Harry Simpson – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Harry “Suitcase” Simpson wrapped up his Major League Baseball career on September 27, 1959. He played eight seasons and bounced around five different teams. The outfielder and first baseman from Atlanta, Georgia, got his nickname thanks to his size 13 shoes and, honestly, his tendency to get traded a lot.

Simpson’s journey from the segregated South to the majors stands out as one of baseball’s early integration stories. He became one of the first Black players to break the color barrier in the American League. His path took him through the Negro Leagues, playing for the Philadelphia Stars, before Cleveland Indians scouts signed him in 1949.

He played for the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Simpson’s story really shows the challenges early Black players faced in pro baseball, from his humble Georgia roots and military service to his best years in Kansas City.

After baseball, Simpson moved to Akron, Ohio. He worked as a machinist until he passed away in 1979.

Early Life and Background

Harry Leon Simpson was born on December 3, 1925, in Atlanta, Georgia. The segregated South at that time made life tough for African American families.

His early years revolved around family support, military service during World War II, and a growing love for baseball. That love would eventually lead him to break color barriers in pro sports.

Childhood and Family in Atlanta

Harry grew up as the fourth child of Frank and Maggie Simpson in Atlanta’s Dalton neighborhood. The 1930 Census lists three brothers and two sisters in the family, and they seemed pretty tight-knit.

The family moved to Dalton, Georgia, a city known for carpet manufacturing up north. As a kid there, Harry picked up the nickname “Goody” because he was always willing to help out and had a kind heart.

Living in the segregated South during the 1920s and 1930s, Harry dealt with racial discrimination early on. Still, his family gave him a stable base, which really helped later in his baseball career.

The Simpsons’ experience echoed that of many Black families in those years, pushing through Jim Crow difficulties but holding onto strong family ties.

Military Service During World War II

In September 1941, with war raging in Europe, Harry enlisted in the U.S. Army at just 16. He went to Fort Benning, Georgia, for basic training.

He served until 1945, spending four years in the military. That experience exposed him to new people and places outside Georgia.

Military life interrupted what could’ve been his early baseball years. But the discipline and maturity he picked up probably helped him as a pro athlete.

After his discharge in 1945, Simpson married Johnnie Cooper on August 15, 1946. She would later push him to chase his baseball dreams.

Early Baseball Influences

Simpson got his start in organized baseball through the Negro Leagues in 1946. Goose Curry, who managed the Philadelphia Stars of the Negro National League, signed him to his first pro contract.

He started out as a right-handed pitcher but switched to the outfield with the Stars. In his first season, he hit .333 over 52 games, which was pretty impressive for a rookie.

His 1947 season wasn’t as great, and his average dipped to .244. The tough travel, bad facilities, and general grind of Negro League baseball left him feeling pretty discouraged.

At that point, Simpson actually left baseball for a sales job. His wife Johnnie convinced him to come back, insisting his future belonged on the field, not behind a desk.

Negro League Career

Simpson began his pro baseball life in the Negro leagues in 1946. That’s where he sharpened his skills and picked up his famous nickname. His time with the Philadelphia Stars kicked off a career that would eventually help bridge segregated and integrated baseball.

Philadelphia Stars Tenure

Goose Curry, managing the Philadelphia Stars, signed Simpson in 1946. Simpson started out pitching but quickly moved to the outfield. That first year, he hit .333 in 52 games, which turned some heads.

The next season, things got rough. His average dropped to .244 in 1947, and he started doubting his baseball future. It got so tough that he left the Stars for a while.

During that tough stretch, Simpson took a sales job. Johnnie, his wife, wouldn’t let him quit on his dreams. She urged him to return to baseball, convinced he was meant for more.

Negro League Challenges and Experiences

Life in the Negro leagues was no picnic. The travel schedule was brutal, with games in different cities night after night. Simpson remembered, “Sometimes you’d play in five cities in five nights and never see a bed.”

