Player #83I: Stanley R. "Bucky" Harris Part 1. Second baseman for the Washington Senators in 1919-1928. 1,297 hits and 167 stolen bases in 12 MLB seasons. 1924 and 1947 World Series champion. In 1975, inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame. Named player-manager of the Washington Senators in 1924 at age 27. "The Boy Wonder" led Washington to World Series victory as "rookie" manger. Managed Washington Senators in 1924-1928, 1935-1942, and 1950-1954. Managed the Detroit Tigers in 1929-1933 and 1955-1956. Managed the Boston Red Sox in 1934. Managed the Philadelphia Phillies in 1943. Managed the New York Yankees in 1947-1948, including winning the 1947 world Series. Served as the General Manager of the Boston Red Sox in 1959-1960.
Smiles relates Bucky's demise as Washington's manager: The Day of the final (1928 season) game, after a meeting in Griffith's office, he (Bucky) walked down the clubhouse steps with a grim smile and said, "Well boys, I'm through."
On October 2, he was relieved of his managerial duties. He was not released. Griffith still held his rights as a player. To the extent that the criticisms (that he was too soft) of Bucky were true, he was a victim of his own success. He was one of the youngest players on the team when he took over as manager in 1924. He didn't feel it was his place to discipline them and there was little need for discipline. The veterans played hard for him in 1924 and 1925. Subsequent teams were not like that.
Post columnist Shirley Povich opined on the Harris-Griffith relationship.
"Bucky Harris was one of Griffith's greatest disappointments. Griffith will not admit it in so many words but when he talks about Bucky you get a drift of blighted hopes and sad reminisce. For Griffith had plans for Bucky. When the contract for $100,000 was handed to Bucky, Clark Griffith was ready to step down and let younger hands relieve him of the responsibility of president of the club. On Bucky Harris he had built his hopes of a successor. Bucky was no mere manager. He was an officer of the club. A new clubhouse was being built and Bucky's office was already receiving its appointments. But the Bucky Harris of 1926 was not the Harris of '24. Baseball was no longer an obsession with Bucky. He had made new friends and moved in new circles. He was no longer the first man on the field and the last to leave. Bucky was growing older, less ambitious. (We will return to Smiles' account and this Povich quote tomorrow.)
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