Mel Harder

Pitcher / Manager

Born: October 15, 1909
Beemer, Nebraska

Died: October 20, 2002 (aged 93)
Chardon, Ohio

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

MLB debut

April 24, 1928, for the Cleveland Indians

Last MLB appearance

September 7, 1947, for the Cleveland Indians

MLB statistics

Win–Loss record

223–186

Earned run average

3.80

Strikeouts

1,160

Teams

As player

Cleveland Indians (1928–1947)

As manager

Cleveland Indians (1961, 1962)

Career highlights and awards

Melvin Leroy Harder (October 15, 1909 – October 20, 2002), nicknamed "Chief", was an American right-handed starting pitcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball, who played his entire career with the Cleveland Indians. He spent 36 seasons overall with the Indians, as a player from 1928 to 1947 and as one of the game's most highly regarded pitching coaches from 1948 to 1963. He set franchise records for wins (223), games started (433) and innings pitched (3426-1/3) which were later broken by Bob Feller, and still holds the club record of 582 career games pitched; he was among the American League's career leaders in wins (9th), games (8th) and starts (10th) when he retired. He was also an excellent fielder, leading the AL in putouts four times, then a record.

Harder was born in Beemer, Nebraska, and graduated from Tech High School in North Omaha, Nebraska. He broke in with the Indians as a relief pitcher in 1928. His pitching style revolved around his fine curveball, a hard fastball and excellent control. He joined the starting rotation in 1930, and posted a record of 39–37 from 1930 to 1932; on July 31, 1932, he pitched the first game ever at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. In 1933 he finished second in the AL with an earned run average of 2.95, trailing teammate Monte Pearson (2.33); under modern rules (one inning pitched per games played by team), enacted in 1951, Harder would have been credited with the league lead, as Pearson only pitched 135 innings. In 1934 he finished with 20 wins, led the league with six shutouts, and was again second in ERA (2.61) to Lefty Gómez. In 1935 he was second to Wes Ferrell in wins (22) and innings (287-1/3), and was fifth in the AL with a 3.29 ERA. After developing a sore elbow and bursitis in his shoulder, he won at least fifteen games each season from 1936 to 1939; he led the AL in putouts in 1932, 1933, 1935 and 1938.

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