Mel Harder
No man played more seasons in a Cleveland Indian uniform than right-handed pitcher Mel Harder. He boasted a wicked curveball which stymied Joe DiMaggio to the tune of a .180 average over the course of his career. A 223-game winner, Harder never pitched in the World Series, just missing the Tribe's 1948 pennant. He began his career facing Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth, and ended 20 years later pitching to Ted Williams, Yogi Berra, and Nellie Fox.
Played For
Cleveland Indians (1928-1947)
Managed
Cleveland Indians (1961-1962)
Best Season: 1933
Harder led the American League with a 2.95 ERA in more than 250 innings. He wasn't a strikeout pitcher, but he had great control, walking just 67 batters. Despite his great season, his team failed him, and he ended with a 15-17 record. He won 20 games twice, in 1934 and 1935.
Perfect Skipper
Harder managed two games at the end of the 1962 season after Mel McGaha was fired. He won both games of a season-ending doubleheader, putting his career managerial record at 3-0.
Pitching Coach
Harder was one of the first coaches to be exclusively used as a pitching coach. He is credited with transforming Bob Lemon from a mediocre outfielder into a Hall of Fame pitcher. He coached the 1954 Cleveland staff which had four twenty-game winners. Seven different hurlers won twenty games for Harder in Cleveland. He later gained credit for working with the Mets' and Cubs' young pitching staffs in the 1960s. Herb Score, who won the 1955 Rookie of the Year under Harder's guidance, said "If Mel Harder couldn't teach you a curveball, then no one could."
The Cry-Baby Indians
One of the more bizarre episodes in Cleveland baseball history occurred in 1940. That season the Indians battled the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees for the pennant. On July 31, the Tigers and Tribe were tied atop the standings. On August 21, Cleveland was 5 1/2 games ahead of Detroit and the Yankees were in fourth place, nine games back. On September 1, Detroit had narrowed the lead to 2 1/2 games and the Yanks were 4 1/2 back. On the 7th, Detroit caught Cleveland and on the 9th they passed them as the Indians lost for the seventh time in eight games. At one point the Yankees crept within a half-game of the lead. As their lead dwindled, the Indians' clubhouse was in disarray. Manager Ossie Vitt openly challenged the courage of his team, including Mel Harder. In one contest, Harder was removed after giving up several runs early. As Vitt took the ball from his pitcher, he complained that Harder wasn't earning his money. Harder and Vitt exchanged verbal insults and the next day the veteran right-hander was in the front office complaining to team management that Vitt had lost control of the team. The Indians regrouped to win 13 of their last 20 games, even retaking first place for a few days. But a loss to Detroit on the last Friday of the season clinched the flag for the Bengals and ended the hopes for what became known as the "Cry Baby Indians." Vitt was fired and never managed again.
Most Wins, MLB (1930s)
Lefty Grove... 199
Carl Hubbell... 188
Red Ruffing... 175
Wes Ferrell... 170
Lefty Gomez... 165
Mel Harder ... 158
Born
Melvin Leroy Harder was born on October 15, 1909, in Beemer, NE.
Died
October 20, 2002, Chardon, OH
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: CLE
Major League Debut
April 24, 1928
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1928
Al Lopez
Bill Dickey
Chuck Klein
Rollie Hemsley
Pepper Martin
Mel Harder
Carl Hubbell
George Earnshaw
Clint Brown
Nicknames
Chief
Uniform Numbers
#18 (1931-1947)
Similar Players
Hooks Dauss, George Uhle
Related Players
Bob Feller, Herb Score, Bob Lemon
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1949 |
BBWAA |
4 |
2.6% |
1950 |
BBWAA |
2 |
1.2% |
1951 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.4% |
1952 |
BBWAA |
10 |
4.3% |
1953 |
BBWAA |
8 |
3.0% |
1958 |
BBWAA |
6 |
2.3% |
1960 |
BBWAA |
12 |
4.5% |
1962 |
BBWAA |
7 |
4.4% |
1964 |
BBWAA |
51 |
25.4% |
1964 |
Run Off |
14 |
6.2% |
1966 |
BBWAA |
34 |
11.3% |
1967 |
BBWAA |
52 |
17.8% |
1967 |
Run Off |
14 |
4.6% |
|
Milestones
- May 10, 1944: 200th Win...
All-Star Selections
1934 AL
1935 AL
1936 AL
1937 AL
Replaced
Midway through the 1930 season, Harder was inserted into the rotation as the Tribe's #4 starter, replacing Milt Shoffner and others.
Replaced By
Harder was a once-a-week pitcher the last three years of his career. In 1948, the year after his retirement, the Indians had two new staff members: Bob Lemon and Gene Bearden.
Best Strength as a Player
Curveball
Largest Weakness as a Player
The lack of a strikeout pitch.
Learn More about Mel Harder
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