1934-1936 Diamond Stars: #113 Mel Harder

Sunday, January 15, 2023

#113 Mel Harder - Cleveland Indians

Melvin Leroy Harder

Cleveland Indians

Pitcher

Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'1" Weight: 195

Born: October 15, 1909, Beemer, NE

Major League Teams: Cleveland Indians 1928-1947

As a Manager: Cleveland Indians 1961, 1962

Died: October 20, 2002, Chardon, OH (93)

Mel Harder spent 36 seasons with the Indians' franchise as a successful pitcher, respected pitching coach and briefly, as the team's interim manager. Harder came up with the Indians in 1928 and appeared in 23 games as an 18-year-old. He'd win at least 11 games with the team every year between 1930 and 1940, winning a career-high 22 games in 1935. He won the league ERA title in 1933 with a 2.95 mark and finished second in that category in 1934 with an even lower 2.61. Harder was named to four All-Star teams between 1934 and 1937, at one point pitching 13 consecutive scoreless innings in the exhibition. He never pitched in a World Series, and ironically enough the Indians would win the World Championship in 1948, his first season as the club's pitching coach.

Harder earned a lifetime mark of 223-186 in 582 games pitched, and had a 3.80 ERA and 1,161 strikeouts in 3,426 1/3 innings. His wins, games started (433) and innings pitched all stood as Indians club records until later broken by Bob Feller (#128). Harder is still the all-time franchise leader for games pitched and losses. As the team's pitching coach, he helped develop Feller, Bob Lemon, Early Wynn and Mike Garcia. He'd later coach briefly with the Mets (1964), Cubs (1965), Reds (1966-1968) and Royals (1969). Harder was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 1951, and had his #18 retired by the team in 1990. Finally, Harder threw the first pitch at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium in their inaugural game in their new home on July 31, 1932, in which he opposed the Athletics' Left Grove (#1). He then threw out the ceremonial last pitch in the ballpark following the team's final home game in 1993.

Building the Set

December 11, 2020 from San Diego, CA (Kit Young Cards)

On the night I impulsively decided to collect the original Diamond Stars set, and I subsequently purchased the Harvey Hendrick (#41) card from Kit Young Cards, I also added the complete, and first, extended set to my cart for the very reasonable price of $7.50. The 12 cards in this first extended set were originally issued in 1981.

In the early 1980s, a family member of a former National Chicle employee discovered an uncut sheet of 12 unused cards presumably meant as a 1937 continuation of the Diamond Stars set. As originally advertised, and as mentioned on the back of every card issued, the company had intended for the set to contain 240 subjects. They only produced 108 cards before production was halted, and the theory is this newly found sheet represented a "lost" continuation of the set. Fortunately, the images of the cards made their way into the collecting world and a 12-card "what if" set was created. (More on the uncut sheet can be found here from SABR's Baseball Cards Research Committee and from this Ryan Cracknell article for Beckett.)

Another great article was recently published to SABR's Baseball Cards Research Committee website taking a closer look at these extended cards.

The Beckett online database lists the set as "1981 Diamond Stars Continuation Den's" and the set's description notes "This set was created and produced by Denny Eckes. Hobbyist Mike Galella was involved in bringing this sheet to the the public. These cards were originally available from the producer for $3." The back of the cards have a 1981 copyright attributed to Den's Collectors Den, the company belonging to the aforementioned Eckes.

The 12 cards include more ambitious geometric designs than the original Diamond Stars cards, although the overall color template remains the same as their 1934 to 1936 counterparts.

Variations Available

1 - 1981 / blue back / 1936 statistics / 1981 copyright

The Card / Indians Team Set

As one of the most consistent pitchers of the 1930s, Harder would have been a logical choice to be included in this extension set that never was. I love the tip on the back, and the wording encouraging pitchers to keep their legs in shape. I especially enjoy the part of about, "running and sprinting to improve their wind on the days they are not assigned to hurl."

1937 Season

Harder was the Indians' opening day starter, and he'd go 15-12 for the fourth place team. He appeared in 38 games overall, making 30 starts, pitching 13 complete games in 233 2/3 innings. Harder's ERA for the season was 4.28. He appeared in his fourth and final All-Star Game, recording a three-inning save as the American League downed the National League, 8-3.