Harry Byrd
Born: 2/3/1925 in Darlington, SC, USA
Died: 5/14/1985 in Darlington, SC, USA
MLB Debut: 1950-04-21 | Final Game: 1957-09-27
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 188 lbs
Full name: Harry Gladwin Byrd
Biography
Harry Byrd was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1950 to 1957. Born in 1925, Byrd carved out a notable career during a transformative era in baseball, marked by the integration of African American players and a shift in pitching styles. He was known for his competitive spirit on the mound and his ability to adapt to the evolving dynamics of the game.
Byrd finished his career with a record of 46-54 and an earned run average (ERA) of 4.35. Over his time in the league, he recorded 381 strikeouts and notched 9 saves, showcasing his versatility as both a starter and a reliever. His contributions helped shape the competitive landscape of the teams he played for, and he remains a respected figure among fans and historians of the game. Byrd's career is a reflection of the challenges and changes in baseball during the 1950s, a decade that laid the groundwork for future generations of players.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 54 | 187 | 108 | 33 | 8 | 9 | 827.7 | 890 | 400 | 71 | 355 | 381 | 4.35 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | PHA | AL | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.7 | 25 | 20 | 9 | 2 | 16.88 | -1229.6 |
| 1952 | PHA | AL | 15 | 15 | 37 | 28 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 228.3 | 244 | 84 | 98 | 116 | 3.31 | 1589.4 |
| 1953 | PHA | AL | 11 | 20 | 40 | 37 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 236.7 | 279 | 145 | 115 | 122 | 5.51 | -1999.3 |
| 1954 | NYY | AL | 9 | 7 | 25 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 132.3 | 131 | 44 | 43 | 52 | 2.99 | - |
| 1955 | BAL | AL | 3 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 65.3 | 64 | 33 | 28 | 25 | 4.55 | -1001.0 |
| 1955 | CHW | AL | 4 | 6 | 25 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 91.0 | 85 | 47 | 30 | 44 | 4.65 | - |
| 1956 | CHW | AL | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.3 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 10.38 | - |
| 1957 | DET | AL | 4 | 3 | 37 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 59.0 | 53 | 22 | 28 | 20 | 3.36 | -1184.7 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 187 | 262 | 16 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 60 | 0.160 | 0.188 | 0.168 | 0.356 | -1477.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | PHA | AL | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1952 | PHA | AL | 37 | 75 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 0.133 | -669.2 |
| 1953 | PHA | AL | 40 | 81 | 9 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0.222 | -535.7 |
| 1954 | NYY | AL | 25 | 46 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0.196 | -273.1 |
| 1955 | BAL | AL | 14 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0.158 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | CHW | AL | 25 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.067 | 0.0 |
| 1956 | CHW | AL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1957 | DET | AL | 37 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 187 | 43 | 46 | 126 | 9 | 8 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | PHA | P | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | PHA | P | 37 | 0 | 26 | 32 | 4 | 5 |
| 1953 | PHA | P | 40 | 0 | 6 | 35 | 2 | 1 |
| 1954 | NYA | P | 25 | 21 | 5 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 1955 | BAL | P | 14 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | CHA | P | 25 | 12 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | CHA | P | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1957 | DET | P | 37 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 187 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Rookie of the Year |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 1st | 9.0 | 24 | 9 |