A competent defensive catcher with a great ability to handle the knuckleball, Chiti was 17 years old when he broke into the majors with the Chicago Cubs in September 1950, and he made infrequent appearances in MLB from 1950 to 1952 as he learned his trade in the Cubs' farm system.
In 1956, Chiti shared catching duties with Hobie Landrith. On May 30 (Memorial Day) he made an entry for himself in Cubs trivia, during the second game of a windblown doubleheader against the Milwaukee Braves, in which 39 runs were scored overall. While being intentionally walked, Chiti hit Ray Crone's pitch, delivered a little too close to the outside corner of the plate, into the right field corner for a triple.[1][2]
Chiti played with the Athletics from 1958 to 1960. The next three years, he was part of transactions between the A's, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians.
On April 25, 1962—before he played a game for the Indians—Chiti was acquired by the expansion New York Mets for a player to be named later. However, he was sent back to the Indians on June 15, 1962, after 15 games and a .195 batting average.[3] Chiti was the "player to be named later"; he became the first MLB player to be traded for himself. Three other players have been traded for themselves: Dickie Noles, Brad Gulden, and John McDonald.
Chiti never played in another major league game, spending his last two years with the Triple-A Toronto Maple Leafs before retiring after the 1964 season.
Harry Chiti died on January 31, 2002, at Heart of Florida Hospital in Haines City, at the age of 69. He was survived by his wife Catherine; his daughter Cindy; his son, former minor league pitcher and coach, Dom; and eight grandchildren. He is buried at Rolling Hills Cemetery in Winter Haven, Florida.
