Player #83F: Stanley R. "Bucky" Harris Part 3. 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.
. . . (Note that Smiles' accounting regarding the wins and losses in this description is confusing!?.): Bucky's old mentor, Hughie Jennings, was managing the Giants when the spring series between the 1924 World Series opponents began on March 9 (1925). McGraw was in Cuba. The Giants won the first two games, 8-7 and 2-1 in 12 innings. On March 15, the first appearance of the now-famous infield of Judge, Harris, Peckinpaugh, and Bluege drew cheers from the surprisingly large crowd. On March 14 Commissioner Landis appeared at the Senators' home, Plant Field, and presented the players with World Series championship medals before a game against the Boston Braves. The Senators led the game, 9-3, but lost, 12-10, prompting Frank Young, who was covering the spring games, to write, "After having been reminded before the hostilities started by Commissioner Landis that they are the champions of baseball and given medals to prove it, the Harrismen proceeded to show just how the national game should not be played." . . .
. . . Walter Johnson was a big ticket in Dixie that spring. Wherever the Senators played, the fans clamored to see him pitch. This worried Bucky, but Griffith insisted he make appearances. On April 3 he pitched five innings in New Orleans. On the 5th he pitched two in Mobile and then four the next day against the Giants in Birmingham.
The Senators and Giants gave the fans a good show with a series of tight games. The Giants led the series 5-1, but by the time the teams reached Washington where they were supposed to play two games, the Senators had won the last four to even the series at 5-5. The Giants won the first game in D.C. 11-2, the only game that hadn't been close. The second game was rained out. Forty-five minutes after the game was called the teams were on a train to New York, where they would play the last two games of their series before the regular season began. With the Giants leading 6 games to 4, Bucky was so serious about winning and evening the series, even with the season opener only two days away across town at Yankee Stadium, he brought Johnson (in) to close the first of the two games and got ejected from the second one after one pitch. Bucky and umpire Will Walker, who had been traveling with the teams, had a running feud going back to a game on March 11 in West Palm Beach. When McNeely claimed he was hit with the first pitch in the second game in New York, Walker said no and Bucky came out of the dugout to argue. Walker wouldn't argue with him, saying, "Get out and stay out. I'm tired of arguing with you."
The Senators won the game without Bucky, 11-5, before 15,000 fans to even the series at 6-6. (Bucky Harris by Jack Smiles.)
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