Vic Harris (utility player) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vic Harris |
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| Utility player | |||
| Born: March 27, 1950 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 21, 1972, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 5, 1980, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .217 | ||
| Home runs | 13 | ||
| Runs batted in | 121 | ||
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Victor Lanier Harris (born March 27, 1950) is an American former professional baseball player. He was known as a "utility player" because he could play many different positions on the field. Vic Harris played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1972 to 1980. He played for teams like the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, and Milwaukee Brewers.
Playing Baseball
Starting Out
Vic Harris began his professional baseball journey when he was picked by the Oakland Athletics in the 1970 baseball draft. In July 1972, he was traded to the Texas Rangers. He made his big league debut the very next day!
He became the Rangers' regular second baseman that season. Interestingly, Vic went his first 35 times at bat without getting a hit. This set a record for a position player at the start of their career.
In 1973, the Rangers moved Harris to center field. This was his best season as a regular player. He hit for a .249 batting average, had 8 home runs, and brought in 44 runs (RBI). Later that year, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs. His manager called him "the most valuable property" because he was young, fast, and could play many positions.
Moving Around
In 1974, Vic Harris started at second base for the Cubs. However, he had knee surgery partway through the season. This ended his playing time early. In 1975, he mostly played as a pinch hitter and didn't hit very well. That winter, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals.
For the next three seasons, Vic played for the Cardinals and then the San Francisco Giants. He continued to be a valuable utility player. He played all three outfield positions, plus second base, third base, and shortstop. After signing a minor league contract, he played 34 games for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1980. This was his last season in Major League Baseball.
Playing in Japan
After his time in MLB, Vic Harris went to Japan to play baseball. In 1981, he signed with the Kintetsu Buffaloes. He had a great season there! He hit for a .268 batting average, with 22 home runs and 74 RBI. These numbers were higher than any he achieved in MLB.
In 1982, his power wasn't as strong, and he hit fewer home runs. The next season, he faced injuries and his batting average dropped. After that, his career in Japan ended. He played one more season in the minor leagues in the U.S. before retiring from baseball.
A True Utility Player
Throughout his career, Vic Harris played 579 games in the major leagues. He truly was a "utility player." He played at least 27 games at six different positions! Most of his games, 212, were played at second base.
