Vern Handrahan
| Vern Handrahan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:November 27, 1936 Charlottetown,Prince Edward Island | |
| Died:November 2, 2016(aged 79) Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island | |
Batted:Left Threw:Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 14, 1964, for the Kansas City Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 21, 1966, for the Kansas City Athletics | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 0–2 |
| Earned run average | 5.31 |
| Strikeouts | 36 |
| Teams | |
| Member of the Canadian | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2021 |
James Vernon Handrahan(November 27, 1936 – November 2, 2016) was a Canadianprofessional baseballpitcherwho played for theKansas City AthleticsofMajor League Baseball(MLB) in 1964 and 1966. He is noted for being one of only three major-league players fromPrince Edward Island,the others being 19th-centuryoutfielderGeorge WoodandcatcherHenry Oxley.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]Handrahan threw right-handed, batted left-handed, and was listed as 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and 185 pounds (84 kg). He was originally signed by theMilwaukee Bravesas a 22-year-old amateur in 1959. After playing sandlot and youth baseball in his nativeCharlottetown,then pitching in a semi-professional league forStellarton, Nova Scotia,in the heart of that province's coal mining country, he was signed by veteran Braves scout Lucius "Jeff" Jones,[3][4]whose territory encompassedNew EnglandandAtlantic Canada.
Handrahan spent four years at the lower levels of the Braves'farm systembefore the Athletics selected him in the 1962 minor league draft. He made the Kansas City roster out ofspring trainingin 1964, and worked in 18 games between April 14 and June 9. Sent toTriple-A,he didn't return to the majors until Kansas City recalled him in the middle of 1966 for a 16-game audition. Handrahan made twostartsfor the Athletics, one in 1964 and the other in 1966, and they resulted in both of his MLBdecisions:defeats at the hands of theLos Angeles Angelson May 5, 1964,[5]and theChicago White Soxon April 17, 1966.[6]He earned his only major-leaguesavein his penultimate MLB appearance when he worked a scoreless one-third of an inning against theCleveland Indiansto complete a 1–0 Kansas City triumph on September 15, 1966.[7]
Handrahan returned tominor league baseballin 1967 for the remainder of his 12-season career. During his MLB service—34games(32 inrelief)—Handrahan compiled an 0–2won–lost recordand anearned run averageof 5.31. In 61innings pitched,he permitted 53hitsand 40bases on balls,andstruck out36.
Handrahan was elected to the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame in its first year, 1968, but could not attend the induction ceremony because he was pitching across the country for the Triple-AVancouver Mountiesat the time.[3]
He died in Charlottetown on November 2, 2016.[8]
Handrahan was inducted into theCanadian Baseball Hall of Famein 2021.[9]
References
[edit]- ^"George (Dandy) Wood inducted into Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame",Journal Pioneer,June 22, 2011.
- ^"Birth, Death and Cemetery Locations in Prince Edward Island, Canada".Retrosheet.RetrievedDecember 19,2021.
- ^abMoscovitch, Philip (2012), "Right Place, Right Time."Saltscapes
- ^"Lucius P. (Jeff) Jones".The Sporting News– via la84.org.
- ^Retrosheetbox score (5 May 1964): "Los Angeles Angels 8, Kansas City Athletics 1"
- ^Retrosheetbox score (17 August 1966, Game 2): "Chicago White Sox 5, Kansas City Athletics 1"
- ^Retrosheetbox score (15 September 1966): "Kansas City Athletics 1, Cleveland Indians 0 (11 innings)"
- ^Ross, Shane (November 3, 2016)."Vern Handrahan Remembered as 'A Model for Any Athlete'".CBC News.RetrievedFebruary 4,2024.
- ^"Vern Handrahan".baseballhalloffame.ca.RetrievedDecember 19,2021.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information fromBaseball Reference,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet
- Handrahan's page at the PEI Sports Hall of Fame
- 1936 births
- 2016 deaths
- Baseball people from Prince Edward Island
- Birmingham A's players
- Boise Braves players
- Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees
- Canadian expatriate baseball players in the United States
- Eau Claire Braves players
- Iowa Oaks players
- Canadian baseball players
- Canadian sportspeople of Irish descent
- Jacksonville Suns players
- Kansas City Athletics players
- Lewiston Broncs players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Major League Baseball players from Canada
- Montreal Expos scouts
- Portland Beavers players
- Rochester Red Wings players
- Sportspeople from Charlottetown
- Toledo Mud Hens players
- Vancouver Mounties players
- Wellsville Braves players