Rich Harden (Victoria, B.C.) pitching for the Chicago Cubs in 2008. Photo: Kevin Glew

June 5, 2023

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame will hold its 2023 induction ceremony on June 17 in St. Marys, Ont.

Four 2023 inductees will be honoured: Rich Harden, Denis Boucher, Jesse Barfield and Joe Wiwchar.

In the days leading up to the event, I will be profiling each of the inductees, beginning today with Harden:

Rich Harden Hall of Fame Bio:

Born in Victoria, B.C. in 1981, Harden honed his pitching skills in the Layritz Little League and with the Victoria Mariners of the B.C. Premier Baseball League.

Out of high school, the young right-hander was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 38th round of the 1999 MLB draft, but he declined to sign. He re-entered the draft in 2000 and was chosen in the 17th round by the Oakland A’s. However, before signing with the A’s on May 18, 2001, he dominated for a season with Central Arizona College, going 11-2 with a 2.14 ERA in 18 games, striking out 127 batters in 96 2/3 innings.

Harden began his professional career close to home with the Class-A Short-Season Vancouver Canadians, posting a 3.39 ERA in 18 games in 2001. But he’d enjoy a breakout campaign the ensuing year when he went a combined 12-6 with a 2.94 ERA, while striking out 187 batters in 153 innings in 28 starts between High-A and Double-A. His efforts earned him the A’s Minor League Player of the Year award and helped him land the starting nod for the World Team in the Futures Game the following year.

He’d make his major league debut on July 21, 2003 and permit just one run on four hits in seven innings against the Kansas City Royals in a 6-1 A’s victory. From there, Harden became a mainstay in the A’s rotation for the next two seasons. After setting career-highs with 31 starts and 189 2/3 innings in 2004, he went 10-5 with a 2.53 ERA and struck out 121 batters in 128 innings in 2005.

Following two injury shortened campaigns, a rejuvenated Harden put up ace-like numbers with the A’s in 2008, going 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts. He even threw an immaculate inning in the first inning of his start against the Los Angeles Angels on June 8.

One month later, he was dealt to the Chicago Cubs where he continued his dominance, going 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA, allowing just 39 hits and striking out 89 batters in 71 innings, in 12 starts down the stretch. He completed that season with a combined 10-2 record and a 2.07 ERA with 181 strikeouts in 148 innings in 25 starts.

Harden returned to the Cubs in 2009 and fanned 171 batters in 141 innings in 26 starts prior to finishing his major league career with single seasons with the Texas Rangers (2010) and the A’s (2011).

In all, in parts of nine major league campaigns, Harden had a 59-38 record and a 3.76 ERA in 170 appearances. His 949 strikeouts and 17.9 WAR rank sixth all-time among Canadian big league pitchers, while his 160 starts rank 10th among Canucks. He also retired as one of four Canadian major league pitchers to have averaged more than a strikeout per inning (minimum 100 innings).

For his efforts, he was inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

Harden on being inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame:

“When I received the news that I was being inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, I was at a loss for words. I am proud and honoured to have my name added to a list that includes so many great people who have had such a positive impact on baseball in Canada. I’m so grateful to all the people who helped and supported me along the way, and I’m looking forward to the induction weekend in St. Marys this summer.”

Harden firsts:

First MLB Game: July 21, 2003. He started and pitched seven innings for the A’s, allowing just one run on four hits, to the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. He also struck out four batters. He got a no-decision, but the A’s rallied for five runs in the ninth inning for a 6-1 win.

First MLB Strikeout: Royals catcher Ken Harvey to lead off the second inning in his MLB debut on July 21, 2003.

First MLB Win: July 26, 2003. He started and threw seven innings for the A’s and allowed just one run on seven hits to the Angels in the A’s 8-1 win at Anaheim Stadium. Harden fanned three batters in the game.

First MLB Hit: May 17, 2008. Singled to left field off Atlanta Braves starter Tim Hudson to lead off the fourth inning during an interleague game while with the A’s.

First Multi-Hit Game as a Batter: July 10, 2009. He went 2-for-2 with two singles off St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter while he was with the Cubs. He was taken out of the game after five innings. The Cards won 8-3 at Wrigley Field.

First MLB Complete Game Shutout: July 14, 2005 vs. the Rangers. He had a perfect game going for the A’s through 7 1/3 innings, but it was broken up on an Alfonso Soriano single to centre field in the eighth. Harden settled for a two-hit shutout in a 6-0 A’s win. He struck out eight and threw just 80 pitches.

First Double-Digit Strikeout Game: August 31, 2003 vs. the Tampa Bay Rays. He started and struck out out 10 batters in seven innings in an A’s 4-3 victory. This was the first of 12 double-digit strikeout games in his career. He registered a career-high 11 strikeouts in four different games.

First MLB Start in Canada: September 5, 2004 vs. the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. He allowed seven runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings and was saddled with the loss in the Blue Jays’ 13-5 victory.

Fun Facts:

-Harden was the second of three Canadian right-handers selected in the 17th round of the 2000 MLB draft. Chosen before him was David Jablonski, out of Calgary’s Lord Beaverbrook High School, by the Chicago Cubs and selected after him was Andrew Myette, out of Guildford Park High School in Surrey, B.C., by the Texas Rangers.

-The first MLB batter he faced was Royals outfielder and Vancouver native Aaron Guiel. Guiel grounded out to shortstop. It’s believed that this is the first time in MLB history that the first batter a B.C.-born pitcher ever threw to in their MLB debut was also from B.C.

-Harden is set to became the third ex-major leaguer from B.C. that was born in 1981 to be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. The previous two are Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.) and Jeff Francis (North Delta, B.C).

Glew: 2023 Canadian Baseball HOF inductee spotlight - Rich Harden