Ken Harrelson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ken Harrelson |
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Harrelson at U.S. Cellular Field in 2010
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| First baseman / Right fielder | |||
| Born: September 4, 1941 Woodruff, South Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 9, 1963, for the Kansas City Athletics | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 20, 1971, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .239 | ||
| Home runs | 131 | ||
| Runs batted in | 421 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Kenneth Smith Harrelson (born September 4, 1941) is a famous American baseball player and announcer. People often called him "the Hawk" because of his unique look. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1963 to 1971 as a first baseman and outfielder. After his playing days, he became a well-known broadcast announcer for the Chicago White Sox for 33 years. In 2019, Harrelson received the Ford C. Frick Award. This award is given each year to a broadcaster who has made big contributions to baseball.
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Early Life and Sports
Harrelson was born in Woodruff, South Carolina. His family moved to Savannah, Georgia, when he was in fifth grade. As a kid, Ken loved basketball and hoped to play for the University of Kentucky.
He was a talented athlete and played many sports at Benedictine Military School in Savannah. These sports included golf, baseball, football, and basketball.
Playing Baseball
Ken Harrelson played baseball for nine seasons. He batted and threw with his right hand. He played for four different teams:
- The Kansas City Athletics (1963–66, 1967)
- The Washington Senators (1966–67)
- The Boston Red Sox (1967–69)
- The Cleveland Indians (1969–71)
In his career, Harrelson had a batting average of .239. He hit 131 home runs and had 421 RBI in 900 games.
Joining the Red Sox
In 1967, Harrelson had a disagreement with the owner of the Kansas City Athletics. He then signed a big deal with the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox were trying to win their first championship since 1946.
Harrelson joined the team when another player, Tony Conigliaro, was injured. Ken helped the Red Sox win the American League championship that year. However, they lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals.
His Best Season
The next year, in 1968, was Harrelson's best season. He was chosen for the American League All-Star team. He hit a career-high 35 home runs. He also led all of Major League Baseball with 109 runs batted in. He finished third in the voting for the American League Most Valuable Player award.
Retirement and Return
Harrelson briefly announced his retirement in 1969 after being traded to the Cleveland Indians. He felt his other business interests made it hard to move. But after talking with baseball officials, he decided to play again a few days later. He hit a triple in his first game with the Indians. That year, he finished with 30 home runs.
In 1970, Harrelson broke his leg during spring training. This injury kept him out for most of the season. In 1971, he retired from baseball for good to try a career in professional golf.
Batting Gloves
Ken Harrelson is often given credit for being the first player to wear a batting glove during a real baseball game. While some players might have used similar gloves earlier, Harrelson helped make batting gloves popular in the 1960s. Before this, players mostly used them only during batting practice.
Becoming a Broadcaster
After his playing career, Harrelson started working in television. He began broadcasting for the Boston Red Sox in 1975. He became very popular with fans.
In 1982, Harrelson moved to become an announcer for the Chicago White Sox. He worked there until 1985.
Working for the White Sox Front Office
For a short time, Harrelson took on a different role with the White Sox. In 1985, he became an executive for the team. During this time, he made some big changes, including trading a future All-Star player, Bobby Bonilla. He resigned from this role in 1986.
Back to the Broadcast Booth
Harrelson returned to broadcasting. He worked for the New York Yankees in 1987 and 1988. He also worked for NBC on their Game of the Week broadcasts.
In 1990, Harrelson came back to the White Sox as their main television announcer. He worked with different partners over the years. During this time, he won five Emmy Awards and two Illinois Sportscaster of the Year awards.
In 2017, Harrelson announced that the 2018 season would be his last as a broadcaster. He officially retired on September 24, 2018.
On December 11, 2019, Ken Harrelson received the Ford C. Frick Award. This award is given by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum to honor excellence in baseball broadcasting.
Personal Life
Ken Harrelson is also a talented golfer. After he retired from baseball, he even competed in the 1972 British Open, which is a major golf tournament.
Harrelson is married to Aris Harritos. They have two children, Krista and Casey. His son Casey played baseball in the White Sox minor league system for a short time. The family lives in Orlando, Florida.
Namesakes
- Hawk Drive, Tucson, Arizona
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
