Harvey Tomter

Harvey Tomter

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.

• Born June 15, 1934 in Trempealeau County, WI USA
• Died July 23, 2005

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Harvey Tomter pitched in the minor leagues for two years. In 1953, he was 0-4 with a 6.00 ERA for the Oshkosh Giants and 6-4, 5.11 for the Mayfield Clothiers. The next year, he had a 6-17 record and a 4.99 ERA for the Americus-Cordele Orioles and lost the most games in the Georgia-Florida League.

Personal Recollection

Harvey Tomter was a righthanded pitcher for the Class D Oshkosh Giants of the Wisconsin State League in 1953. I was his teammate on the Oshkosh team. After about one month, he was reassigned by the parent New York Giants to the Mayfield team in the Class D KITTY League, where he finished the season. I understand he also played professional baseball the following year (1954) but I don't know what team he played for. During spring training prior to the 1953 season at the New York Giants Minor League training site in Melbourne, Fla., Harvey was selected to have a bit part as an extra in a Hollywood movie being filmed there. It was a baseball movie called The Big Leaguer, and starred Edward G. Robinson, Vera Ellen, and Jeff Richards. Interestingly, this movie was featured in movie theaters in Oshkosh during our 1953 season. I believe Harvey received about $250 for his role and used this money to buy a used auto that summer. Harvey was one of the few of us young ballplayers to have a car, and we often rode with him to the ballpark. Besides, it was quite a thrill to be playing on the Oshkosh Giants while also being able to seeThe Big Leaguer in the movie theater. Our manager was Dave Garcia, who later went on to coach and manage in the major leagues.

Harvey was a good athlete, and a good hitter for a pitcher. After he left pro baseball, he returned to his hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was married and raised a family. For many years he was also the manager of the Eau Claire Cavaliers, a high quality amateur baseball team. He also competed as a first baseman in fast-pitch softball for many years, and was named to the Wisconsin Softball Hall of Fame. In addition, he competed nationally in paddleball competition for several years. Harvey died in about 2004.

Submitted by Bill O'Donnell