Milwaukee’s Best, Part 1: The 50 Best To Play For Braves, Brewers: 50-41
By Phil Watson
Tommy Harper, as shown on a 1971 Topps baseball card.
47. Tommy Harper, 3B-LF
Brewers 1970-71
Tommy Harper came to Milwaukee as one of the original Brewers after joining their predecessors, the Seattle Pilots, as an expansion draft pick from the Cleveland Indians in October 1968.
Harper was the Brewers’ first All-Star, selected for the game in 1970 during a season in which he hit .296/.377/.522 and scored 104 runs with 35 doubles, 31 homers, 82 RBI and 38 stolen bases.
He was sixth in the American League MVP voting despite playing for a team that finished with a 65-97 record. But he was terrific in 1970, finishing second in the AL in stolen bases, third in total bases, fourth in doubles and WAR, fifth in runs scored and slugging, sixth in hits, seventh in home runs and OPS and 10th in on-base percentage.
Harper followed that up in 1971 with another solid season, splitting time between left field and third base and finishing fifth in the league in stolen bases and eighth in doubles.
In October 1971, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox along with right-handers Lew Krausse and Marty Pattin and outfielder Patrick Skrable in exchange for first baseman George Scott, outfielders Billy Conigliaro and Joe Lahoud, catcher Don Pavletich, right-hander Jim Lonborg and lefty Ken Brett.
Originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Cincinnati Reds in 1960 out of San Francisco State University, Harper debuted with the Reds in April 1962.
In November 1967, he was dealt to the Indians. After leaving Milwaukee for Boston, Harper was traded to the California Angels in December 1974, sold to the Oakland Athletics in August 1975, signed as a free agent by the Baltimore Orioles in April 1976 and retired after he was released by Baltimore in December 1976.
Now 74 years old, Harper remains a player development consultant with the Red Sox, for whom he had two stints as a coach, from 1980-84 and 2000-02. He also coached for the Montreal Expos from 1990-99.
Here are his stats from his two seasons with the Brewers:
| Year | Age | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 ★ | 29 | 154 | 692 | 604 | 104 | 179 | 35 | 4 | 31 | 82 | 38 | 16 | 77 | 107 | .296 | .377 | .522 | .899 | 146 |
| 1971 | 30 | 152 | 653 | 585 | 79 | 151 | 26 | 3 | 14 | 52 | 25 | 3 | 65 | 92 | .258 | .333 | .385 | .717 | 105 |
| TOTALS | 306 | 1345 | 1189 | 183 | 330 | 61 | 7 | 45 | 134 | 63 | 19 | 142 | 199 | .278 | .356 | .454 | .810 | 126 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/16/2015.
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