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Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

Greg Harris shares a baseball legacy with Elton ``Ice Box'' Chamberlain.

Chamberlain and Harris are the only two ambidextrous pitchers to throw both right- and left-handed in the same game in major-league history.

Chamberlin had accomplished the milestone 107 years earlier. When he read about Chamberlain, Harris felt as though he were looking into a mirror.

``They called him `Ice Box' because he had ice in his veins. I prided myself on being that kind of player,'' Harris said.

Four years ago today, Harris became the Chamberlin of his century. In what amounted to the final appearance of his career, the Montreal Expos reliever pitched one inning throwing both right- and left-handed to two Cincinnati Reds hitters.

Harris had tried for years to pull off the feat without success. But late in the 1995 season, Expos general manager Kevin Malone, manager Felipe Alou and pitching coach Joe Kerrigan were willing to let Harris become the second ambidextrous pitcher in history if the situation were right.

The final weekend of the season, in a game the Expos were losing to the Reds, the opportunity presented itself.

``The amazing thing is I waited nine years for it to happen,'' said Harris, who spent 1999 as the JetHawks' pitching coach. ``(Two things) about being up there with that group. . . . One, they thought it was good for the game. And two, they wanted to see it. Their attitude to what it was all about was the attitude I was looking for.''

In the seventh inning against the Reds in a blowout situation, Kerrigan made a phone call to the Montreal bullpen and told Harris to begin throwing.

With both hands.

Harris was a natural right-hander but had a strong left arm and left leg from playing sports as a youngster growing up in the Long Beach area.

Having pitched with a custom-made, six-finger glove (suitable for either hand) since 1986, Harris began his warmup tosses as a both a righty and a southpaw, tipping off anyone who could see the bullpen area as to what might be coming.

Kerrigan made a trip to the pen and told Harris if he could retire the first batter of the ninth inning right-handed, he could make the switch to the next left-hander in Cincinnati's lineup.

What transpired was a baseball rarity. Reggie Sanders led off the inning, yelling out a question to Harris to see if the pitches were going to be left-handed.

``They all saw me warm up. . . . so I told Reggie `You going to bat left-handed?' '' Harris said. ``The first pitch I throw . . . he grounds out to short. So I'm thinking `Oh my gosh, here we go.' ''

Left-swinging Hal Morris was next and Harris switched his glove over to the right hand.

The first southpaw pitch of his career was a blazing fastball that sailed past the right side of the batter's box and all the way to the backstop. Every pitch Harris threw to Morris came closer to the strike zone, but it was a less-than-convincing four-pitch walk.

Fortunately for Harris, an earlier ejection of Reds catcher Benito Santiago brought his left-handed batting replacement Eddie Taubensee to the plate and a shot at redemption for Harris from the left side.

He restored some of his bruised pride by throwing a strike to Taubensee. The count eventually went full, but Harris won the battle on a `nubber' in front of the plate.

Right-hander Bret Boone hit next, turning Harris back to his natural throwing side. Boone got a big cut on a Harris fastball but just missed it, fouling it straight back and shattering a piece of plexiglass that added to the lore.

``On the tape (Expos broadcaster Ken) Singleton's going, `Well we know which side he throws harder from.' That was a classic line,'' said Harris, who induced a come-backer from Boone to complete the scoreless inning.

``I threw to two righties and two lefties in the same inning. No runs, no hits, (but) for me that was something. . . . The way I went about it and the way it was treated, it was done on a professional level and that's all I was looking for.''

In Montreal, media attention was scarce. But Harris, who compiled an ordinary 74-90 record during his 15-year career, caught Cooperstown's attention.

``The next morning I get out to the ballpark and the Hall of Fame calls. . . . This is the next morning. I was shocked,'' Harris said. ``What they wanted was the ball. I figured I may as well give them a glove.''

Harris delivered one of his novelty mitts and the baseball to the Hall personally. The memorabilia was placed on the second floor ``Evolution of Equipment'' exhibit.

Harris left the mound that night with plans to continue his ambidextrous habits the following year.

``I started playing catch three days a week left-handed so I could get stronger and stronger, so what I was anticipating next year (was) going to spring training with Montreal and being able to do it more on a regular basis,'' Harris said. ``Why should I come in and face a righty and then get taken out to face a left-hander?''

But Harris didn't anticipate the Expos releasing him the following spring. Nobody else had any interest in the then-39-year-old who'd been the oldest pitcher in the National League.

But from the left side or the right one, Harris's place among baseball's folk heroes is secure.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

PHOTO (1 -- color) Greg Harris threw both right- and left-handed in an Expos' game.

(2 -- color) JetHawks pitching coach Greg Harris throws left-handed.

David Crane/Staff Photographer