A Georgia native signed by the Braves as a pitcher in 1973, Harper was made an everyday player in 1976, but it was 1983 before he spent a full season in Atlanta. In July 1982 he dislocated his left shoulder while standing by the plate and enthusiastically waving a runner home. In his one solid season, 1985, he hit 17 homers. He played in Japan after his 1987 release by Pittsburgh.
