Garry Harris

Garry L. Harris

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 165 lb.

• High School Herbert Hoover High School

• Born August 13, 1962 in San Diego, CA USA
• Died August 27, 2022 in San Diego, CA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Garry Harris was one of only four second-overall picks in the MLB amateur draft in the 20th Century who never made the majors. Two of the others (Mark Merchant and Augie Schmidt) made AAA; Harris tied Mike Lentz at only reaching AA.

Garry was picked by Toronto Blue Jays Hall of Fame GM Pat Gillick #2 in the 1980 amateur draft, following fellow Californian high schooler Darryl Strawberry. Shortstops taken in the first round after Harris included Kelly Gruber, Darnell Coles and Rich Renteria. Harris hit .272/.341/.392 as a rookie for the 1980 Medicine Hat Blue Jays. He stole 14 bases in 16 tries and led the Pioneer League with eight triples but fielded a pathetic .825 at short, with 54 errors. The next-worst Pioneer League shortstop had half as many miscues, 27.

Harris batted .253/.324/.392 for the 1981 Florence Blue Jays and stole 22 bases in 26 attempts. He also hit 15 homers and scored 73 runs. Moving to second base, he cut his error total to 30. His .960 fielding percentage led South Atlantic League second sackers and he was named the circuit's All-Star second baseman.

Garry played for the Kinston Blue Jays in 1982, putting up a .235/.279/.343 line and going 24-for-26 in steal attempts. He ended his career with the 1983 Knoxville Blue Jays, fielding .963 at second and hitting .224/.266/.348 with just 5 steals in 10 tries.

Sources include 1981-1984 Baseball Guides