Micky Harrington (1967) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Micky Harrington

Induction:
1967

Mickey Harrington is regarded as one of the best basketball and baseball players ever produced at Southern Miss. During his basketball career he developed into one of the school's best scorers and rebounder, while on the baseball diamond he became one of the best hitters the school had ever seen.
   Harrington's career began at Hattiesburg (Mississippi) high School where in basketball he was an All-American and three times an all-Big Eight Conference selection. During his senior season he became one of the most sought after basketball players in the state and region.
   But the 6-4, 193-pounder elected to stay close to home and attend Southern Miss, where he immediately showed he had the tools and the skills to make contributions.
   Harrington first saw varsity action during the 1951-52 season as a reserve forward and although that first season he would average only 6.6 points a game off the bench, he showed the ability to become one of the school's best rebounders. That 1951-52 team finished with a 29-8 record and advanced for the first time to the NAIA National championships.
   In 1952-53 Harrington became a regular and responded with an outstanding year. He averaged 8.4 points a game and although rebounding statistics weren't kept much in those days, by all reports he was one of the team's top rebounders. Harrington who was just as tough playing on the perimeter as he was playing inside went to the foul line 110 times, the second most on the team, making 69 (62.7-percent). That squad went 27-8 and advanced into the final eight of the NAIA National tournament.
   Harrington continued to improve in 1953-54 and in fact was the team's third leading scorer with a 14.0 average. He again was one of the top rebounders as the team went 23-8 and again played in the NAIA National tournament.
   He was the team's leading scorer as a senior in 1954-55 when he averaged 13.3 points a game and was the team's top rebounder. The team struggled to just an 11-17 record that year, but rallied late in the season to qualify for the NAIA National tournament for a fourth straight year.
   Harrington would finish his career with 1,161 points to currently rank among the top 25 career scorers all-time at Southern Miss.
   As a four year baseball letterman for the Golden Eagles he posted a .343 career batting average, which still ranks among the school's best. He also was a two year letterman in track and field.
   Pro baseball was his choice over a shot with the New York Knicks, the basketball team that drafted him. The United States Army got him first however,
   Following a two-year hitch he signed for baseball and spent nine years with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He had a lifetime batting average in the minor leagues of just under .300.