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Mel Harder was one of the best pitchers during his 20-year big league career. A six-year veteran by the time the first All Star game was played in 1933, Harder nonetheless played in four Mid Summer Classics.

By the time his playing career was over in 1947, Harder tallied 223 victories – all with the Cleveland Indians. The three pitchers to win more contests during that time are all in the Hall of Fame.

In the collection is this 3×5 card in which Harder has listed the top four winners during his career. He writes,

“Wins 1928-1947

1. Lefty Grove
2. Red Ruffing
3. Carl Hubbell
4. Mel Harder 223 wins”

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When Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium hosted its first big league game in 1932, it was Mel Harder who threw the first pitch. Interestingly when the Indians played their final game there in 1993, they had Harder throw the final pitch in post-game ceremonies. In between Harder appeared in more games than any hurler in the history of the team. His 223 wins for the Indians remains second on the club’s all-time list more than 70 years after he retired.

In this handwritten letter, Harder outlines his association with Municipal Stadium. He writes, “The Cleveland Stadium was built in 1931 and the first game was played by the Indians in the stadium was July 31, 1932. I had the honor of pitching in that game. I lost 1-0 to Lefty Grove and the Phila Athletics managed by Connie Mack before 80,000 fans.

“I went on to pitch 17 more years in the stadium. Then 61 years later I had the honor of throwing the last pitch made in the stadium on Oct. 3, 1993 before 75,000 fans.”

Harder wrote the letter just four months after making that ceremonial final pitch of the stadium.

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In 1935 Mel Harder had a season to remember. He won a career-high 22 games for the 82-win Indians. Harder’s 35 starts, 287 1/3 frames, and 17 complete games were high water marks. The pitcher’s rate stats of walks and home runs per-nine-innings led the league and represented personal bests.

Along the way, Harder earned the second of four consecutive All Star selections.

In the Mid Summer Classic, Harder was excellent. American League skipper Mickey Cochrane summoned the right hander out of the ‘pen in relief of starter Lefty Gomez in the 7th.

Harder responded with three scoreless frames to close the game. He allowed one hit and claimed Hall of Fame outfielder Mel Ott as a strikeout victim to end the 8th. Harder’s performance earned him the save.

Shown here is an invitation to play in the 1935 All Star Game sent to Senators third baseman Ossie Bluege. Authored and signed by Hall of Fame AL president William Harridge, the correspondence is dated June 29, 1935, thirteen days before the game.

Harder received a similar invite from the AL chief.

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Mel Harder pitched in four of the first five All Star Games in big league history. In four straight appearances in the Mid-Summer Classic against the NL’s best hitters, Harder was dominant. He earned a win and two saves without allowing a run in 13 total innings.

In his first games against the Senior Circuit stars in 1934 Harder threw the final five innings. His one-hit, two-strikeout performance over the final 15 outs earned him the victory.

The following year Harder tossed the final three frames in relief of Lefty Gomez to secure the save. He gain finished the 1936 contest by pitching the and last two innings. His final All Star appearance came in 1937 when he again earned the save preserving a Lefty Gomez victory.

In 13 career All Star innings, Harder allowed nine hits and one walk. His five strikeout victims include Hall of Famers Paul Waner, Al Lopez, and Mel Ott.

Shown here is a letter handwritten and signed by Harder. He writes about his career highlights, pointing to the 1934 All Star Game, “I enjoyed watching Carl Hubbell pitch and later I enjoyed pitching the last five innings and getting credit for the victory over the National League All Stars.”

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During the 1930s Mel Harder was the only right-hander in Major League Baseball to post double-figure win totals each year of the decade. In fact, from 1932 until the end of the decade, he was the only big leaguer to win at least 15 games each year. By the time he retired in 1947, Harder’s 223 wins ranked atop the Indians franchise leaderboard. Though the mark has since been surpassed by Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, Harder still ranks second more than 70 years after his retirement.

When Harder left the game as a player, Indians owner Bill Veeck hired him as pitching coach for the entire Cleveland organization. Soon, Harder became the full-time pitching coach for the big club when no other team in baseball had such a position. From 1948-1953 Harder helped produced eleven 20-game winners for the Indians.

In this handwritten letter, baseball’s first pitching coach reflects on his those great Cleveland pitchers.

“Fellows like (Bob) Lemon, (Early) Wynn, (Mike) Garcia, Herb Score, and Bob Feller a short time, were easy to work with. They all wanted to be great pitchers. I enjoyed being a pitching coach and I knew that it takes a lot of work to become a great pitcher.”

For his work as a pitcher and as a pitching coach, Harder’s #18 was retired by the Indians in 1990.

 

 

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Immediately after retiring as a player, Mel Harder began a long and prosperous coaching career. The Indians kept the Cleveland hero on staff from 1948 until 1963.

The 223-game winner’s coaching style was to ask questions and listen rather than purely instruct. His gentle way of handling both young and veteran players was well-received. From ’48-’53 he helped Indians pitcher produce eleven 20-win seasons.

In the collection is this 1960 Topps baseball card titled “Cleveland Indians Coaches” It is autographed by former Tribe pitchers Mel Harder and Bob Lemon.