Roric Harrison

Roric Edward Harrison
(Duke)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 195 lb.
• School Santa Monica College
• High School Westchester High School (Los Angeles)
• Debut April 18, 1972
• Final Game July 23, 1978
• Born September 20, 1946 in Los Angeles, CA USA
• Died September 17, 2023 in Houston, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Six of Roric Harrison's 15 career hits were home runs. He was the last pitcher to hit a home run in an American League game before the designated hitter rule: on October 3, 1972, for the Baltimore Orioles against Cleveland Indians pitcher Ray Lamb. It was 25 years before another AL pitcher hit a home run, when Bobby Witt became the first AL pitcher to homer in an interleague game, in 1997. It took even longer for an AL pitcher to hit one against another AL team: that was in 2021, when Shohei Ohtani did so in a game in which the Angels declined to use the DH.

Notable Achievements

• 1971 Pitcher of the Year International League Rochester Red Wings