RELATED LINKS » 1906: Coombs and Harris Battle for 24 Innings

In 1906, the luckless Harris compiled one of the worst records ever by a ML hurler. His 2-21 record for the error-prone last-place Red Sox included 14 straight losses and eight shutouts pitched against him. He set an AL record going the route in a 24-inning loss to Philadelphia's Jack Coombs (4-1, on September 1). Boston-area native Harris suffered again in 1907, going 0-7. (EW)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 1, 1906: The AL's longest game to date takes place in Boston. Rookie Jack Coombs and 24-year-old Joe Harris go the route in a 24-inning struggle, ending with a 4-1 Athletics victory after four hours and 47 minutes. Socks Seybold and Danny Murphy triple with two outs to end the contest. Philadelphia's Coombs faces 89 batters, striking out 18 and giving up 14 hits, while the Pilgrims' Harris fans 14 and yields 16 hits. Harris drops his record to 2-21, and will start next year at 0-6 before exiting the majors for Providence, holding the distinctions of the worst winning percentage (.091 for a 3-30 record) and the fewest wins for any pitcher with 300 innings pitched. The 24 innings pitched will only be exceeded this century by the 26-inning battle on May 1, 1920 between Oeschger and Cadore.