Jim was a member of one of the best pitching staffs of the 1960s and 1970s that included Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Tom Phoebus, and Mike Cuellar.  He earned a championship ring in the 1970 World Series and was part of the dominant 1969 American League champs who lost that year's World Series to the "Miracle Mets".  An 18 game winner in 1968, Hardin pitched 4-1/2 years with Baltimore, half of one season with the Yankees and one year with the Braves. He finished his career with a record of 43-32 and a 3.19 ERA. 

 

Angels Weighing Offer by Orioles

by John Wiebusch, The Sporting News, 11/8/69

His name is as close to untouchable as any on the California Angels' roster.  "It's not that we wouldn't consider trading Andy Messersmith," said General Manager Dick Walsh.  "It's just that it would take a top-heavy offer to make us buy it."

That being the case, purchase time may be near.

There are rumors that the Orioles have offered the Angels two pitchers, Tom Phoebus and Jim Hardin, and an outfielder, Merv Rettenmund, in exchange for the man many observers rate the best young pitcher in the A.L.

Messersmith had a 16-11 record after an abysmal beginning in which he lost his first five decisions.  Over the last four months of the season, he won more games than anyone in the league except the Orioles' Mike Cuellar.  Messersmith's earned-run average was 2.52 (ranked fourth in the league) and he struck out 211 (third in the league) in 250 innings.  At 24, he is unquestionably a candidate for the lofty status of super-star.

HARDIN'S ARM IS SOUND

The Orioles' offer is intriguing however, because:

• Hardin is onlly 26 years old.  He was 8-3 in the last half of 1967 and 18-13 in 1968.  He slipped to 6-7 this year, but the reports are that his arm is strong.
• Phoebus is only 27.  He was 14-9 in 1967, 15-15 in 1968 and 14-7 this year.
• Rettenmund is only 26 and possibly the most important figure from the Angels' viewpoint.  He was The Sporting News' Minor League Player of the Year in 1968, when he led the International League with a .331 average while playing for Rochester.  Rettenmund also scored 104 runs and hit 22 homers.  He hit .297 in 31 games with the Orioles that year and .247 in infrequent duty during the past pennant season.

Walsh rejected the offer initially (during the World Series), but there are reports that he since has had second thoughts.