The physical grind was real. Teams sometimes played three games in the same day. Medical help? Pretty much just liniment and hope. “We never had a trainer,” Simpson said. “You carried some liniment and rubbed it on when you hurt.”

Even with all that, Simpson saw incredible talent in the Negro leagues. He faced legends like Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige. He called Gibson “the greatest hitter I ever saw” and said Paige’s control was even more impressive than his speed.

Money was tight. Players earned about $2,000 per month in the summer, but many, including Simpson, played in the Mexican League off-season for as little as $50 per month.

Transition to Integrated Baseball

Simpson’s shot at the majors started when NBA coach Eddie Gottlieb noticed his skills and started promoting him. Gottlieb liked him so much, he called Simpson “the tan Ted Williams” and made some pretty bold comparisons to the Red Sox star.

Breaking in wasn’t easy. Eight major league scouts gave him tryouts but all turned him down. Gottlieb didn’t give up. He paid out of his own pocket to send Simpson to Arizona to try out with the Cleveland Indians.

Simpson crushed it in a split-squad game, going 4-for-4 with two home runs. That performance grabbed GM Hank Greenberg’s attention. Greenberg signed him, making Simpson one of the early Black players to integrate the American League.

The Cleveland Indians, owned by Bill Veeck, had already signed Larry Doby, the first Black player in the AL. That made them more open to bringing in Black talent from the Negro leagues.

Major League Debut and Early Years

Harry Simpson started his big league journey in 1949 with the Cleveland Indians organization. He worked his way up through the minors, and his strong play at Wilkes-Barre led to his MLB debut in 1951. He joined a small but growing group of Black players in the league.

Signing with the Cleveland Indians

Eddie Gottlieb, who juggled being an NBA coach and unofficial baseball scout, discovered Simpson’s talent and became his main advocate. Eight major league scouts offered tryouts but all passed after seeing him play.

Gottlieb believed in Simpson so much, he paid for a trip to Arizona so Cleveland Indians GM Hank Greenberg could see him.

Simpson went 4-for-4 with two home runs in a split-squad game. Greenberg signed him on the spot.

The Indians, run by Bill Veeck, had already broken the AL color barrier with Larry Doby. Cleveland was one of the first teams to actively look for Black players in the late 1940s.

Key Teammates and Integration Milestones

Simpson showed up to the Indians’ 1951 training camp in Tucson, Arizona, and the team found itself in a new situation. Cleveland had four Black players: Larry Doby, Luke Easter, Minnie Minoso, and Simpson.

The Sporting News reported that Indians management worried four Black players might be too many for one team. They decided to keep only three.

Manager Al Lopez compared Simpson to Ted Williams, saying, “He cocks that bat like Williams and waits until the last moment to uncoil. Simpson lashes with the bat as if it were a buggy whip.”

When it came time for roster cuts, Greenberg kept Simpson and traded Minnie Minoso to the White Sox. Simpson hit over .400 in spring training but struggled during the season.

He batted just .229 in 332 at-bats and drove in only 24 runs. Meanwhile, Minoso became a star in Chicago.

Wilkes-Barre and Minor League Success

Simpson really started to shine in 1949 with the Wilkes-Barre Indians in the Class-A Eastern League. He hit .305 and led the league in several categories.

He finished first with 31 home runs, 120 RBIs, and 125 runs scored.

His strong season earned him a spot on the all-star team. The team finished third and made the playoffs but lost in the finals.

After Wilkes-Barre, Simpson got promoted to the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League in 1950. He hit .323 and led the league with 156 RBIs in a 200-game season.

GM Hank Greenberg called Simpson “one of the finest prospects I’ve ever seen” after his Pacific Coast League year. That set the stage for his major league debut in 1951.

Peak Career Highlights and Performance

Simpson hit his stride in the majors with the Kansas City Athletics in the mid-1950s. That’s where he finally got regular playing time and put up his best stats. His 1956 season was his high point, earning him All-Star honors and putting him among the American League’s top outfielders.

