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Harris, Bill (2004)

Writer: Maine Baseball HOF
Maine Baseball HOF
Aug 12, 2019
2 min read

Harris, Bill (04)

William “Bill” Harris 2004 marks the Golden Anniversary of Bill Harris’ introduction to the wonderful world of youth baseball.

In 1954. Bill became the official scorer for the South Portland National League - a post he held for about eight years. At the same time, he became Reggie Hall's assistant coach of the Jets and Reggie has ever since been | recognized as one of the foremost teachers of baseball for youngsters. Bill was a stellar pupil who spent over 40 years in every aspect of Little League including senior Girls softball. He touched every base: scoring, coaching the youngsters, umpiring and administrating.

In the ‘60’s he served as a manager with Harry Savage as coach for several years. He moved to Senior League with Savage, again for several years. Bill has said “the highlight of my career was the Little League city baseball championship in the mid ‘60’s”.

In 1983 he was the recipient of the Kenneth Sills Award as Little League’s Manager of the Year. He umpired at all levels of baseball and softball and was nominated for the Ellsworth Millett Award as Umpire for the State of Maine. His administrative talents were employed by serving on many Boards of Directors.

John Gleason, often times a coaching rival, has said of Bill, “He has been an example to the youth in his knowledge of the game and handling his team. He was a gentle, tough competitor, always fair in his rulings.” Bill himself says,“I have always thought these games have provided positive experiences for these children, | as well as myself. I have always tried to make these games a fun experience for the children. I once coached the son (Greg Strout) and his father (Ronnie) 21 years apart.

To this day, I have had many visits and positive conversations with many former players and their parents.

As I grow older in years, I look back and reflect on these wonderful years. How happy I am that I was able to do it!”

Bill lives in South Portland with his wife, Darla, and has two sons, a stepson and two stepdaughters.


From Legacy Pages for his obituary, Bill died Monday, Aug. 11, 2008,


Bill was a member of Little League for over 35 years and was inducted in the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004. He was also a member of the Rotary Club in South Portland. His hobbies included all sports. He managed four sports in High School, baseball, football, track and basketball.

 
 
 

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Meet the 2026 Maine Baseball Hall of Fame inductees
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Portland Press Herald 4/10/2026
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/04/10/meet-the-2026-maine-baseball-hall-of-fame-inductees/?copylink=true

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Former St. Dominic and current Gray-New Gloucester coach Bob Blackman and Cony coach Don Plourde are among the 11 members of the newest class. Four coaches currently preparing for the upcoming high school baseball season are among the 11 inductees in the 2026 Maine Baseball Hall of Fame class.

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Gray-New Gloucester’s Bob Blackman, Brewer’s Dana Corey, Hampden Academy’s Jon Perry and Cony’s Don Plourde are all part of the class that will be inducted on Oct. 4 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland. Blackman coached St. Dominic High School to nine state championships in 22 seasons before the school closed at the end of the last school year. He was named the coach at Gray-New Gloucester in September. Corey hit .359 at the University of Maine in 1971. He played two seasons in the Chicago Cubs system and has been the head coach at Brewer for 18 seasons.

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Perry hit .381 at the University of Maine in 1981 and helped the Black Bears reach the College World Series. He has coached for the past 45 seasons at the high school, American Legion and collegiate levels. 

Plourde is in his 17th season as the coach at Cony High School and has been named the KVAC Coach of the Year five times. He has been coaching at various levels for more than 30 years. 

Others earning induction are: 

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• Al Cloutier, who has been involved in baseball in Augusta as a player, Cony High and American Legion coach, Babe Ruth League director and volunteer. 

• John Kolasinski, who was a college coach at for 37 years, first at Husson and later at Siena Heights University in Michigan. He is a five-time New England Coach of the Year winner.

• Mark Littlefield, a Portland High graduate, who is now in his 36th season working on the medical staff of the New York Yankees organization. 

• Scott Littlefield, a Portland High graduate, who will be inducted posthumously. Littlefield coached at Florida State University and the University of Southern Maine before working for 34 years as a Major League Baseball scout, including 16 as a player personnel special assistant for the Texas Rangers.

• J. Ronald Livington, who will be inducted posthumously. Livingston was an All-Star infielder for the semi-pro Presque Isle Indians in the Northern Aroostook League in the 1930 and 1940s. He also coached and was a director in the South Portland National Little League.

• Mike McCullum, of Portland, who hit .338 at the University of Southern Maine and earned ABCA Division III All-American honors in 1999. 

• Jim Taylor of Lewiston, who was a founding member of the Central Maine Board of Approved Baseball Umpires and was instrumental in starting the Maine chapter of the Collegiate Baseball Umpires Association.

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Maine Baseball Hall of Fame day  Delta Dental Park aka Hadlock Field 7/19/2026
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