Jim Hardin
Encyclopedia
James Warren Hardin was a professional baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles
, New York Yankees
, and Atlanta Braves
from 1967 through 1973 and was a member of one of the best pitching staffs of the 1960s and 1970s that included Jim Palmer
, Dave McNally
, Tom Phoebus
, and Mike Cuellar
. He earned a championship ring in the 1970 World Series
and was part of the dominant 1969 American League
champions who lost that year's World Series
to the "Miracle Mets." An 18 game winner in 1968, Hardin pitched 4½ years with Baltimore, half of one season with the New York Yankees
and one year with the Atlanta Braves
. He finished his career with a record of 43-32 and a 3.19 ERA. As a starting pitcher he was an iron man, registering 28 complete games in 100 career starts - a rate rivaled by few contemporary pitchers and even fewer current starters.
, allowing just two hits as the Birds banged out 20, good for 39 total bases. Hardin tossed a two-hitter with five strikeouts and also hit a home run in fourth inning off Gary Bell
. On May 10, 1969 in a relief appearance, Hardin hit a game-winning walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. He pitched a complete game shutout on May 26, 1970 against the Cleveland Indians
who had only five singles in the game. Three weeks later, Hardin pitched ten innings surrendering only six hits with zero walks versus the Washington Senators
. The Orioles prevailed 3-2 in 13 innings with Pete Richert
earning the win with three relief innings. In Cleveland on August 6, 1970 Hardin threw a complete Game five-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader against the Indians. Hardin helped himself with a two-run triple in the second inning and also picked up another RBI by drawing a bases loaded walk in the eighth inning. As a member of the Atlanta Braves
on June 28, 1971, he hit a 2-out solo home run in the 4th inning off the Padres' Fred Norman
in San Diego's Jack Murphy Stadium.
crashed in Key West
, Florida
. Shortly after taking off from Key West International Airport
the propeller of his aircraft failed from fatigue. The aircraft stalled and the plane crashed while Hardin attempted to return to the airport to make an emergency landing. It was widely reported that, during the plane's descent, Hardin steered the plane away from a baseball field filled with young children. The plane came to rest in a parking lot of the TGI Fridays restaurant, which was under construction at the time. Hardin is one of three Yankees to lose their lives in aviation accidents; the other two are catcher Thurman Munson
(1979) and Cory Lidle
(2006). Hardin was survived by his wife and three children.
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, and Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
from 1967 through 1973 and was a member of one of the best pitching staffs of the 1960s and 1970s that included Jim Palmer
Jim Palmer
James Alvin "Jim" Palmer , nicknamed "Cakes", is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in .As of 2008, Palmer and his wife Susan have homes in Palm Beach, Florida, and...
, Dave McNally
Dave McNally
David Arthur "Dave" McNally was a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher from until . He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and played with them every season except for his final season with the Montreal Expos.McNally has the unique distinction as the only pitcher in Major League...
, Tom Phoebus
Tom Phoebus
Thomas Harold Phoebus , is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Baltimore Orioles , San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs...
, and Mike Cuellar
Mike Cuellar
Miguel Ángel Cuellar Santana [KWAY-ar] was a Cuban left-handed starting pitcher who spent fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles and California Angels...
. He earned a championship ring in the 1970 World Series
1970 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 10, 1970 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe Jackson 5 performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the game, which almost became an embarrassment when the group realized shortly before their performance that they weren't familiar with the lyrics...
and was part of the dominant 1969 American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
champions who lost that year's World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
to the "Miracle Mets." An 18 game winner in 1968, Hardin pitched 4½ years with Baltimore, half of one season with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and one year with the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. He finished his career with a record of 43-32 and a 3.19 ERA. As a starting pitcher he was an iron man, registering 28 complete games in 100 career starts - a rate rivaled by few contemporary pitchers and even fewer current starters.
Career highlights
On July 27, 1969, Hardin starred in the Orioles most dominant shut-out victory in their history, routing the White Sox, 17-0. Hardin took the win over Chicago's Billy WynneBilly Wynne
Billy Vernon Wynne Billy Vernon Wynne Billy Vernon Wynne (born July 31, 1943, at Williamston, North Carolina is a retired American professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he appeared in 42 games played, 30 as a starting pitcher, for the New York Mets, Chicago White Sox and California...
, allowing just two hits as the Birds banged out 20, good for 39 total bases. Hardin tossed a two-hitter with five strikeouts and also hit a home run in fourth inning off Gary Bell
Gary Bell
Wilbur Gary Bell , nicknamed "Ding Dong", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1958-1969 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the Cleveland Indians...
. On May 10, 1969 in a relief appearance, Hardin hit a game-winning walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. He pitched a complete game shutout on May 26, 1970 against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
who had only five singles in the game. Three weeks later, Hardin pitched ten innings surrendering only six hits with zero walks versus the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. The Orioles prevailed 3-2 in 13 innings with Pete Richert
Pete Richert
Peter Gerard Richert is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Washington Senators , Baltimore Orioles , St...
earning the win with three relief innings. In Cleveland on August 6, 1970 Hardin threw a complete Game five-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader against the Indians. Hardin helped himself with a two-run triple in the second inning and also picked up another RBI by drawing a bases loaded walk in the eighth inning. As a member of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
on June 28, 1971, he hit a 2-out solo home run in the 4th inning off the Padres' Fred Norman
Fred Norman
Fredie Hubert Norman , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1962–1964, 1966–1967, and 1970-1980....
in San Diego's Jack Murphy Stadium.
Death
Hardin, a pilot, died on March 9, 1991 when his Beech 35-C33ABeechcraft Bonanza
The Beechcraft Bonanza is an American general aviation aircraft introduced in 1947 by The Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. , it is still being produced by Hawker Beechcraft, and has been in continuous production longer than any other airplane in history...
crashed in Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Shortly after taking off from Key West International Airport
Key West International Airport
Key West International Airport is a county-owned public airport located two miles east of the central business district of Key West, in Monroe County, Florida, United States....
the propeller of his aircraft failed from fatigue. The aircraft stalled and the plane crashed while Hardin attempted to return to the airport to make an emergency landing. It was widely reported that, during the plane's descent, Hardin steered the plane away from a baseball field filled with young children. The plane came to rest in a parking lot of the TGI Fridays restaurant, which was under construction at the time. Hardin is one of three Yankees to lose their lives in aviation accidents; the other two are catcher Thurman Munson
Thurman Munson
Thurman Lee Munson was an American Major League Baseball catcher. He played his entire 11-year career for the New York Yankees...
(1979) and Cory Lidle
Cory Lidle
Cory Fulton Lidle was an Americanright-handed baseball pitcher who spent nine seasons in the major leagues with seven different teams. His twin brother Kevin Lidle also played baseball, as a catcher for several minor league teams...
(2006). Hardin was survived by his wife and three children.