EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Harrell surprised his record stood for so long

Published on September 21, 2005 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


"Tell Chris Roberson congratulations!" - Billy Harrell

Billy Harrell is a nice man. It takes about three seconds of conversation with the great Reading Indians shortstop of the 50s to figure that out. His reaction to finding out that Chris Roberson had broken the base hit record of 170 that Harrell set in 1953 was one of genuine enthusiasm. "He broke my record. Really that‘s wonderful. Tell Chris Roberson congratulations." Harrell then paused before saying "My goodness. (The record) held up for this long, what was it anyway - 52 years? I must say I am surprised it held up that long."

1953: A Record Setting Year

On the way to setting the base hit record, Harrell hit .330 with 84 RBIs and was named the Eastern League's Most Valuable Player. He also patrolled shortstop with such dexterity that Reading Indians Manager Kerby Farrell once said "Billy has such tremendous hands, he could play the infield without a glove."

The 1953 Reading Indians set an Eastern League record by winning 101 games. They lost to Binghamton in the finals after beating Schenectady in the first round.

In 2003, the 1953 Reading Indians, along with the 1983 Reading Phillies (96 wins) were the first two teams to be inducted into the Reading Baseball Hall of Fame. Harrell was in Reading for the ceremony along with several of his former teammates. He enjoyed himself as much as anybody who took part in the 50-year reunion.

From college hardwood to professional diamonds

In 1952 Harrell graduated from Siena College in Albany, NY, where he was an honorable mention All-American in basketball having averaged 12.1 rebounds in his career. Despite receiving offers to play professional basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters and Minneapolis Lakers, Harrell chose baseball. "In '52 I met this scout, who talked to me about playing baseball. He was a very close friend of my Dad's," he explained. "I went down to York, Pennsylvania and worked out and they signed me up to go to Reading to play."

Did you know . . . that Billy Harrell was born in Norristown, PA?

Harrell played just five games with the 1952 Reading Indians and was sent to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He wasn't happy about leaving the East Coast because his wife was expecting their first child. He was prepared to quit baseball and went home to New York. The Indians believed in him and didn't want to see him give up on baseball so they called him at home and talked him into coming back to play. The organization did fly him home when his son was born.

The Footsteps of Jackie Robinson

Harrell entered professional baseball at a revolutionary time. An African-American ballplayer could realistically play in the Major Leagues. A 1952 Article in Ebony Magazine featured Harrell and a number of other young players as part of a "New Crop of Negro Stars" who were projected to have a big impact in the Majors.

The acceptance of African-Americans wasn't instant and many places were slow to adapt to the progress. "I can tell you stories about things that were just unbelievable," Harrell said of some of the things he had to endure. "Since I had lived up here (in the north) my whole life, going down to spring training --Daytona Beach-was my first experience drinking at "colored" water fountains." In the spring leading up to his big season in Reading his club played a game in one particular Florida town that had an ordinance against African-Americans playing baseball. When the bus got to the park Harrell and Brooks Lawrence were given the heart-breaking news that they'd be sitting this one out. "(Reading Manager) Kerby (Farrell) came back and said, ‘Boys don't get dressed'."

The Thrill of the Major Leagues

After Harrell's superb performance at Class A Reading in 1953, he (along with Kerby Farrell) moved up to AAA Indianapolis in 1954. After two productive seasons there, he was promoted to Cleveland at the end of the 1955 season. In thirteen games he hit .421, with a .500 on base percentage.

"Getting up to the Major Leagues, to Cleveland, that was really exciting for me," Harrell recalled. "I'll always remember going into Cleveland Stadium in front of 80,000 people."

George Strickland's Hot Spring

Coming off his hot September debut with Cleveland, Harrell had high hopes for 1956. Incumbent Indians shortstop George Strickland hit just .209 in 1955 and the shortstop position seemed up for grabs. But, the veteran re-established himself by hitting .372 in spring training and Harrell was sent back to Indianapolis. Harrell was again called up to Cleveland for part of the 1957 season (where he hit .263) and for the entire 1958 season. After the 1958 season, where his batting average dropped to .218, he was waived by Cleveland and picked up by St. Louis. For his career he played in 173 Major League games over four seasons.

A prelude to life after baseball

Before the 1961 season Harrell was acquired by Boston. "Maybe the Red Sox got me for $3 or $4," Harrell laughed. "It's funny, my wife and family were living in Troy, NY and we had another baby and I said, ‘Oh good, I'm in Boston'-it was pretty close by. After appearing in 37 games for the Sox in 1961he was sent to (Boston's AAA) Seattle in 1962."

At that point Harrell was 34 years old -- decidedly older than most of his teammates on the Rainiers. "I was the team grand pop," he said of his role.

One of his teammates in Seattle was David Mann. Mann filled up box scores for the Reading Indians from 1956-1959 to earn a spot in the Reading Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.

"Besides being a fine player, (Harrell) was a teacher and instructor-when he took infield practice he was very explicit as to what he thought the right things were to work on," said Mann, now Sports Editor of The Facts Newspaper in Seattle. "If you wanted to learn something, you were smart to see the way he went about things."

"He was very well liked by everyone," Mann recalled. "Very unassuming-even though he had been to the Major Leagues. Not everyone that comes down is like that."

Life after baseball

After retiring from baseball, Harrell became a probation officer in Albany, a position he held until his retirement in 1992. He specialized in working with youngsters, much like he did as a ballplayer in Seattle. The kids in Albany were in need of help making it in a different game - the game of life. "I really liked working with the kids, going into homes, and trying to help them," Harrell said. "They would report once a week and we could go out and see them in their homes."

A lot of Harrell's work was done in an after-care program at a group home where they formed a baseball team to serve as a positive activity. "The kids then saw they could play ball so they could get straightened up and get a chance," he said. "It was all about trying to straighten out the kids."

"That was really satisfying. I really enjoyed helping them and the families. It was really great when someone I helped when they were younger would come up to me years later and thank me for what I did."

Billy Harrell's Award-Winning Legacy

During his baseball career Billy Harrell's contributions to his team not only came on the field, but with the leadership and guidance that he provided to younger teammates. After his baseball career was over, he helped young people in his career as a probation officer.

The effect he has had on teammates and on young people he worked with over the years, it is only fitting that Billy Harrell would have an award named after him. Siena College annually presents the "Billy Harrell Award" to the member of the men's basketball team who gets the most rebounds over the course of the season. "The award was designed to exemplify the dedication to the team and contribution to the Siena basketball program that were made by Billy Harrell during his career at Siena," said Jason Rich, Sports Information Director at Siena College.

Harrell and his wife Miriam still make their home in Albany. He does some work for his church, and bowls in his spare time. He has a son, three daughters, five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. "I'm lucky. My children are spread out all over-Chicago, Las Vegas, Rochester-- so I got places to go -- like a free vacation."

Check out the Reading Fightin Phils Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from September 21, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central