Harrelson was coming off an excellent 1969 campaign that saw him start off with 10 games for the Boston Red Sox before getting traded to the Cleveland Indians, finishing up with 30 home runs and 92 RBI’s along with a career-high 17 stolen bases and 89 runs scored.
This was coming off his finest Major League season in 1968 when he finished third in the AL MVP race after hitting 35 homers for the Red Sox while leading the league with 109 RBI’s.
However he would only play 17 and 52 games respectively over the 1970 and 1971 seasons because of a broken leg sustained during Spring Training in March of 1970 before retiring for good.
He finished his nine-year MLB career with 131 homers, 421 RBIs and 374 runs scored over 900 games and only 2941 at-bats.
Of course, Harrelson is truly remembered by all fans as a broadcaster, something he has done for over 40 years with a General Manager break in the mid-80’s with the Chicago White Sox.
A true baseball character, the out-spoken Harrelson has had quite the interesting career in baseball, as a player and broadcaster, leading to some funny and sometimes controversial moments.
Worth a quick read-up if you have a minute and are not familiar.