William Edgar "Bud" Hardin (June 14, 1922 – July 28, 1997) was an American

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

player. Although he played professionally for 13 seasons (1942; 1946–1957), Hardin appeared in only three Major League games as a

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists who ...

, second baseman and

pinch hitter In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute Batting (baseball), batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the dead ball (baseball), ball is dead (not in active play); the manager (baseball), manager may use any player who has not yet ...

for the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

. The native of Shelby, North Carolina, threw and batted right-handed, stood tall and weighed . He served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. Hardin made the Cubs' early season roster in 1952 as a 29-year-old

rookie A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year). In contrast with a veteran who has experience and expertise, a rookie is usually inexperienced ...

after being selected in the 1951 Rule 5 draft out of the St. Louis Cardinals' organization. In his debut game on April 15, 1952, Hardin pinch hit for second baseman Bob Ramazzotti in the fourth

inning In baseball, softball, and similar games, an inning is the basic unit of play, consisting of two halves or frames, the "top" (first half) and the "bottom" (second half). In each half, one team bats until three outs are made, with the other team ...

of a game against the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

Crosley Field Crosley Field was a Major League Baseball park in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home field of the National League's Cincinnati Reds from 1912 through June 24, 1970, and the original Cincinnati Bengals football team, members of the second (1937) an ...

, then stayed in the game at second base, going hitless in four at bats but playing errorless ball in the field as the Cubs won, 6–5. His next appearance came a week later against the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

at Forbes Field. He entered the game, a one-sided Chicago victory, in the fifth inning in relief of starting shortstop Leon Brinkopf. The following inning, Hardin collected his only Major League hit, a

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

off the Pirates'

Jim Suchecki James Joseph Suchecki (August 25, 1927 – July 20, 2000) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1950 through 1952 for the Boston Red Sox (1950), St. Louis Browns (1951) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1952). Listed at 5' 11", 185 lb ...

. Again he played errorless ball, handling two

chances Chances may refer to: * ''Chances'' (TV series), an Australian soap opera * ''Chances'' (Philippine TV series), a prime-time soap opera * '' Chances: The Women of Magdalene'', a 2006 documentary film * ''Chances'' (novel), a 1981 novel by Jac ...

. In his final appearance, and lone game played at

Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the Chicago Cubs, one of the city's two MLB franchises. It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghman's Chicago Wh ...

, he was again a defensive replacement in the late innings of a winning Cubs' effort, taking over from

Roy Smalley Jr. Roy Frederick Smalley Jr. (June 9, 1926 – October 22, 2011) was a shortstop in Major League Baseball. From 1948 through 1958, Smalley played for the Chicago Cubs (1948–1953), Milwaukee Braves (1953–69), Milwaukee Braves (1954) and Philad ...

at shortstop. In his final MLB at bat, facing Clyde King, Hardin grounded out to his opposite number,

Pee Wee Reese Harold Peter Henry "Pee Wee" Reese (July 23, 1918 – August 14, 1999) was an Americans, American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers from 194 ...

of the

Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...

. He also turned a

double play In baseball and softball, a double play (denoted as DP in baseball statistics) is the act of making two outs during the same continuous play. Double plays can occur any time there is at least one baserunner and fewer than two outs. In Major Leag ...

. During his

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...

career, Hardin played in 1,347 games.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hardin, Bud 1922 births 1997 deaths Baseball players from North Carolina Chicago Cubs players Columbus Red Birds players Houston Buffaloes players Los Angeles Angels (minor league) players Manchester Giants players Major League Baseball infielders Mobile Bears players Richmond Colts players Rochester Red Wings players Salisbury Giants players San Diego Padres (minor league) players United States Army personnel of World War II Sportspeople from Shelby, North Carolina