Larry Harlow (baseball)

Larry Duane Harlow (born November 13, 1951) is a retired professional baseball player who played 6 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels.

Harlow was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent on August 24, 1970. He played parts of four seasons with the Orioles before being traded to the California Angels for Floyd Rayford and cash on June 3, 1979. The transaction was the result of Harlow's lack of playing time with the Orioles and the Angels' need for an outfielder to replace the injured Rick Miller.[1] Most of Harlow's career highs came during the 1978 season with Baltimore when he scored 67 runs, recorded 112 hits, and 14 stolen bases.[2] Harlow played his final MLB game on October 3, 1981, finishing with a career .248 batting average.

Harlow made the only pitching appearance in his MLB playing career in a one-sided 24–10 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Exhibition Stadium on June 26, 1978. The first of two consecutive position players used as a relief pitcher, he entered the game with the Orioles losing 19–6 at the start of the fifth inning. After retiring the first two batters, he walked three of the next four, all of whom scored as a result of a Rico Carty two-run single and a John Mayberry three‐run homer. He was replaced by Elrod Hendricks after issuing a fourth walk.[3]

The highlight of Harlow's career was in Game 3 of the 1979 American League Championship Series when his walk-off double to left field off Don Stanhouse scored Brian Downing from second base in the ninth inning of a 4–3 win that prevented the Angels from being swept by the Orioles.[1]

Following his Major League career, Harlow played one season in Japan for the Yakult Swallows in 1982.