Kansas City Athletics Breakout Seasons

Simpson’s career took off after he joined the Kansas City Athletics on May 11, 1955. Manager Lou Boudreau helped him go back to his old loose batting stance, letting him hit to all fields more naturally.

In his first partial season with Kansas City, Simpson hit .301. That was his first time batting over .300 in the majors.

His 1956 season was his best. He posted a .293 average with 21 home runs and 105 RBIs. Those were his top power and run numbers in the big leagues.

June 24, 1956, was a special day at Municipal Stadium. Simpson became one of the rare players to hit a home run over the 40-foot concrete wall onto Brooklyn Avenue. Even Babe Ruth had trouble clearing that wall in exhibition games.

All-Star Recognition and Achievements

Simpson’s 1956 stats earned him a spot on the American League All-Star team. Yankees manager Casey Stengel picked him and praised his defense.

Stengel called Simpson “the best right fielder in the league,” pointing to his long stride and strong arm. That All-Star nod came during Simpson’s most productive season.

The selection marked the peak of his recognition in the game. It validated his journey from the Negro Leagues to major league stardom.

Managers liked his versatility, too. He played all three outfield spots plus first base while in Kansas City.

Trades and Team Transitions

Simpson’s career changed again on June 15, 1957, when Kansas City traded him to the New York Yankees. The deal sent pitcher Ryne Duren and outfielder Jim Pisoni to New York for Billy Martin, Ralph Terry, Woody Held, and Bob Martyn.

The trade happened after the Yankees’ Copacabana nightclub incident with several players. Simpson was hitting .296 at the time but later called it “the worst break I ever got.”

Manager Casey Stengel didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat. “He didn’t say he was glad to have me,” Simpson remembered. “Instead he started talking about how he hated to lose Billy Martin.”

The Yankees traded Simpson back to Kansas City on June 15, 1958, along with pitcher Bob Grim for Duke Maas and Virgil Trucks. In 1959, Simpson played for Kansas City, the Chicago White Sox (who got him for Ray Boone), and the Pittsburgh Pirates (traded for Ted Kluszewski)..

Postseason Appearances

Simpson played in the 1957 World Series with the New York Yankees against the Milwaukee Braves. He shared first base duties with Elston Howard, stepping in for the injured Moose Skowron.

He struggled in the World Series, hitting just .083 while the Braves beat the Yankees in seven games. Adjusting to a platoon role in New York really threw him off.

In 1959, Simpson missed out on another World Series shot because of a poorly timed trade. The Chicago White Sox sent him to Pittsburgh for Ted Kluszewski before the playoffs. Kluszewski ended up hitting .391 in the World Series, and Simpson sat out the postseason entirely.

Later that year, the White Sox bought Simpson back from Pittsburgh on October 13, 1959. But by then, the chance for a second World Series check had slipped away.

Notable Teams and Players

Simpson bounced around several big league teams in the 1950s, including the legendary New York Yankees and the eventual champion Chicago White Sox. Moving through these franchises showed off his flexibility as a player, but also made it hard for him to find steady playing time among all that talent.

New York Yankees Tenure

The Yankees picked up Simpson in June 1957 through a trade involving Billy Martin. The Athletics sent Simpson, pitcher Ryne Duren, and outfielder Jim Pisoni to New York, while Martin, Ralph Terry, Woody Held, and Bob Martyn went the other way.

That trade happened right after the notorious Copacabana nightclub incident with several Yankees. At the time, Simpson was batting .296 for Kansas City.

Things didn’t go well for Simpson in New York from the get-go. When he introduced himself to manager Casey Stengel, Stengel just started lamenting the loss of Billy Martin instead of welcoming his new player.

“I introduced myself to Casey,” Simpson recalled. “He didn’t say he was glad to have me or anything else. Instead he started talking about how he hated to lose Billy Martin.”

Simpson never really found his groove in the Yankees’ platoon setup, finishing 1957 with a .250 average in 75 games. During the World Series, he split time at first base with Elston Howard while Moose Skowron recovered from injury.

