Books and articles about Ken Harrelson

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The big and powerful Harrelson was baseball's 1960s flower child. He wore his blond hair long and sported Nehru jackets, beads, bell bottoms, and no socks. Catcher Duke Sims dubbed him "Hawk" for his aquiline nose, and he had that emblazoned on the back of his uniform. A careless-fielding power hitter, he hit 23 homers for Kansas City in 1965. Late in 1967, Harrelson was quoted as saying, "Charlie Finley is a menace to baseball." The angered A's owner released him. Seven teams approached Harrelson; the Red Sox, in the thick of a pennant race, won him with a $73,000 bonus, and Harrelson helped them to the '67 pennant. In 1968, he hit 35 homers and led the AL with 109 RBI. Boston fans picketed Fenway Park early in 1969 when Harrelson was traded to Cleveland. He missed most of 1970 with a broken leg and played grudgingly for the Indians until 1971, when he quit to become a pro golfer, something he had threatened for years. When that failed, he became an outspoken broadcaster, and, for 1986, was the White Sox' much-criticized GM. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 24, 1963: The Royals sweep a pair at Fenway, winning 5–2 and 7–6. The A's Ken Harrelson homers over Red Sox bullpen in right CF, a rare feat for RH hitter. » September 20, 1963: The Yankees edge the Athletics, 5–4 in 13 innings. Rookie 2B Pedro Gonzalez helps the win by pulling the hidden ball trick in the 11th frame and tagging out A's OF Ken Harrelson, who had advanced to 2B after a single and a sac bunt. As noted by Bill Deane, Gonzalez plays only seven games in the field this year. » September 4, 1964: The Yankees overcome two homers by Ken Harrelson to beat the host A's, 9–7, in 10 innings. Mickey Mantle and Elston Howard hit back-to-back homers in the 4th inning for New York. With the Orioles losing today, Baltimore (81-54) and Chicago (82-55) are virtually tied for first, with New York (77-56) three games back. » August 3, 1967: Reports of rowdyism on an Athletics flight reach owner Charlie Finley and will result in the release of outfielder Ken Harrelson and firing of manager Alvin Dark. » August 21, 1967: Charlie Finley releases Ken Harrelson, making him baseball's first free agent. Harrelson is quoted as calling Finley a menace to baseball. » August 28, 1967: Boston signs free-agent OF Ken Harrelson. Harrelson reportedly receives a $75,000 bonus and salary package for 1967 and 1968. Harrelson will homer in his first Boston at bat but will hit just .200 for the Red Sox. » August 4, 1968: The Red Sox top the Angels, 5–1, on the strength of Ken Harrelson's grand slam. » April 19, 1969: Boston trades last year's 1B Ken Harrelson and pitchers Dick Ellsworth and Juan Pizarro to Cleveland for pitchers Sonny Siebert and Vincente Romo and C Joe Azcue. » March 19, 1970: In Arizona, the Indians lose slugger Ken Harrelson when he breaks his right ankle sliding into 2B. He will be sidelined until September. » June 21, 1971: Indians slugger Ken Harrelson announces his retirement from baseball to join the pro golf tour.