Willie Harris

William Charles Harris (born June 22, 1978) is an American professional baseball coach who recently served as the third base coach for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is also a former outfielder and second baseman who played for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds between 2001 and 2012. With the White Sox, he won the 2005 World Series against the Houston Astros. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He attended Middle Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University and lives in Cairo, Georgia during the off-season. He is the nephew of former third baseman and shortstop for the Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants, Ernest Riles.

Versatility and speed are his biggest strengths, as Harris has the ability to play all three outfield positions as well as second base, where he started 28 games in 2005. He started two games at shortstop in 2005. He can also play third base. His most productive season came in 2004, when he posted career-numbers in average (.262), RBI (27), runs (68), hits (107), doubles (15) and at-bats (409). Harris also notched a career high of 19 stolen bases. In 2005, he stole 10 bases in 56 games.

In the 2005 playoffs, Harris went 2-for-2 in the postseason with an RBI, one stolen base, and one run scored. Harris' successful pinch-hit single in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series against the Houston Astros would prove to be decisive after Harris scored on an RBI single by Jermaine Dye. Not only was the run the game-winner, it was the only run which would be scored in the Series-clinching Game 4.

The Boston Red Sox signed Harris to a one-year, split contract. He went to spring training camp as a non-roster invitee, but he was figured to have a strong chance to make the Opening Day roster. On April 20, Harris had his contract purchased by the Red Sox and was added to the 40-man roster. Harris was designated for assignment on July 18. Three days later, he cleared waivers and was assigned to the Triple–A Pawtucket Red Sox.

The Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics completed a trade on April 29, 2007, as the Braves sent outfielder Ryan Langerhans to the A's in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. To fill Langerhans' spot, Atlanta purchased the contract of Harris from the Triple–A Richmond Braves.

Harris went on to have a career year in 2007. He hit near .400 during the month of May and went into the All-Star Break with a .342 average. He led the team with 17 stolen bases. On June 30, Harris tied a career personal record with 3 stolen bases in a 6–5 win over the Miami Marlins. He posted a remarkable night on July 21: In a 14–6 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals, Harris went 6-for-6 with four singles, two triples, six RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base. He became just the second player in Atlanta history and the seventh in franchise history to have six hits in a game. But Harris' numbers in the second half of the season dropped precipitously. He had a .214 average, a .294 on-base percentage, and a .354 slugging average after the all-star break.

On August 9, the Braves were beating the NL East-leading New York Mets 7-3 entering the bottom of the 9th at Shea Stadium. After Braves reliever Tyler Yates yielded three runs to bring the Mets within one, Óscar Villarreal came on to pitch. The first hitter he faced, first baseman Carlos Delgado, hit what appeared to be a solo home run to make it a tie game. Harris ranged back in left field, stopped just before the wall and jumped, robbing the home run and preserving the lead.

Harris was designated for assignment on December 4, 2007. Harris was not offered a new contract by the Braves and became a free agent on December 12.