Harry E. McCormick (1979) - Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame

Harry E. McCormick

Induction:
1979
Class:
1904

Sports: Baseball, Football, Track and Field, Basketball, Baseball Coach, Basketball Coach
A four-sport athlete at Bucknell and later baseball coach at the University, original Bucknell Athletics Hall-of-Famer Harry "Moose" McCormick played in two World Series for the New York Giants and is remembered as the man who created the role of the pinch hitter in professional baseball. At Bucknell McCormick competed in baseball, football, track and basketball. In a showdown between Penn and Bucknell, two football powerhouses, McCormick capped off his career at Bucknell when he ran for the winning touchdown on a rain-soaked Franklin Field in Philadelphia. He bulled into the last Penn defender at the 5-yard line and carried him into the end zone. McCormick left to play professional baseball with Jersey City in 1903. He then joined the New York Giants in 1904. Giants' manager John McGraw tried to sign as many college men as possible because he felt they were smarter and had a better chance of learning the game than players lacking college experience. In all, McCormick played in 399 Major League games and compiled a lifetime average of .285. He played in the World Series in 1912 and 1913. After World War I, McCormick returned to Bucknell as graduate manager of athletics and baseball and baseketball coach. He held those positions from 1922-25, and then went to West Point as head baseball coach from 1926-37.
(Bucknell Hall of Fame Class of 1979)