06/05/2026
For the Twin’s home game today, we’re reminded of the greatest Minor League hitter of all time, Spencer Harris. Born in Duluth in 1900, Harris’ outstanding career led to a few shots at the majors, but ultimately, he ended up playing a whopping 26 seasons in the minors. He was a star at bat, with a .318 batting average throughout his long career and holds the minor league record for runs scored (2,287), doubles (743), and total bases (5,434). One of the left-hander’s most successful seasons may have been playing for the Minneapolis Millers in 1928. The Society for American Baseball Research recorded his stats that season as batting .327 with 32 home runs, 127 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases, and led the American Association in doubles (41), total bases (364), bases on balls (87), and runs scored (133). Interestingly, they note that the Nicollet Park field had a short right-field fence which may have aided his stats. In 1935 he married Olivia Henriksen who grew up in Minneapolis. Near the end of his storied career, Harris coached his teammates, serving as both a player and manager. He retired in 1948 but stuck around the sport, taking on manager roles for the Marysville Braves in California and scouting for the New York Mets in 1962. He briefly ran a restaurant called The Wind Up in downtown Minneapolis with other former baseball stars, sold men’s suits at downtown Minneapolis’ Juster’s clothing store, and played golf for many years, even after suffering a heart attack in his mid-70s. Spencer passed away in 1982, twenty-five years after his wife’s death. He is memorialized in Lakewood’s Section 8.
Image 1: Harris via Society for American Baseball Research. Image 2: A close-up of Harris. Source: HCLib, via RIP MLB. Image 3: Harris at bat via Society for American Baseball Research. Image 4: Harris’ grave at Lakewood
