Vic Harris – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

When Victor Lanier Harris left Major League Baseball after the 1980 season, he left behind a career that really captured the essence of the utility player. Born March 27, 1950, in Los Angeles, Harris played nine seasons in the majors for five different teams, handling six positions with a steady, understated presence.

Harris hit .217 with 13 home runs and 121 RBIs over 579 games. He served as a dependable reserve, always ready to fill in wherever a team needed him.

Harris’s path through baseball led him from the fields at Los Angeles Valley College to major league stadiums across the country. He started with a lot of promise as a first-round draft pick, but a rough, record-setting 36 at-bat hitless streak in 1972 hinted at the challenges that would follow him in the big leagues.

Even with those struggles at the plate, Harris built a reputation as a defensive specialist and a true team player.

Vic Harris’s story shines a light on the world of baseball’s role players. These are the guys who might not fill up the box scores but make their teams tick day in and day out.

From his early days with the Texas Rangers to his last season with the Milwaukee Brewers, Harris’s career gives us a glimpse into the life of a journeyman player during one of baseball’s most competitive eras. He even had a successful run in Japan that stretched his career into the 1980s.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Victor Lanier Harris grew up in Los Angeles, where his parents taught him values that stuck with him throughout his baseball life.

He played so well at Los Angeles Valley College that he earned All-American honors and grabbed the attention of major league scouts. Two different teams drafted Harris, but the Oakland Athletics finally signed him in 1970.

Family Background and Upbringing

Victor Lanier Harris was born March 27, 1950, in Los Angeles, California. He was the only child of Fred Martin Harris and Sue Winifred (Adams) Harris.

Fred worked as a compressor operator for the City of Los Angeles, while Sue made a living as a beautician in their neighborhood.

The Harris family really focused on strong moral values at home. Harris later said the biggest lesson his parents gave him was to respect and value everyone. “I was taught to love people,” he reflected years later.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Harris naturally rooted for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He started playing baseball at about age 7, showing early signs of athletic talent.

By age 12, Harris began switch hitting, a skill that would stick with him for his whole career. He described himself as a quiet kid and credited his success in baseball to being a natural athlete and a team player.

Harris went to Los Angeles High School, where he kept working on his baseball skills. His quiet nature kind of hid his competitiveness and athletic gifts.

Los Angeles Valley College Achievements

After high school, Harris starred at Los Angeles Valley College. His play at the junior college level made him one of California’s top amateur players.

He earned All-Metropolitan Conference honors twice while at Valley. Coaches and scouts across the region took notice of his consistency and versatility.

He also picked up All-Southern California recognition, which put him among the best junior college players in the country’s toughest region.

Harris became a Junior All-American, which is pretty much the top honor in junior college baseball. His speed and athleticism made him a real asset as a player who could handle multiple positions.

These achievements put Harris firmly on the radar for major league scouts. His speed, versatility, and steady performance made him a hot prospect for pro teams.

Draft History

The New York Mets drafted Harris in the 25th round of the 1969 amateur draft while he was still at Los Angeles Valley College. Harris chose not to sign with the Mets, though.

Instead, he went back to Valley for his sophomore year. That gave him more time to work on his game and finish his education.

In January 1970, the Oakland Athletics picked Harris in the first round of the secondary draft. The A’s saw him as a big-time prospect.

Harris signed with Oakland on May 9, 1970, officially kicking off his pro baseball career. Scout Phil Pote played a big part in that signing and gave Harris some solid advice.

Pote told Harris to finish his associate’s degree, even after signing. Harris listened and later said he was grateful for the scout’s advice about planning for life after baseball.

Harris thought about taking a scholarship to play at the University of Southern California but chose to go pro instead. Looking back, he admitted he wished he’d finished school and gone to USC.

Path to the Major Leagues

Vic Harris’s journey to the majors really got rolling at Los Angeles Valley College, where his speed and defense made scouts take notice.

He got drafted twice, signed with the Oakland Athletics in 1970, and spent three years working up through their minor league system.

Minor League Development

Harris’s pro career began in 1970, after the Oakland Athletics took him in the first round of the secondary draft. Scout Phil Pote pushed him to finish his associate’s degree before diving into baseball full-time. Harris later said, “He understood I would have a life after baseball.”

