Pete Harnisch: Long Island Native - Fordham U. Graduate & Former Mets Pitcher (1995 - 1997)

Peter Thomas Harnisch was born on September 23, 1966, in Commack Long Island. The six-foot right hand attended Fordham University in the Bronx & became a star pitcher for the Rams. He was inducted into the schools Hall of Fame in 1988.

In 1987 Harnisch was the first-round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles. In 1988 he started at AA Charlottee & was promoted to AAA Rochester, where he went 4-1. Overall, he struck out 184 batters in 190 innings.

MLB Debut: On September 13th, he got a call up making his debut in a start at Fenway Park taking a loss to the Red Sox as he gave up five runs. On April 19th, he got a start just seven miles from his former college in the Bronx. That night in front of many friends & family members he gave up three runs but took a 3-2 loss.

In 1989 he began the season with the Orioles but was quickly sent down to AAA Rochester that April. He returned in early July going 5-9 with a 4.62 ERA the rest of the way. 

In 1990 Harnisch earned a spot in the Orioles rotation & began the year at 3-0. At the end of July, he was 9-5 with a 4.31 ERA. In the final two months, he would only win two more games finishing the year at 11-11 with 122 strike outs in 188 innings pitched, posting a 4.34 ERA. 

In January 1991 he was traded along with Steve Finley and Curt Schilling to the Houston Astros for Glenn Davis. Harnisch would spend four seasons in Houston having two double digit win seasons. In 1991 he became the sixth place Astros top starter going 12-9 with a 2.70 ERA (3rd in the NL) & 172 strikeouts (4th in the NL). Pete had the best hits per nine innings ratios in the NL (7.0) as well as the third best strike outs per nine innings ratio (7.15).

1991 All Star: At the All-Star break, he was leading the league in ERA (2.22) but lack of run support had him at 5-7.  NL Manager Lou Pinella, named Harnisch to the 1991 All Star team. He pitched two scoreless innings of the 4-2 NL loss at Skydome in Toronto.

Trivia: On September 6th, he became the 17th NL pitcher in history, to strike out three batters on nine pitches. It came in a 3-1 win over the Phillies.

In 1992, he had an off year going 9-10 but followed up with his best season. 

In 1993 he won a career high 16 games, leading the league with four shutouts. He also held opponents to the lowest batting average against (.214) & fewest hits allowed per nine innings. He posted a 2.98 ERA with 185 strike outs in 217 innings.

One Hitters: On July 10th he pitched a one hit 4-0 shut out at Wrigley Field, striking out ten Cubs. On September 22nd, he pitched his second one hitter, coming in Houston, beating the Astros 3-0 for his 15th win of the season.

In the strike shortened 1994 season, missed all of June with a torn tendon. He went 8-5 on the year. In November 1994 he was traded to the New York Mets for Juan Castillo.

Mets Career: Harnisch was thrilled to return to his hometown area. The Mets organization hyped him up as a local top of the line acquisition. He joined the trio of "Generation K" young Mets pitchers, Jason Isringhausen, Paul Wilson & Bill Pulsipher. None of it worked out as injuries ruined their careers. The Mets finished second under manager Dallas Green but win jut 69 games.

On April 29th, Petee debuted in the fourth game of the season, pitching six innings while only allowing a run on three hits at Shea Stadium taking no decision in the win over St. Louis. 

In his next three starts, he gave up two runs or less each time but couldn't get a win. On May 20th, he gave up a season high nine runs in a 10-8 loss to the Phillies.I n his next start he gave up two runs but was shut out by Tom Candiotti & the Dodgers. 

On May 30th at Shea, he pitched eight shutout innings striking out a season high eight batters in a 4-0 win over the Padres. 

From June 9th to July 6th, he lost his next five decisions, giving up 28 runs in 33.2 innings over six starts. On July 16th he only gave up one run to the Rockies over eight innings at Shea, but Rockies pitchers only allowed one Mets run as he took another tough loss. 

On July 21st, he shut out the Rockies for six innings at Coors Field, earning him his first win in two months. In August he suffered an injury that shut him down for the rest of the season.

His season was a huge disappointment, Harnisch would only pitch in 18 games going 2-8 with a
3.68 ERA. He had 82 strike outs with 24 walks giving up 13 HRs & 45 earned runs in 101 innings.

1996: Pete didn't make a start until the 11th game of the season; he beat the Rockies in Colorado

in his first win. In his next two starts he gave up five runs each time taking a pair of losses. On April 29th he edged the Expos Jeff Fassero in a 3-2 win at Shea.

