Willie Harris is a former MLB player who has played for the Atlanta Braves, the Chicago White Sox, the Boston Red Sox, the New York Mets and more. Harris, a former Kennesaw State student, now coaches the Minor League Richmond Flying Squirrels and resides in Cairo, Georgia, during the offseason.
Harris discussed his career and his experience at KSU.
Q: You’ve played for seven MLB teams. Did your experience differ amongst teams? If so, why?
A: Playing in the major leagues is just a great experience in itself, but I’d have to say the most fun I had was playing for the Atlanta Braves — being from Georgia, my home state, and growing up watching those guys play on television — so that was definitely the most fun for me.
Q: How did it feel to win the world series in 2005?
A: It felt great to win the World Series in ’05. Being a part of a great team where chemistry was important, everybody had a role on that team and we pulled together and we pulled it off and it was a great feeling.
Q: Why did you decide to stop playing professional baseball in 2012?
A: I didn’t decide to stop playing. At some point in your baseball career, the game will decide when you’re done playing.
Q: How was your experience rejoining the White Socks as a hitting coach in the minors and why did you decide to rejoin?
A: Well, first of all, for me, that organization is top-notch. I’m indebted to that organization forever. Jerry Reinsdorf . . . offered me a job, and I jumped at it and took it, mainly because I knew I was gonna be a lifer in this game. I just had to bide my time and take a couple years off before I got back into coaching.
Q: How is your experience coaching the Flying Squirrels?
A: Everything has been phenomenal here for me. I’m working with some great people in the front office. We had some really good talent come through here that we’ve sent on to triple-A and some to the major leagues and that’s what its all about, so I’ve had a great time here in Richmond.
Q: How was growing up in Cairo and why did you decide to play baseball at KSU?
A: Well growing up in Cario, it’s a small town — everyone knows everyone. Definitely, if you get in trouble somewhere in the community, you’re gonna get in trouble again at home because everyone just knows your parents and things like that — it’s a hospitality city. [It’s a] great place to raise a family and just a good place where not a whole lot of bad things happen. Playing baseball at KSU was a great experience for me also. Playing for Mike Sansing there gave me an opportunity to play and bat third in front of Jason Jones, so it was a great experience for me.
Q: Do you have any advice for baseball players and athletes at KSU?
A: Just go out and play your game, understand your strengths, stay away from your weaknesses but practice them so you can . . . get better in that area. But most of all education is first — playing baseball is a plus, you’re supposed to have fun.
