Chuck Harmon

1955 Topps #82
First African American on the Cincinnati Redlegs

Born in Washington, Indiana in 1924, Chuck Harmon began his baseball career in 1947, while still in college. He became tired of waiting for a job from the Toledo recreation department and accepted an offer to play in the Negro Leagues on the Indianapolis Clowns. After five days, however, he quit due to the punishing travel schedule and returned to Toledo. A month later, though, he was approached by the St. Louis Browns to play on one of their minor league teams. Except for a two year hiatus in 1948-1949 to remain eligible for his college basketball team, he stayed with the Browns until 1953 when he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. A year later he worked his way out of the Minors to make his début in the Major League.

When he joined the Cincinnati Reds in April 1954, Chuck Harmon was the first African American to join the team. Harmon played third base and the outfield for two seasons with the Reds until he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1957. He later played for the Philadelphia Phillies. During his major league career, Harmon played 289 games, hit 7 home runs and had a .238 batting average. Following his retirement from baseball, Chuck worked as an administrative assistant for the Ohio 1st District Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. He remains active in SWAP (Seniors With A Purpose) and other youth related services.