Brawl on John Franco Day: On Saturday May 11th, the Mets honored John Franco after he had recorded his 300th save a few days earlier. Harnisch got the start against the Cubs Kevin Foster. In the bottom of the 1st inning, after two Mets reach base, Foster threw a pitch by catcher Todd Hundley's head. 

In the top of the 2nd, with two outs & no one Kevin Foster came to bat. Harnisch answered back for the Hundley pitch, as he drilled Foster on his left elbow in front of his left side. 

When asked later if it was intentional, Harnisch replied "I'd rather not answer that". 

When Harnisch came to bat there were two men on in a tight game, so Foster could not retaliate. The next time he came up, Foster was gone but the Cubs couldn't risk any more runs so new pitcher Rodney Myers could not retaliate either. 

The Mets took a 5-2 lead, when Harnisch stepped to the plate in the 5th inning, new pitcher Terry Adams threw a pitch aimed at Harnisch's knee but missed. Pete began to have words with his friend & ex Astro teammate, catcher Scott Servais. As Cub manager Jim Riggleman went to the mound, all hell broke loose. 

Harnisch threw a punch at Servais, benches emptied as did the bullpens. Fights broke out all over the field. Nine players were ejected. After order was restored, the Mets won it on Rico Brogna's walk off HR.

Over the next two months, he went 5-7 allowing 43 runs but 36 of them were earned. In those 12 games he served up ten HRs & took a 4.38 ERA. But then from July 23rd to August 3rd, he won three straight games allowing just four runs over 26 innings pitched. In 20 innings pitched he struck out 17 batters as opposing hitter hit .224 against him.

Shut Out: On July 29th he pitched a four-hit shutout over the Pittsburgh Pirates, striking out seven at Shea Stadium in his best outing of the season.

He managed to best his record to 8-7 but then lost his last five decisions of the season. During that time the Mets fired Dallas Green & hired Bobby Valentine as manager. Pete went 8-12 with a 4.21 ERA making 31 starts. He struck out 114 batters, walked 61 giving up a season high 30 HRs in 194.4 innings of work.

1997: In Spring Training of 1997 Harnisch quit a 13-year habit of chewing tobacco. The withdrawals gave him headaches, weight loss, sleeplessness, and mental anxiety. He was diagnosed with depression. He literally became the poster boy for Paxil, making public appearances promoting the drug that helped him cope.

On Opening Day, he was Bobby Valentines starting pitcher, but he gave up three straight HRs to the Padres, in the 12-5 loss.

With all his issues he missed four months of the season, returning in August. He made four starts, taking a loss to the Astros. On August 26th he came in relief in the 7th inning of a loss to the Giants. It was his last Mets appearance. On August 31st he was traded to the Brewers for a minor leaguer.

New Jersey Living: Harnisch said he enjoyed his days playing in New York. The former Fordham guy had moved to Howell, New Jersey & then to Colts Neck, New Jersey. He enjoyed commuting up the Garden State Parkway to Shea Stadium for the home games. 

Mets Career Stats: In his Mets career Harnisch pitched in 55 games, making 54 starts. He was 10-21 with a 4.33 ERA.

Post Mets Career: In 1998 he signed on with the Cincinnati Reds. Pete was revived in his first season in Cincinnati becoming the ace of the staff on Jack McKeon's team. He was 14-7 with a 3.14 ERA pitching 202 innings. 

In 1999 the ace of the Reds won 16 games (16-10) with a 3.68 ERA. He struck out 120 batters in 198 innings. 

On Opening Day he shut out the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. From June 16th to August 16th, he won eight straight decisions. On the final day of the season, Harnisch beat the Brewers, shutting them out for four innings in Milwaukee. 

The win tied the Reds with the Mets & forced a one game playoff in Cincinnati. The Mets won that playoff game behind Al Leiter's shut out, advancing them to the post season.

Pete pitched two more seasons with the Reds, then suffered arm trouble requiring surgery.

Career Stats: In a 14-year career he was 111-103 with a 3.89 ERA. He had 1368 strike outs with 716 walks in 1959 innings in 321 games, 318 starts. 

Family: Pete met his wife Donna at Fordham University through his college roommate. They have two sons together & live in Colts Neck NJ.

Retirement: Pete was a roving pitcher instructor for the Angels. Harnisch also teaches kids instructional baseball.