He started out with the Coos Bay-North Bend A’s in Oregon’s Northwest League. Harris played mostly second base and wasted no time showing his offensive potential. He led the team with a .326 batting average and 30 stolen bases in just 75 games.

Speed was his calling card right away. But Harris had trouble defensively at second base, making 19 errors and ending up with a .947 fielding percentage. That definitely showed he had some work to do.

Oakland Athletics Organization

In 1971, Harris moved up to the Burlington Bees in the Midwest League. That year turned out to be a real breakthrough for him. The Bees finished first in their division, and Harris played alongside future big leaguers Phil Garner and Tommy Sandt.

Harris led Burlington in games played (120), runs (84), hits (129), doubles (27), walks (77), and stolen bases (39). He hit .291 and posted a .392 on-base percentage, both improvements from his debut season.

The 1972 season was Harris’s last stop before the majors. He started with Birmingham in the Southern League, batting .294 with 12 RBIs before moving up to Iowa in Triple-A.

Notable Minor League Performances

With Iowa, Harris proved he was ready for the next level. He hit .293 in 64 games, added 6 home runs and 25 RBIs, and still swiped 12 bases. His speed and power combination was hard to ignore.

Other teams started to notice his performance. On July 20, 1972, Oakland traded Harris and Marty Martinez to the Texas Rangers for Ted Kubiak and Don Mincher. The trade got a bit messy when Martinez played for the A’s after the deal had already been announced.

Harris looked back on his minor league run and said, “I was having a great year. That is, until I reached the major leagues. Then it all came at me.” His three years in the Oakland system got him ready, but the jump to major league pitching turned out to be a whole different beast.

His minor league stats kept getting better each year. From a .326 average in rookie ball to .293 in Triple-A, Harris had turned himself into a prospect who was ready for a shot at the big leagues.

Major League Debut and Texas Rangers Years

Harris made his big league debut with the Texas Rangers on July 21, 1972, after the trade from Oakland. Those early days were rough—he struggled at the plate and set a record hitless streak. Still, he ended up as the team’s regular second baseman.

Trade to Texas Rangers

On July 20, 1972, the Oakland Athletics dealt Harris, Marty Martinez, and a player to be named later to the Texas Rangers for Ted Kubiak and Don Mincher. The trade was actually announced on July 19, which caused a stir when Martinez played for the A’s that night and went 3-for-5 in a 9-6 win over Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee Brewers protested to the American League about the timing, but league officials shot it down.

Harris was already on his way to Arlington, Texas, when the trade wrapped up. The Rangers wasted no time and put him in the lineup as their everyday second baseman. At the time, Harris was tearing it up in Triple-A, batting .293 with Iowa.

Challenges in the 1972 Season

Harris debuted in the majors on July 21, 1972, coming in as a defensive sub in the seventh inning. He replaced Lenny Randle at second base, with Randle sliding over to shortstop. Harris got his first at-bat in the bottom of the eighth and struck out against Detroit’s Mickey Lolich.

Then came one of the toughest starts anyone’s had in the majors. Harris went 0-for-36 to open his career, setting a modern record for hitless debuts that still stood as of 2018.

He finally broke through with an RBI single off White Sox pitcher Stan Bahnsen. That hit came in his 13th game, after a long, frustrating wait.

The 1972 season was tough for both Harris and the Rangers. Harris finished at .140 with just 10 RBIs in 61 games. On defense, he made 10 errors and managed only a .960 fielding percentage, well below the league average for second basemen.

Establishing as Second Baseman

Even after that rocky 1972, Harris made the roster out of spring training in 1973 as an outfielder and utility infielder. Manager Whitey Herzog gave him regular playing time, which turned out to be a big deal.

The 1973 season was Harris’s best in the majors. He played in 152 games and hit .249, setting career highs in runs (71), doubles (14), triples (7), home runs (8), and RBIs (44).

Harris credited Herzog for helping him turn things around at the plate. “Whitey put me out there every day and gave me a chance,” Harris said. That year, he also stole 12 bases, showing off the speed that made him valuable to Texas.

