Home of the Kit Pellow Fan Association

Collecting Cleveland Baseball Since 1982

Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.

From the Collection: Mel Harder, p, Cleveland Indians

From the Collection: Mel Harder, p, Cleveland Indians

Mel Harder had a fantastic 20-year career in the big leagues. Unfortunately, he was stuck playing on Cleveland squads that were middling at best, which probably hurt his career numbers. The best any club did that he was on came in 1940 when the Indians went 89-65 and finished a close second to the Tigers for the American League pennant.

During his peak, which I will call from 1930-1944, Harder averaged 201 innings a year, 14 wins, and a 117 ERA+. He was selected to four All-Star teams during this period–every season from 1934 to 1937. He also had back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1934 and 1935. He would retire with a 223-186 record, and a 113 ERA+.