WHY I THINK MEL HARDER SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK MEL HARDER SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Mel Harder was born to toe the mound. Already a Big League pitcher at age 18, Harder pitched for twenty seasons in the Majors, all for the Cleveland Indians, winning 223 games and making four all-star teams. After his career, he became one of the most respected pitching coaches in the game, helping many stars come into prominence. All told, he gave 42 years to pitching, 36 with the Indians. 

Melvin Le Roy Harder was born on October 15, 1909 near Beemer, Nebraska. Nearsighted as a youngster, he wore glasses and didn’t play a lot of sports. As he matured he found his way to the mound, where he discovered he had natural sink on his fastball. Never a hard thrower, Harder eventually developed a nasty curve which propelled him to the Big Leagues in 1927. He worked as a reliever in his first two seasons but found his footing as a starter in 1930, going 11-10. Harder established himself as one of the better pitchers in the game in 1932, going 15-13 with a 3.75 ERA, and won the ERA Title the next year with a 2.95 mark. Harder followed up with back to back 20 win seasons in 1934 and 1935, and made four consecutive all-star teams. Harder continued to find success until arm surgery limited him to 15 appearances in 1941. He had a strong return in 1942, posting a 3.44 ERA, and lowered it to 3.06 in 1943. Harder pitched his last full season in 1944, and stayed with the team through 1947 as a part time starter and mentor to Cleveland’s young pitchers. 

Nicknamed “Chief” for his leadership on the staff, Harder was more reliable than flashy. Never a strikeout pitcher, Harder made his living with control and inducing soft contact. He was also extremely hard to run on, with a caught stealing percentage of .592 for his career. Harder achieved fame in his best seasons, but was overshadowed by Bob Feller when he came into prominence in the late 1930’s. His lifetime record was 223-186, which is better appreciated by the fact that he never pitched for a pennant winner. While Harder’s career falls a bit short of the Hall of Fame as a player, his case is strengthened by a remarkably successful career as a pitching coach. 

Back in Harder’s day, there were no modern pitching coaches. Usually a team’s “pitching coach” would be whatever coach volunteered for the job. Harder, one of the smartest pitchers in the game and one who enjoyed his craft, started coaching midway into his playing career. In 1941, a 20 year old third baseman named Bob Lemon made his Major League debut for the Indians. Struggling with the bat, he spent almost all of 1942 in the minors. Noticing Lemon’s strong arm and natural sink, Harder converted him to the mound in 1946. Two years later, Lemon threw ten shutouts, and went on to a Hall of Fame career. Harder also helped the rest of Cleveland’s “Big Four” - Feller, Mike Garcia, and Early Wynn - as well as Sal Maglie, who all praised the help and experience Harder had to offer. In fact, Harder is credited with teaching Early Wynn the curveball and the slider, which allowed him to pitch well into his forties and eventually win 300 games. Later in his career, Harder helped future stars Sam McDowell, Tommy John, and Luis Tiant find their footing. He was fired after the 1963 season, and later went on to coach the Mets, the Cubs, the Reds, and the Royals. 

Mel Harder is my pet candidate for coaches in general. Earlier this week, I explained my desire for fair induction among men who affect the game in all facets. Good coaches, particularly pitching coaches, are extremely important to the success of a good team, perhaps more than most people realize. Mel Harder revolutionized the role of a pitching coach, helping build many Hall of Fame careers. That achievement, not to mention a very good pitching career of his own, warrants at least discussion.  

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games Pitched career: 582 season high: 44 in 1934 

Starts career: 433 season high: 35 in 1935 

Complete Games career: 181 season high: 17 in 1932, 1934, and 1935 

Shutouts career: 25 season high: 6 in 1934 led AL: 6 in 1934 

Games Finished career: 94 season high: 12 in 1928 and 1934 

Wins career: 223 season high: 22 in 1935 

Losses career: 186 season high: 17 in 1933 

Winning Percentage career: .545 season high: .667 in 1935 

Earned Run Average career: 3.80 season low: 2.61 in 1934 led AL: 2.95 in 1933 

WHIP career: 1.408 season low: 1.269 in 1933 

Innings Pitched career: 3,426 ⅓ season high: 287 ⅓ in 1935 

Strikeouts career: 1,161 season high: 102 in 1938 

Strikeouts Per Nine Innings career: 3.0 season high: 3.8 in 1938 

Walks career: 1,118 season high: 86 in 1937 

Strikeouts Per Walk career: 1.04 season high: 1.79 in 1935 

Saves career: 24 season high: 5 in 1934 

Fielding Percentage career: .958 season high: .986 in 1938 

Double Plays career: 38 season high: 5 in 1942 

Putouts career: 209 season high: 22 in 1933 led AL P: 18 in 1932 and 1935, 22 in 1933, 21 in 1938 

Assists career: 734 season high: 87 in 1933 led AL P: 65 in 1932, 87 in 1933, 81 in 1935 

Caught Stealing Percentage career: .592 season high: .944 in 1933 

Pickoffs career: 19 season high: 4 in 1932 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-allowed the fewest home runs (0.2) and walks (1.7) per nine innings in the AL in 1935 

-finished 16th in the AL MVP voting in 1934 and 1938 and 22nd in 1935 

-went 1-0 with two saves in all-star play, pitching an AL record 13 career innings without allowing an earned run 

-holds the Cleveland Indians franchise record for career mound appearances

-went 3-0 as the Indians’ interim manager in 1961 and 1962