On May 11, 1973, Harris hit his first major league home run off Oakland’s Vida Blue. That seventh-inning solo shot cleared the left-field wall at Arlington Stadium—definitely a highlight for him.

While in Texas, Harris played for three managers: Ted Williams in ’72, Herzog for most of ’73, and Billy Martin for the final 23 games that year.

Chicago Cubs and National League Experience

Harris landed with the Chicago Cubs in a big trade that took him from the American League to the National League. His time with the Cubs started with some struggles at second base and a knee injury that really set him back.

Blockbuster Trade to Cubs

The Cubs picked up Harris in a major trade on October 25, 1973. The deal sent Harris and Bill Madlock from Texas to Chicago in exchange for veteran pitcher Ferguson Jenkins.

Rangers manager Whitey Herzog called Harris “the most valuable property in our organization” before the trade. The Cubs saw Harris as a switch-hitter who could cover a lot of ground at different positions.

Chicago liked his youth and speed. Harris could play both middle infield spots, plus third base and center field. That flexibility made him a key part of the Cubs’ rebuilding plans.

The trade meant Harris had to shift from the American League to the NL. Adjusting to National League pitching and a different style of play was going to be a new challenge.

1974 Season and Knee Surgery

Harris kicked off 1974 as the Cubs’ regular second baseman. He held onto that spot for most of the first half, but honestly, he just couldn’t get things going at the plate.

His batting average fell to a rough .195 in 62 games. That slump really put his roster spot and playing time in jeopardy.

Midway through the season, Harris had to undergo knee surgery, which cut his year short. The recovery was tough and slowed him down on the field.

Dave Rosello and Billy Grabarkewitz stepped in while Harris was out. The Cubs pressed forward, and Harris focused on getting healthy again.

That surgery changed the direction of Harris’s career. After the injury, he never really got back to being a regular starter.

Teammates and Infield Transitions

In 1975, Harris spent most of his time riding the Cubs’ bench after coming back from surgery. He barely hit, batting just .179, and mostly filled in as a pinch hitter or utility guy.

The Cubs didn’t use him much, and he had to fight for every bit of playing time. His smaller role showed both the impact of his injury and the team’s crowded middle infield.

After the 1975 season, Chicago traded Harris to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs got infielder Mick Kelleher in exchange.

That trade wrapped up Harris’s National League run with Chicago. During his time there, he played shortstop, second base, and even some outfield.

His stint in Chicago had its ups and downs. The trade that brought him in came with big hopes, but injuries and struggles at the plate held him back.

Utilityman Years: Cardinals, Giants, and Brewers

Harris reinvented himself as a valuable utility man during his last five big league seasons. He bounced around three teams from 1976 to 1980, and his ability to cover several positions made him a handy bench option.

Versatility across Positions

Harris really leaned into being a utility player, handling all sorts of defensive assignments. He played every outfield position, plus second base, third base, and shortstop as his career wound down.

His best year, at least on paper, came in 1977 with the Giants. Harris hit .261 over 69 games and scored 28 runs. That season, he played at:

• Second base
• Third base
• Shortstop
• Center field
• Right field

Managers loved his flexibility. Harris’s speed and glove work stayed sharp, so teams trusted him to fill in when someone needed a break or got hurt.

St. Louis Cardinals and Teammates

The St. Louis Cardinals brought Harris in before the 1976 season, trading with the Cubs for utility infielder Mick Kelleher.

Harris appeared in 97 games for St. Louis in 1976. He didn’t do much at the plate, finishing with a .228 average, one homer, and one stolen base.

The Cardinals mostly kept him as a backup infielder. He chipped in at several spots but didn’t land a regular starting gig. Harris mostly got spot starts or came in late for defense.

After just one year, the Cardinals traded him again. He headed to the San Francisco Giants with Willie Crawford and John Curtis, while St. Louis received Mike Caldwell, John D’Acquisto, and Dave Rader.

Final MLB Season with Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers signed Harris as a free agent before the 1979 season. He spent that year in Triple-A with the Vancouver Canadians, where he hit .275 and scored 82 runs.

In 1980, Harris made it back to the majors for one last go. He played 34 games for Milwaukee, batting .213 in limited chances.

