Willie Harris
Born: 6/22/1978 in Cairo, GA, USA
MLB Debut: 2001-09-02 | Final Game: 2012-06-24
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: William Charles Harris
Biography
Willie Harris was a versatile position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 2001 to 2012. Born in 1978, Harris made a significant impact during his tenure with several teams, including the Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, and Washington Nationals. Over the course of 1,046 games, he compiled a batting average of .238, amassing 580 hits, 39 home runs, and 212 RBIs. Notably, he showcased his speed on the basepaths, recording 107 stolen bases, which underscored his ability to contribute as both a hitter and a baserunner.
Harris was known for his adaptability, having played multiple positions throughout his career, which allowed him to fill various roles on different rosters. His playing style reflected the evolving nature of baseball in the early 2000s, where speed and versatility became increasingly valued. Although his offensive numbers may not have placed him among the game's elite, Harris's contributions were vital in supporting his teammates and providing depth to the lineups he joined. Retiring in 2012, he left behind a legacy as a dependable role player who excelled in the crucial moments of the game.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.667 | .000 | 0.667 |
Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1.000 | .000 | 1.000 |
| 1955 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1956 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1.000 | .000 | 1.000 |
| 1958 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1959 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Pitching
| Season | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1958 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.50 |
| 1959 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1046 | 2441 | 365 | 580 | 100 | 24 | 39 | 212 | 107 | 306 | 500 | 0.238 | 0.327 | 0.346 | 0.673 | -3426.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | BAL | AL | 9 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
| 2002 | CHW | AL | 49 | 163 | 14 | 38 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 0.233 | -725.5 |
| 2003 | CHW | AL | 79 | 137 | 19 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 28 | 0.204 | -863.1 |
| 2004 | CHW | AL | 129 | 409 | 68 | 107 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 27 | 19 | 51 | 79 | 0.262 | -926.1 |
| 2005 | CHW | AL | 56 | 121 | 17 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 25 | 0.256 | -249.7 |
| 2006 | BOS | AL | 47 | 45 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 0.156 | -342.5 |
| 2007 | ATL | NL | 117 | 344 | 56 | 93 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 32 | 17 | 40 | 71 | 0.270 | -138.8 |
| 2008 | WAS | NL | 140 | 367 | 58 | 92 | 14 | 4 | 13 | 43 | 13 | 50 | 66 | 0.251 | 205.4 |
| 2009 | WAS | NL | 137 | 323 | 47 | 76 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 27 | 11 | 57 | 62 | 0.235 | 242.3 |
| 2010 | WAS | NL | 132 | 224 | 25 | 41 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 32 | 5 | 33 | 60 | 0.183 | -458.1 |
| 2011 | NYN | NL | 126 | 240 | 36 | 59 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 5 | 36 | 62 | 0.246 | -170.2 |
| 2012 | CIN | NL | 25 | 44 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 0.114 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | WS | CHA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2005 | ALDS1 | CHA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 225 | 179 | 389 | 525 | 13 | 114 |
| 3B | 34 | 15 | 9 | 39 | 4 | 3 |
| OF | 567 | 362 | 916 | 16 | 12 | 4 |
| SS | 8 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 2 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | BAL | OF | 8 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | CHA | 2B | 38 | 36 | 87 | 104 | 3 | 21 |
| 2002 | CHA | OF | 6 | 4 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | CHA | 2B | 12 | 7 | 13 | 24 | 0 | 5 |
| 2003 | CHA | OF | 61 | 23 | 83 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2004 | CHA | 2B | 92 | 76 | 163 | 223 | 4 | 46 |
| 2004 | CHA | OF | 30 | 25 | 57 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | CHA | 2B | 32 | 28 | 58 | 78 | 2 | 20 |
| 2005 | CHA | SS | 5 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 | BOS | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | BOS | OF | 36 | 10 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | ATL | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | ATL | OF | 100 | 78 | 173 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 2008 | WAS | 2B | 14 | 11 | 29 | 30 | 1 | 9 |
| 2008 | WAS | 3B | 14 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | WAS | SS | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2008 | WAS | OF | 103 | 72 | 191 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 2009 | WAS | 2B | 19 | 9 | 21 | 26 | 2 | 7 |
| 2009 | WAS | 3B | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| 2009 | WAS | OF | 98 | 68 | 177 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | WAS | 3B | 6 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | WAS | OF | 80 | 42 | 98 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 | NYN | 2B | 10 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 0 | 2 |
| 2011 | NYN | 3B | 7 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | NYN | OF | 44 | 32 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | CIN | 2B | 7 | 5 | 8 | 18 | 1 | 4 |
| 2012 | CIN | 3B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 | CIN | OF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 225 |
| Third Base | 34 |
| Shortstop | 8 |
| Left Field | 308 |
| Center Field | 237 |
| Right Field | 51 |
| Designated Hitter | 15 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Player of the Week | Week of 2008-07-19 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | CIN | NL | $800,000 |
| 2011 | NYN | NL | $800,000 |
| 2010 | WAS | NL | $1,500,000 |
| 2009 | WAS | NL | $1,500,000 |
| 2008 | WAS | NL | $800,000 |
| 2005 | CHA | AL | $365,000 |
| 2004 | CHA | AL | $318,500 |
| Total Career Earnings | $6,083,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Georgia College | Cochran | GA | 1996, 1997 |
| Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw | GA | 1999 |