Harry Perkowski

Harry Walter Perkowski

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2½", Weight 196 lb.
• High School Trap Hill High School
• Debut September 13, 1947
• Final Game September 18, 1955
• Born September 6, 1922 in Dante, VA USA
• Died April 20, 2016 in Beckley, WV USA

BR page

Biographical Information

19-year-old lefthander Harry Perkowski pitched his first year of pro baseball with the Natchez Giants of the class D Evangeline League as a free agent. World War II caused the league to disband on May 22, 1942 and Harry, who had a 1-1 record, was drafted and joined the Military Services, spending the next three and one half years (1942-1945) with the United States Navy.

The Cincinnati Reds drafted Harry as an amateur free agent before the 1946 season and the 23-year-old veteran came up with a league-leading 23-6 record for the Ogden Reds of the class C Pioneer League. He didn't slow up and in 1947 Harry went 17-12 for the Columbia Reds of the class A South Atlantic League plus getting his first look at big league hitters in three appearances at Crosley Field with no decisions.

Harry was voted the Texas League Pitcher of the year and started the All-Star game when he went 22-10 with a 2.98 ERA for the Tulsa Oilers in 1948. In 1949 he went 14-12 for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs of the IL with a 3.70 ERA and wound up going 1-1 with Cincinnati in five appearances.

Harry stayed in the major leagues with the Cincinnati organization until October 1, 1954. The Redlegs traded him to the Chicago Cubs for Johnny Klippstein and Jim Willis. He finished up his eight-year major league run with the Cubs in 1955, going 3-4 for a career 33-40 record with a 4.37 ERA.

The 33-year-old veteran dropped back into the minors in 1956 with the Tulsa Oilers and the Los Angeles Angels and have a split season of 8-8 with a 4.29 ERA. Perkowski, in his next four years would win 32 and lose only 14, all in the high minors, and wind up his minor league career at age 37 in 1960 with 117 wins and 63 losses with a 3.49 ERA.

After baseball Harry worked in the weight enforcement division of the West Virginia Highway Department and retired in Beckley, West Virginia.

Notable Achievements

• 1948 Pitcher of the Year Texas League Tulsa Oilers

Sources

Baseball Players of the 1950s
BR Minors page

Related Sites

A detailed biography appears here: Former Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Harry Perkowski Made It Big From Humble Coalfield Beginnings