The Harrisburg Alumni Association
July 30 is a significant date for those once calling Harrisburg’s City Island their home for a season or two.
First, exactly 100 years after making his pro debut on City Island in 1895, former Harrisburg pitcher Vic Willis is inducted 31 years ago today into the Hall of Fame.
He joins the Class of 1995 that includes Mike Schmidt, Richie Ashburn, Leon Day and William Hulbert.
Next, Kirk Rueter, whose 5-0 start in 1993 for the Class AA Senators accelerates his rise to the major leagues, is traded 30 years ago along with pitcher Tim Scott from the Montreal Expos to the San Francisco Giants for pitcher Mark Leiter.
With the Giants, the fast-working, soft-tossing Rueter becomes one of baseball's most consistent left-handers, winning 93 of 152 decisions from 1997 through 2003 and helping San Francisco reach the 2002 World Series.
Finally, long-ago Harrisburg infielders Frank Grant and Ben Taylor are among the 17 Negro Leaguers and their predecessors inducted into the Hall of Fame 20 years ago today.
Narrowly missing induction in 2006 are onetime Harrisburg outfielders Spottswood Poles, Rap Dixon and Fats Jenkins, as well as former Harrisburg Giants infielder John Beckwith.
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