Harvey Branch
Encyclopedia
Harvey Alfred Branch is a retired American
professional baseball
player. He was a left-handed
pitcher
who had a seven-year career in minor league baseball
, but whose Major League
tenure consisted of a single game
in the uniform of the St. Louis Cardinals
on September 18, 1962.
Branch attended Alabama State University
, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77.1 kg). He originally signed with the Chicago Cubs
in 1958 and spent five years in their minor league system. In , after Branch enjoyed a second consecutive successful season with the Double-A San Antonio Missions
— recording 216 strikeouts in 237 innings pitched
— the Cubs traded him to the Cardinals on September 1 for right-handed pitcher Paul Toth
.
Seventeen days later, Branch made his MLB appearance as the Cardinals' starting pitcher
— against Toth and the Cubs at Wrigley Field
. He yielded a solo home run
to Ron Santo
in the second inning, walked
in a run
in the third, and gave up a third run on a triple
and a ground ball out in the fifth. He left the game for a pinch hitter
, Red Schoendienst
, in the top of the sixth inning with St. Louis trailing, 3–1. Branch was the losing pitcher in an eventual 4–3 Redbird defeat. (Toth got the victory.) All told, Branch yielded five hits
and three earned runs in his five innings of work, with five walks and two strikeouts. Those would also stand as his career MLB totals.
Branch made the Cardinals' 40-man spring training
roster in but was sent to the Triple-A Atlanta Crackers
for the full season. After spending that year and 1964 in the minor leagues, Branch left the game.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He was a left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who had a seven-year career in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, but whose Major League
Major League
See Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.Major League may also refer to:-Sport:* Major League Baseball, the highest level of play in professional baseball in North America* Major League Cricket...
tenure consisted of a single game
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
in the uniform of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
on September 18, 1962.
Branch attended Alabama State University
Alabama State University
Alabama State University, founded 1867, is a historically black university located in Montgomery, Alabama. ASU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- History :...
, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77.1 kg). He originally signed with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in 1958 and spent five years in their minor league system. In , after Branch enjoyed a second consecutive successful season with the Double-A San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
— recording 216 strikeouts in 237 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
— the Cubs traded him to the Cardinals on September 1 for right-handed pitcher Paul Toth
Paul Toth
Paul Louis Toth was an American professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he appeared in Major League Baseball between and for the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs...
.
Seventeen days later, Branch made his MLB appearance as the Cardinals' starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
— against Toth and the Cubs at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
. He yielded a solo home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
to Ron Santo
Ron Santo
Ronald Edward Santo was an American professional baseball player and long-time radio sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball from 1960 to 1974, most notably as the third baseman for the Chicago Cubs. A nine-time All-Star, he was a powerful hitter who was also a good defensive...
in the second inning, walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
in a run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in the third, and gave up a third run on a triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and a ground ball out in the fifth. He left the game for a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
, Red Schoendienst
Red Schoendienst
Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American Major League Baseball coach, former player and manager, and 10-time All-star. After a 19-year playing career with the St...
, in the top of the sixth inning with St. Louis trailing, 3–1. Branch was the losing pitcher in an eventual 4–3 Redbird defeat. (Toth got the victory.) All told, Branch yielded five hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and three earned runs in his five innings of work, with five walks and two strikeouts. Those would also stand as his career MLB totals.
Branch made the Cardinals' 40-man spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
roster in but was sent to the Triple-A Atlanta Crackers
Atlanta Crackers
The Atlanta Crackers were minor league baseball teams based in Atlanta, Georgia, between 1901 and 1965. The Crackers were Atlanta's home team until the Atlanta Braves moved from Milwaukee in 1966....
for the full season. After spending that year and 1964 in the minor leagues, Branch left the game.