Cincinnati Reds: Chuck Harmon passes away at 94 years old
By David Hill
Chuck Harmon, the Cincinnati Reds first African-American player, passed away on Tuesday. He was 94 years old.
Every one of the original 16 major league franchises had their trailblazer, the first African-American player to suit up for their teams. From the days of Jackie Robinson blazing a trail that others would follow in 1947, to the Red Sox finally integrating 12 years later when Pumpsie Green took the field in 1959, each team had that player who was first.
For the Cincinnati Reds, Chuck Harmon was the first African-American to put on the uniform. Technically, he was the Reds second black player, as Nino Escalera, a dark skinned player from Puerto Rico, had made the major league roster the year prior in 1953.
Originally signed by the St. Louis Browns, Harmon spent three years in their organization before being returned to the Olean Oilers in the PONY League. He had two more seasons there, before joining the Reds organization in 1952. After two more years in the minors, Harmon was deemed ready to make his major league debut.
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He spent just over two seasons in Cincinnati before being traded to the Cardinals for Joe Frazier and Alex Grammas on May 16, 1956. Almost a year later, Harmon was traded to the Phillies for Glen Gorbous, who is remembered for throwing a baseball further than anyone else in history. He would spend four more years in the minors as part of five different organizations before retiring in 1961.
Over the course of his major league career, Harmon posted a .238/.294/.326 batting line, hitting seven homers and stealing 25 bases in his 657 plate appearances. He served as a utility option, appearing at first, third, and all three outfield positions during his major league career. Harmon found far more success in the minors, posting a .320 batting average with 228 doubles in 3911 at bats.
Following his playing career, Harmon served as a scout for the Braves and Indians on the baseball side, and then with the Indiana Pacers in basketball. While his role with the Pacers may have seemed odd given his baseball career, Harmon was a part of the University of Toledo basketball team, where they finished as the runner-up in the NIT. Harmon also played in the American Basketball League as a player-coach in 1950-51, where he may have been the first African-American coach in an integrated league.
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Chuck Harmon has a place in not only Cincinnati Reds history, but also in the history of professional basketball. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family.