Harley Hisner.
Photo: Courtesy of BaseballHappneings.net<\/p><\/div>\n

This year’s JPA honoree did, indeed, have a short MLB career (just six innings).<\/p>\n

Harley Hisner<\/strong><\/span>‘s MLB tenure encompassed the day of September 30, 1951 – when the Red Sox called upon the 6’1″, 180-pound, 24-year-old righty to face the New York Yankees.\u00a0 \u00a0 It was also, in some way historic. He earns his spot here, as much for his love of the game, as for his place in MLB history.\u00a0 But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with a look at how Hisner got to the Yankee stadium mound.<\/p>\n

Hisner, whose nickname was “Jim,” grew up on a farm near Fort Wayne, Indiana. The youngest of four brothers, Harley was an solid athlete (basketball and baseball). In fact, the Hisner brothers seemed naturals and three of the four boys were signed to contracts by the Red Sox. (Only Harley would make it to the big club.) Harley was signed in 1945, for a $5,000 bonus, right after graduating from high school.\u00a0 He was also, however, drafted into the U.S. Army at about the same time. World War II was winding down and Hisner did not leave the states and, in fact, was able to keep his baseball skills sharp playing the game at Fort Benjamin Harrison.<\/p>\n

Hisner’s minor league career was a bit up-and-down, due in part to recurring arm\/shoulder issues.\u00a0 In 1947, the 20-year-old Hisner went 7-14, 5.21 for the Class C San Jose Red Sox and the Class A Scranton Red Sox.\u00a0 \u00a0Then, in 1948, he helped Scranton win the Eastern League title with an 11-3, 2.48 record (although Hisner missed a portion of the season with chronic bursitis).\u00a0 The following\u00a0 season, was down again – as Hisner went 6-11, 4.47 in stop at Scranton and Triple A Louisville.\u00a0 More of the same in 1950 (5-6, 4.65 at Louisville).\u00a0 In 1951, Hisner struggled early and ended up 7-13, 6.26 at Louisville.\u00a0 However,\u00a0 he came on strong at the end of the season; winning his last four starts.\u00a0 That earned him\u00a0 a late-season call up to the Red Sox – and a big-league start in the final game of the season.<\/p>\n

HARLEY HISNER’S BIG GAME<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Taking the MLB mound for\u00a0 the first (and, as it would turn out, final) time, Hisner found himself facing a daunting challenge – a first-place Yankee lineup that included five future Hall of Famers: Mickey Mantle in RF; Joe DiMaggio in CF; Phil Rizzuto at SS; Johnny Mize at 1B; and Yogi Berra behind the plate.\u00a0 In retelling the tale, however, Hisner often said he was made more nervous by the size of the partisan crowd (35,814)\u00a0 than the Yankee lineup.<\/p>\n

Hisner got off to a good start.\u00a0 The first MLB batter he faced was rookie RF Mickey Mantle, who went down on strikes. He then gave up a single to SS Phil Rizzuto, before getting LF Hank Bauer to hit into a short to second fielder’s choice.\u00a0 That brought up Yankee icon Joe DiMaggio, who hit an infield single – putting Hisner into the baseball history books.\u00a0 That single was DiMaggio’s the final regular-season hit of DiMaggio’s great career<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0<\/em> Hisner, by the way pitched out of the jam, getting 1B Johnny Mize to fly out to right.\u00a0 So, in his first MLB inning – a scoreless one at that – Hisner faced five batters; four of them future Hall of Famers. He went on to pitch a total of six frames, giving\u00a0 up three runs on seven hits and four walks (with three strikeouts). He faced Mickey Mantle four times and it went like this:\u00a0 First inning – strikeout; second inning – strikeout; fourth inning – walk; sixth inning – pitcher to short to first double play.<\/p>\n

Hisner’s final career stat was 0-1, 4.50, with six innings pitched, seven hits, three earned runs, four walks and three strikeouts.<\/p>\n