ike Danning. Ike also played professional baseball for the St. Louis Browns in 1928.
Harry went to Los Angeles High School. When he was 13, his father became sick, so Harry started working. He delivered ice and later worked for a rug salesman. This job paid well, helping Harry support his family after his father passed away. He also played semi-pro baseball on Sundays to earn extra money.
Starting His Baseball Journey
In 1931, Harry Danning signed his first professional baseball contract. He joined a team in Bridgeport, Connecticut, which was owned by the Giants. He earned $150 a month.
When the Bridgeport team closed in 1932, Harry moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He played in the Piedmont League there. In the minor leagues, Harry was a very good hitter. His batting average was always above .300 each season.
Playing for the New York Giants
Harry Danning first played for the New York Giants in 1933. From 1934 to 1936, he was a backup catcher. He played behind another catcher named Gus Mancuso.
In 1934, during spring training, something unfair happened. Harry and another Jewish player, Phil Weintraub, were not allowed into a hotel in Miami Beach. The hotel had a rule against Jewish guests. But the Giants' manager, Bill Terry, stood up for them. He said he would take the whole team to another hotel if Harry and Phil couldn't stay. Because of this, the hotel let them in.
In 1937, Harry started sharing catching duties more often. He played in 93 games that season. In 1938, he became the Giants' main starting catcher.
All-Star Years and Achievements
Harry Danning was chosen for the National League All-Star team four years in a row. These years were from 1938 to 1941. He was also part of the Giants team that won the 1933 World Series. They beat the Washington Senators that year. He also played in the World Series in 1936 and 1937, but the Giants lost to the New York Yankees both times.
During the 1937 World Series, a famous announcer named Ted Husing gave Harry his nickname, "Harry The Horse." This nickname came from a character in a popular story.
From 1938 to 1940, Harry was an amazing hitter. His batting average was .306 in 1938, .313 in 1939, and .300 in 1940. He hit a career-high 16 home runs in 1939. In 1940, he had his best year for RBIs (runs batted in) with 91. He was also a great defensive catcher. In 1939, he led all National League catchers with a .991 fielding average.
On June 9, 1939, Harry was part of a special moment. Five Giants players hit a home run in the same inning against the Cincinnati Reds. This broke a record! Then, on June 15, 1940, Harry achieved something rare. He hit for the cycle in a game against Pittsburgh. This means he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game. His home run was an inside-the-park home run.
Harry Danning is remembered as one of the top Jewish baseball players in history.
Career Highlights and Statistics
Harry Danning had a career batting average of .285. This is one of the highest for catchers who could be in the Hall of Fame. He hit 57 home runs and had 397 RBIs in 890 games.
As a catcher, he was excellent at defense. His career fielding percentage was .985. He led National League catchers three times in putouts. He also led twice in assists and in catching runners trying to steal bases. During his career, he threw out 47% of runners who tried to steal.
Harry played with some legendary players. These included Carl Hubbell, Mel Ott, Bill Terry, and Travis Jackson. All four of these players are in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Life After Baseball
During World War II, Harry Danning served in the United States Army. After his military service, he decided to retire from baseball.
He then started a business selling cars in Los Angeles. He also worked as a minor league coach.
Harry Danning was recognized for his achievements. In 1996, he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
He passed away in Valparaiso, Indiana, when he was 93 years old. His obituary and a photo appeared in Sports Illustrated magazine.
Images for kids
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Danning, circa 1947
See also
- List of Jewish Major League Baseball players
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
- List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise
