Harry Simpson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harry Simpson |
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Simpson in about 1953
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| Outfielder / First baseman | |||
| Born: December 3, 1925 Atlanta, Georgia |
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| Died: April 3, 1979 (aged 53) Akron, Ohio |
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| Professional debut | |||
| NgL: 1946, for the Philadelphia Stars | |||
| MLB: April 21, 1951, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 1959, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .266 | ||
| Home runs | 73 | ||
| Runs batted in | 381 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Harry Leon "Suitcase" Simpson (born December 3, 1925 – died April 3, 1979) was a talented American baseball player. He played as an outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). Harry played for several teams during his eight-year career. These teams included the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He even played in the World Series with the New York Yankees in 1957.
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Harry Simpson's Baseball Journey
Harry Simpson started his professional baseball career in the Negro National League. He played for the Philadelphia Stars from 1946 to 1948. Harry was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
He became one of the first African-American players in the American League. He joined the Cleveland Indians in 1951. A famous baseball manager, Casey Stengel, once said Harry was the best defensive right fielder in the American League. This shows how good he was at catching balls and playing defense.
Why "Suitcase" Simpson?
Many people think Harry's nickname "Suitcase" came from him being traded often. However, this is not true. The nickname actually came from his very large feet!
According to a 1951 book about the Cleveland Indians, sportswriters gave him the name. They compared his size 13 shoes to the character Suitcase Simpson from a cartoon called Toonerville Trolley. This was years before he was traded many times. His real nickname was "Goody." He got this name because he was always willing to help his neighbors in his hometown of Dalton, Georgia.
Playing Statistics and Skills
Harry Simpson played in 888 games over eight seasons. He had a batting average of .266. This means he got a hit about 26.6% of the times he tried to hit the ball.
He hit 101 doubles, 41 triples, and 73 home runs. He also had 381 Runs Batted In (RBI), which means he helped his teammates score 381 runs. Harry was also a great fielder. He had a .984 fielding percentage, which is very high. He played all three outfield positions and first base.
Later Life and Legacy
Harry Simpson passed away in Akron, Ohio in 1979. He was 53 years old. He is buried in West Hill Cemetery in Dalton, Georgia. A part of the cemetery and the road leading to it are named in his honor. This shows how much he was respected in his hometown.
Harry Simpson in Books and Movies
Harry Simpson's nickname even inspired a character in popular culture. In the Jesse Stone novels and TV movies, there's a character named Luther "Suitcase" Simpson. The main character, Jesse Stone, gives Luther this nickname. He then explains who the real Harry "Suitcase" Simpson was.
See also
- List of Negro league baseball players who played in Major League Baseball
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
