After wandering through six organizations in eleven years (he was 7-for-26 as a pinch-hitter for the NL-champion 1985 Cardinals), Harper finally found a home in 1988 platooning at catcher for the Twins. He hit .295 in 166 at-bats, his most playing time to that point at the major league level, and earned more playing time. He responded by hitting .325 in 1989 as the Twins' primary catcher.
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Harper remained the Twins' first option behind the plate through 1993, hitting for good average but little home-run power. Although sometimes criticized for his defense (especially his throwing arm) Harper's rock-solid presence behind the plate was highlighted in the Twins' World Series win in 1991. "It hasn't been since schoolboy football, when he was a quarterback who got sacked 'a lot', that Harper's been run over so often and so violently," wrote Tim Wendel of Baseball Weekly.
Harper was hindered by a calf injury after moving to the Brewers in 1994, and in late June was struck by a Ken Ryan pitch, fracturing his wrist and ending his season. He caught on briefly with the A's the next spring, but retired in May after starting the year 0-for-7. (JFC/JGR)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»December 12, 1984: St. Louis sends slugger George Hendrick and a minor leaguer to the Pirates for P John Tudor and Brian Harper. Tudor, at 12–11, was the ace of the Bucs' staff, which set a record by having the National League's best ERA, though the team finished last. The 35-year-old Hendrick will play just a half season in the Iron City before going to California.
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