The Ole Ball Game

What Cleveland Indians pitcher struck out Joe DiMaggio three times in one game?

by william
(henderson nv.)

Mel Harder, Pitcher, Cleveland Indians, struck out Joe DiMaggio 3 times in one game in 1940

Mel Harder, Pitcher, Cleveland Indians, struck out Joe DiMaggio 3 times in one game in 1940

William asked: Can someone give the answer to this question?

Rick answered: William, thank you for your question!

Mel Harder is the pitcher you are looking for.
He was born Oct 15, 1909 and died Oct 20, 2002.





  • Joe DiMaggio recalled he had more difficulty batting against Harder than just about any other pitcher, hitting only .180 lifetime against him, striking out 3 times in one game in 1940.





  • His nickname was the chief and he played his entire career with the Cleveland Indians.





  • He was the only Pitcher to work 10 or more All Star games without allowing an earned run.





  • The only man in Major League history to have both 20 year playing and coaching careers.





  • Only Walter Johnson and Ted Lyons pitched more seasons with one club.





  • Only man to play 20 seasons for one franchise who is not an active player, in the Hall of Fame, or on the Hall of Fame ballot.





  • Harder threw the first pitch ever thrown at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium in a 1932 game, and the last pitch there, as well, in ceremonies after the final game of the 1993 season, before the Indians moved to Jacobs Park.







Yours in baseball,

Rick



Comments for What Cleveland Indians pitcher struck out Joe DiMaggio three times in one game?

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Sep 01, 2012
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HARDER VS DIMAGGIO 1936-40
by: GEORGE FERGUSSON

MEL HARDER WAS A CRAFTY RIGHT HANDED VETERAN WHEN DIMAGGIO BROKE INTO THE AL IN 1936. JOE BATTED .343 OVER THE NEXT FIVE SEASONS, BUT HIT .100 POINTS BELOW THAT AGAINST HARDER. HOWEVER HARDER WAS NOT OVERPOWERING, AVERAGING 85 STRIKEOUTS A SEASON BETWEEN 1936-40. ON THE OTHER HAND, DIMAGGIO HARDLY EVER STRUCK OUT, AVERAGING UNDER 30 K'S A SEASON OVER HIS ENTIRE CAREER.

Sep 01, 2012
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Correction
by: Rick ( theoleballgame.com)

George, thank you for your comment.

I believe you are correct on the date of June 19th, 1942.

My source had come from Wikipedia, where they had a quote from Joe DiMaggio, where he had said he had trouble hitting Harder and had once struck out 3 times in one game in 1940.

Possibly a misprint and they meant to say 1940's.

In any event, thank you again for your input.

Yours in baseball,

Rick

Sep 01, 2012
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MEL HARDER 1940
by: GEORGE FERGUSSON

HARDER FACED THE YANKEES ONLY ONCE IN 1940, ON JUNE 26 AT LEAGUE PARK. DIMAGGIO HAD TWO HITS, DRIVING IN THREE RUNS AND DID NOT STRIKE OUT.

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