His final big league game came on October 5, 1980, against the Oakland Athletics. Harris ended things with a walk-off single off Dave Beard in the 15th inning, driving in Ben Oglivie. That was the only walk-off hit of his career, and what a way to finish.

Over eight MLB seasons, Harris played 579 games and hit .217. He finished with 13 home runs and 121 RBIs, moving between five different teams.

Career Highlights and Statistical Achievements

Vic Harris ended up with a .217 batting average over eight major league seasons. He made his mark as a versatile utility guy, filling in wherever teams needed him. He hit 13 homers, drove in 121 runs, and had a few standout moments, like playing in a no-hitter and winning NL Player of the Week.

Positional Flexibility and Role

Harris really became the classic utility player as his career unfolded. He played at least 28 games at six different positions, which made him a nice fit on five different rosters.

He covered second base, shortstop, third base, and all three outfield spots. That kind of range let managers use him late in games or when starters needed a break.

In 1973 with Texas, Harris mostly played center field. Then in 1974, he started 30 of the Cubs’ first 33 games at second base before injuries got in the way.

As a switch-hitter, Harris gave teams more options. Being able to bat from both sides of the plate paired well with his defensive flexibility.

Statistical Milestones

Harris played 579 big league games from 1972 to 1980. His best season with the bat came in 1973, when he hit .249 and set personal highs in several categories.

He racked up 349 hits during his MLB run. In 1973 alone, he scored 71 runs, hit 14 doubles, 7 triples, and 8 homers—all career bests.

On July 30, 1973, Harris scored his first major league run during Jim Bibby’s no-hitter against Oakland. He walked in the first and came home on Jeff Burroughs‘ grand slam.

His last major league hit was probably his most memorable. On October 5, 1980, Harris smacked a walk-off single against Oakland in the 15th inning, ending his career with a bang.

Notable Career Highs

Harris’s top offensive year was 1973, when he set personal bests with 8 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 152 games.

He earned NL Player of the Week honors for the week ending May 9, 1976, as a Cardinal. That week, he went 13-for-28 (.464) with 7 RBIs.

His first big league homer came off future Hall of Famer Vida Blue on May 11, 1973—a solo shot in the seventh inning at Arlington Stadium.

Early in 1976, Harris started hot, batting .315 through May 15. But then a slump dragged him down to .228 by the end of the season, showing how tough it was for him to stay consistent.

Post-1980 Career, Legacy, and Personal Life

Victor Lanier Harris kept playing professional baseball after his final MLB season, heading to Japan for a few years before hanging up his spikes. Later, he moved into aerospace work and stayed involved with baseball by helping out young players.

Transition to Japanese Baseball

After leaving Milwaukee, Harris signed with the Kintetsu Buffaloes for 1981. That first year in Japan turned out to be his best as a pro.

In 1981, Harris hit .268 with 22 homers and 74 RBIs—numbers that would have been career highs in the majors. Playing in Japan gave him more regular at-bats than he’d had in his utility role back home.

His numbers dropped after that. In 1982, he hit .272 but managed just 9 home runs and 35 RBIs. Injuries slowed him down in 1983, and he batted just .198 before wrapping up his time overseas.

Return to Minor Leagues and Retirement

Harris gave baseball one last shot in the States, signing with the Louisville Redbirds in the Cardinals system for 1984.

That minor league stint marked the end of his playing days. After spending some time back in the minors, Harris officially retired from pro baseball.

During his MLB career, Harris played 579 games at multiple positions. He logged at least 27 games at six different spots, spending the most time at second base with 212 appearances.

Personal Reflections and Community Involvement

After he retired from baseball, Harris moved back to the Los Angeles area, where he’d grown up. He found a job in the aerospace industry, starting with Rockwell.

Later, he took on a role as an emergency fire dispatcher at Boeing. That switch probably surprised a few people, but he seemed to enjoy the change.

From 2006 to 2013, Harris stayed close to baseball by teaching kids. He worked as a youth baseball instructor, passing along his experience to young players.

During his career, he played just about everywhere—outfield, second base, third, and shortstop. Harris died on April 26, 2025, at 75.