Harriger set to enter Armstrong Hall of Fame
From 1987 to 2006, pitcher Denny Harriger's journey in professional baseball took him to multiple major league organizations and three foreign countries. It resulted in just two starts in the big leagues -- both with the Detroit Tigers in 1998.
It was a lot of baseball with seemingly little reward at the highest level, but the Ford City graduate would gladly relive his globe-trotting career.
"Knowing what I know now, if I had to go back and start again as a senior in high school, I would change very little," said Harriger, who now resides in Kittanning with his wife Laurie and two children, Caleb and Sara. "We're not on this Earth very long, in terms of years that we live. You've got to make the most of it."
In recognition of his career, Harriger has been selected as an inductee in the Armstrong Hall of Fame's Class of 2009. He and nine other inductees will be celebrated at a banquet April 26 at Freeport's Laube Hall.
"I think it's a great honor to be recognized by people who live in the area that you grew up in," Harriger said.
In addition to a long stay in the professional ranks, Harriger is also being honored for his contribution as a member of Ford City's 1987 state championship team. He pitched in both the PIAA semifinal and final to help the Sabers to their first state title in any sport and finish his senior year on top.
"That's a great accomplishment," Harriger said. "I can't speak for the other players, but I think everyone holds that very dear to them."
In the midst of his senior year, Harriger's pro career unofficially began when he was drafted by the New York Mets in the 18th round of the 1987 amateur draft. he immediately joined a short-season rookie club in the Mets organization in Kingsport, Tenn. right after graduation. That whirlwind transition from high school to the pro ranks was jarring, to say the least.
"Honestly, I was scared to death," Harriger said. "Getting there was something I had dreamt about. Every kid dream about playing in the big leagues. I get there, and I was scared to death. I called my mom on the second day and said 'I don't want to do this.' She said 'It's just the second day, calm down.'"
Harriger's nerves eased, he began to make some friends, and he started winning games. After finally settling in to the minor league lifestyle, his career gradually began to advance.
He spent 1988 in Kingsport again, and moved to A ball the next year. A strained ligament in 1990 set his development back some, but by 1992 he felt he was ready to pitch in AA. However, he remained in A that year, as he watched recently drafted pitchers out of college move past him.
He eventually moved to AA in 1993 and had a banner year. After that season, he was free agent for the first time, signed into the San Diego Padres organization, and played for AAA Las Vegas for the next three years. Harriger's career course changed again when in 1996 he signed with the Tigers' organization and began play in AAA Toledo.
Then, finally, 11 years after leaving Ford City for Kingsport, he was called up the big leagues. On June 16, 1998, he made his major league debut, starting against the Twins in old Tiger Stadium.
"I don't think I was scared, but I was nervous. It's what I had worked 11 years for," Harriger said.
He made just two starts in the majors, losing both. It was a time when the Tigers were MLB bottom-feeders, and rookie pitchers got one chance to shine before being sent down again.
Two years later, still in the minors with the Reds organization, Harriger made a drastic change by moving to the Korean major leagues, after receiving multiple calls from scouts there.
"It was a culture shock at first," Harriger said of his two seasons with the LG Twins. "I learned a lot."
He later went on to play stints in independent leagues, and even played parts of seasons in Taiwan and Mexico, but by 2006, Harriger was ready to hang up his cleats. In his final professional season, he had his best year, finishing 17-4 with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League.
It was an exhausting, long journey, but he won't soon forget the days in 1998 when he got to achieve his dream.
"To stand in Tiger Stadium and say 'Ty Cobb played here, Babe Ruth played here,' I was a part of history," Harriger said. "I was disappointed I didn't play longer, but when my great-great-great grandkids look at the all-time Tigers roster, I'm going to be there."
2009 Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame banquet
When: 5 p.m. April 26
Where: Laube Hall, Freeport
Inductees: Steve Aungst, Douglas Charley, Dennis Harringer, Cecil Willoughby, Donald Williams, Larry Montebell, Brian Swartzlander, Laura Hall, Tim Buffone and Mark George.
Tickets: Call Denny Wolfe, 724-882-3557.
