John From Albany, in one of his great weekday posts here on Macks Mets, noted that on September 1, 1963, "Tim Harkness cracked a 2-run game-ending homer in the 16th to give the Mets a
6 - 4 win over the Braves, and that it was Harkness's 2nd homer of the game."
It was almost undoubtedly his career highlight.
Why? The 6'2", 185 lefty first baseman was a guy who sadly was born prior to the free agent era.
As a 22 year old in AA in 1960, he had 29 doubles, 28 HRs and 111 RBIs, with a .293 average.
Sadly, he was with the Dodgers then, a top notch organization where opportunities were tight. In 1961 and 1962 with the Dodgers, in sporadic opportunities, he went 20 for 70, and the Dodgers traded him to the Mets along with Larry Burright for Bob Miller.
He did not have a great rookie year with the Mets in 1963, hitting .211 with 12 doubles 3 triples, 10 HRs and 41 RBIs in 375 at bats. But all in all, for the time, not so bad. Slightly better than an emerging LF/1B named Ed Kranepool, who hit .209.
In 1964, he memorably had the Mets' first at bat, and hit, in Shea Stadium ever, and in 128 plate appearances for the Metsies, he put up a sweet split: .282/.336/.368. But Eddie the Krane was anointed as the nearly every day 1B in 1964. Two was a crowd.
So then what happened to Tim Harkness?
He was cast into utter darkness.
The young man was traded for Bobby Klaus by Cincinnati, who promptly stuck him in the minors - and he never saw the majors again and retired a few years later at age 28.
Couldn't opt for free agency...it didn't exist - so he was stuck in baseball servitude.
The Canadian is soon to be 83, and I'm sure John From Albany will note that event when it arrives.
We wish you well, Tim Harkness.
HOT CORNER:
No, not 3rd base. Hot as in hitting hot.
JEFF MCNEIL: last 7 games, 11 for 25, 5 walks, 4 HRs, 9 RBIs.
PETE ALONSO: last 7, 5 HRs, 7 RBIs, .345. Suddenly, 11 HR, 26 RBI
MICHAEL CONFORTO: last 15 games, 13 RBIs, .367
ANDRES GIMENEZ: last 7 games, .409, with an impressive oppo HR
DOM SMITH: season, 12 ABs, 17 doubles, 7 HRs, 32 RBIs, .328
Congrats to that Fab Five. Helping combat awful pitching.
More than an XBH every 10 at bats is a standard of excellence.
ReplyDeleteIn just doubles, Dom Smith has a double every 7 at bats, simply and totally amazing.
I remember about 5 years ago when I wrote about Smith being a doubles machine in the minors during one prolonged stretch. He is vastly improved since then.
Regarding Tim Harkness, while the game you note was a fine one for him, it was not his career highlight. That came on June 26, 1963, a game I attended, when Tim hit a 14th inning, two-strike, two-outs, grand slam home run to overcome a two-run deficit and lead the Mets to an 8-6 victory over the Cubs. The big hit came against a lefty as well. One of the most exciting games I ever saw...I left the Polo Grounds shouting "Tim Harkness for MVP!" Sadly, the team used the momentum from that thrilling victory to go on, I think, a 17 game losing streak!!
ReplyDeleteMike, I was at that game as well!
ReplyDeleteBut unfortunately "Harkness" seems always to stir this memory--opening day 1963 (I played hooky).
The talk of the Season 2 spring had been how the Mets had beefed up their defense with a Harkness-Burright_Moran-Neal IF ("Neal plays 3B like a joke" Casey said--which was supposed to be compliment).
1st batter for the 63 season is Lou Brock (RIP) who tops a slow roller to 3rd. Neal bare-hands it and fires the ball somewhere between Harkness and the R-CF bullpen. Brock ends up on 3rd.
"Mets beefed up their defense this year," deadpan the guy sitting in front of me. "Yeah, Charlie Neal plays 3B like a joke," adds his buddy.
Cool memories, Mike and Hobie.
ReplyDeletePitching was better then than now.