via: cincymuseum.org, wikepedia.org
Charles Harmon, is one of twelve children born to Sherman and Rosa Harmon on April 23, 1924, in Washington, Indiana where he completed his elementary and secondary education.Chuck Harmon began his baseball career in 1947, while still in college. He became tired of waiting for a job from the Toledo recreation department and accepted an offer to play in the Negro Leagues on the Indianapolis Clowns. After five days, however, he quit due to the punishing travel schedule and returned to Toledo. A month later, though, he was approached by the St. Louis Browns to play on one of their minor league teams. Except for a two year hiatus in 1948-1949 to remain eligible for his college basketball team, he stayed with the Browns until 1953 when he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. A year later he worked his way out of the Minors to make his début in the Major League.
When he joined the Cincinnati Reds in April 1954, Chuck Harmon was the first African American to join the team. Harmon played third base and the outfield for two seasons with the Reds until he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1957. He later played for the Philadelphia Phillies. During his major league career, Harmon played 289 games, hit 7 home runs and had a .238 batting average.
Later in his life he was given many honors. In 1997, Golf Manor, Ohio renamed one of its streets “Chuck Harmon Way” after its longtime resident. On April 20, 2004 (the 50th anniversary of Harmon’s debut as the Reds’ first African-American player), the Cincinnati Reds honored him during Chuck Harmon Recognition Night at Great American Ball Park. The pregame ceremonies included the unveiling of a special historic plaque, which now hangs near the entrance of the ballpark.
