LOCAL LEGENDS IN THE PROS: Perkowski Pitched During Golden Era Of Baseball

Harry Perkowski pitched eight seasons in the major leagues, appeared in 184 games and notched 33 victories. However, the left-handed pitcher’s major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in September 1947 tops his list of most memorable experiences.

“The first game I played was the biggest thrill,” Perkowski said. “To be up there and I had never even been to a major league game. To be a rookie and everything; It was kind of fascinating.”

Perkowski’s journey to the big leagues is equally fascinating. Born in the Dante community of Russell County, Perkowski and his family left Southwest Virginia before Perkowski celebrated his third birthday. They moved to another coal-mining community in West Virginia and Perkowski soon fell in love with the game that would one day become his profession.

“It was only thing we had then,” Perkowski said. “Baseball was it, and we had some pretty good teams.”

However, when Perkowski was a teenager he had more pressing issues than worrying about signing a pro contact. He served 3 ½ years in the U.S. Navy during World War II. As part of the Navy’s amphibious force, he saw time in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters during the conflict.

Once done serving his country, Perkowski was signed by the Reds at the urging of a local sports writer. He quickly rose through the minors and made his major league debut at 25-years-old.

“I went in and played against some real good ballplayers,” Perkowski said. “I pitched against players like [Jackie] Robinson, Stan Musial and [Gil] Hodges. They were all outstanding ballplayers … I tell ya, it was tough. They only had eight teams then so you would play the same teams over and over. It’s not like it is now with all the teams and interleague [play].”

Perkowski’s first taste of the big leagues lasted just three games at the end of the ’47 season and he spent the next summer in the minors. However, he returned to the Reds in 1949 and was in the majors to stay.

And he put together some memorable outings.

Perhaps his best performance came on July 19, 1954 at Crosley Field against the New York Giants. Perkowski allowed just three hits in 12 shutout innings of work as the Reds claimed a 1-0 extra-inning victory.

Perkowski overpowered a Giants lineup that included Alvin Dark, Monte Irvin and Willie Mays. He finished with five walks and struck out six. He also lined a double against Giants starting pitcher Don Liddle.

Perkowski also appeared to get stronger as the game wore on. In the top of the 12th inning, he struck out Mays, got Whitey Lockman to fly out and then struck out Wes Westrum.

The legendary Mays had considerable trouble with Perkowski that afternoon finishing 0-for-5 and striking out twice.

The Reds awarded Perkowski for his workmanlike effort and made him a winner in the bottom of the 12th inning as Hobie Landrith hit a home run with one out for the lone run of the game.

“I know I went the distance,” Perkowski said. “Back then, starters finished the game. Now a lot of pitchers get out of there after 5 ½ innings and that’s a full game for them.”

Perkowski also recalls a memorable relief appearance against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

“Frank Smith started the game for us and they scored four runs in the first inning,” Perkowski said. “Rogers Hornsby was our manager and he put me in there. I went the rest of the way and they only got two hits against me. The guy that got the two hits against me was Duke Snider. Gus Bell had a big hit and we won the game, 7-4.”

Perkowski’s best season came in 1952 when he went 12-10 with a 3.80 ERA in 33 games (24 starts). Two years later, he hit the only major league home run of his career, going deep against Brooklyn reliever Bob Milliken.

Perkowski wrapped up his major league career in 1955 with the Chicago Cubs and left the game with a 33-40 career record, five saves and a 4.37 ERA.

He currently lives in Beckley, W.Va., and he’ll celebrate his 86th birthday in two months. He recently made a return trip to the area to attend a family reunion in Wise County.
It’s been 53 years since Perkowski pitched in his last major league game, but the memories still remain for the Southwest Virginia native.

“Baseball’s a little different now,” Perkowski said. “Now it’s a business more than anything. Back then it was really baseball. We just loved to play.”
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