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Lore & Background

Harrington began playing semi-professional baseball at age 16 with the Bonaparte, Iowa, team. Two years later, he joined the Creston, Iowa, club of the Iowa League. His professional career started in 1888 in the Central Interstate League, where he played for the Danville Browns, Davenport club, and Decatur club. In 1889, he continued in the same league with the Davenport Hawkeyes/Monmouth Browns. He made his major league debut on April 30, 1890, with the Cincinnati Reds. Lee Allen, author of *The Cincinnati Reds*, wrote that Harrington and fellow player Billy Rhines were two top prospects when they joined the Reds, although nearly unknown today. It was also said that Harrington could throw out a baserunner from his knees. In David L. Porter's *Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: Q–Z*, it was noted that Rhines, Harrington, and fellow Reds teammate Pete Browning received fines and suspensions because of misbehavior outside of baseball.

In Their Own Story

In his first major league season with the Reds in 1890, Harrington batted .246 with 25 runs, 58 hits, seven doubles, one triple, one home run, 23 RBIs, and four stolen bases in 65 games. The next year, 1891, he batted .228 with 25 runs, 76 hits, 10 doubles, five triples, two home runs, 41 RBIs, and four stolen bases in 92 games. His final season with the Reds came in 1892, where he batted .213 with six runs, 13 hits, one double, and three RBIs in 22 games. In 1893, Harrington joined the Louisville Colonels for his last professional season. With the Colonels, he batted .111 with four runs, four hits, one double, and three RBIs in 10 games. After baseball, Harrington became assistant chief of police in Keokuk, Iowa. On April 16, 1913, at age 44, he was struck in the head with a beer can and killed by Tom Merritt, described in Lee Allen's book as a 'thug.' He was buried at Oakland Cemetery in Keokuk, Iowa.

Reader's Guide

Harrington's career numbers show a .227 batting average over 189 major league games, with 60 runs, 151 hits, 19 doubles, six triples, three home runs, 73 RBIs, and eight stolen bases. He played primarily as a catcher but also filled in at first base and third base. His best season was 1891, when he appeared in 92 games and drove in 41 RBIs. His worst was 1893 with the Colonels, where he managed only four hits in 10 games. Harrington's ability to throw out baserunners from his knees was a notable skill, as recorded by Lee Allen. His career ended after the 1893 season, and he later worked as assistant chief of police in Keokuk until his death in 1913.

Did You Know?

• Jerry Harrington was born in Hamden, Ohio, on August 12, 1868.
• His father was the manager of the Keokuk, Iowa, baseball club in 1885.
• Harrington could throw out a baserunner from his knees, according to Lee Allen's book.
• He was killed at age 44 when struck in the head with a beer can by a man described as a 'thug.'
• Harrington is buried at Oakland Cemetery in Keokuk, Iowa.