He hit just .083 in the Series as the Braves took down the Yankees in seven games. Simpson later called the Yankees trade “the worst break I ever got.”

Chicago White Sox Years

The White Sox traded for Simpson on May 2, 1959, sending infielder Ray Boone to Kansas City. Owner Bill Veeck and GM Hank Greenberg, who had first signed Simpson with Cleveland, brought him to Chicago hoping he’d add some spark.

But Simpson’s timing with the White Sox couldn’t have been worse. He hit only .187 in 38 games before they shipped him to Pittsburgh on August 25.

That deal sent him to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for veteran slugger Ted Kluszewski. The trade cost Simpson big time, since he missed the White Sox’s World Series run.

Kluszewski put up a .297 average down the stretch and .391 in the Series, helping Chicago. Simpson, meanwhile, watched from Pittsburgh as his old team took the American League pennant.

Pittsburgh Pirates and Final MLB Teams

Simpson’s time with the Pittsburgh Pirates lasted just nine games in 1959. He managed a .267 average in 15 at-bats with his new team.

The Pirates turned out to be Simpson’s last stop in the majors. His short stint there really summed up the journeyman stretch of his later years.

After the season, the White Sox bought Simpson back from Pittsburgh on October 13. They made the move too late for him to join their championship run.

Simpson wrapped up his major league career in 1959 after eight seasons. He played for five different teams, showing he could adapt, but never really finding a permanent home.

All those moves earned him the nickname “Suitcase” Simpson, a nod to both his big feet and his constant travels from team to team during his pro baseball life.

Legacy, Retirement, and Life After Baseball

Harry Simpson left more than stats behind—his legacy includes his role in baseball’s integration and the story behind that famous nickname. After retiring, he built a solid second career in the aerospace industry.

Origin of the Suitcase Simpson Nickname

Most people think Simpson got the nickname “Suitcase” because he changed teams so often. Actually, he picked it up with the Philadelphia Stars in the Negro Leagues.

Simpson wore size 13 shoes, and his teammates said his feet reminded them of the comic strip character “Suitcase Simpson” from the Toonerville Trolley series. In the comic, folks joked the character’s feet “were large as suitcases.”

He already had that nickname when he joined the Kansas City Athletics in 1955. By the time he finished his major league career, he’d played for 17 different teams across the Negro Leagues, majors, and minors.

Baseball fans couldn’t help but notice how perfectly the nickname matched his career journey through so many clubs.

Impact on Baseball’s Integration

Simpson played a key part in baseball’s integration during the 1950s. He was one of eight former Negro League players to debut in the majors in 1951, joining a group that included Willie Mays and Sam Jones.

The Cleveland Indians stood out as the only American League team with African Americans as everyday players from 1951 to 1953. Simpson joined Larry Doby in the outfield and Luke Easter at first base during this groundbreaking time.

He had his best years with the Kansas City Athletics from 1955 to 1957. In 1956, Simpson batted .293 with 21 home runs and 103 RBIs, earning a spot on the All-Star team. He was one of just two African American players on the American League’s All-Star roster that year.

Simpson’s presence helped make integrated lineups in the American League feel more normal during a turning point in baseball history.

Post-Retirement Life and Recognition

After the Chicago White Sox let him go before the 1960 season, Simpson kept playing in the minor leagues and Mexican League until 1964.

He spent 18 years in professional baseball, bouncing around different levels and teams.

When he finally stepped away from the game, Simpson landed a job with Goodyear Aerospace in Akron, Ohio. He managed to shift from professional sports into the fast-growing aerospace industry during the 1960s, which is honestly pretty impressive.

Simpson stayed in the Akron area for the rest of his life.

He passed away on April 3, 1979, at just 53, and they buried him in West Hill Cemetery in Dalton, Georgia.

Baseball historians still talk about his impact on the sport’s integration. Simpson’s story really shows what so many African American players went through while breaking down barriers in pro baseball during the 1950s.