Harry Simpson

Who was Harry Simpson?

Harry Leon "Suitcase" Simpson was an African American outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Pittsburgh Pirates in his 8 year career. He played in the World Series with the New York Yankees in 1957, where they lost.

He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and died in Akron, Ohio. He was one of the earliest black player in the American League, playing first with the Cleveland Indians in 1951. Casey Stengel once called him the best defensive right fielder in the American League.

That his nickname of "Suitcase" came from his being frequently traded during his playing career is a common misconception. According to the 1951 Cleveland Indians Sketch Book, he was called "Suitcase" by sportswriters after the Toonerville Trolley character, Suitcase Simpson because of his size 13 shoe with feet as large as suitcases. This is years before his many trades. His real nickname was "Goody" which came from his willingness to run errands and help neighbors in his hometown of Dalton, Georgia.