Trailblazers: Arvis Harper

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – As the first black starting quarterback on his high school football team in the 1970s, Arvis Harper was used to shaking things up. The North Little Rock prep star had football scholarships from plenty of schools. He was sought after for his baseball talents too. Even though Harper’s high school didn’t have a baseball team at the time, he made a name for himself in American Legion. Harper picked baseball because he wanted to be a professional baseball player, and because he wanted to be an Arkansas Razorback.

From 1976-78, Harper achieved his dream of playing for the University of Arkansas and was a three-time letter winner for the Razorbacks. After only getting 19 at bats as a freshman, Harper enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, leading the team with a .301 batting average with a home run and 22 RBI. In 1978, Harper drove in a team-best 28 runs and hit .283 with five homers. He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 14th round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft.

“I was very thankful, and humbled,” Harper said. “I am also thankful to be a Razorback!” the father of seven and Little Rock business owner exclaimed when asked about receiving the Trailblazer recognition in April 2011. Before that, it had been four years since Harper came back to the University of Arkansas to show his kids around campus. Harper’s Trailblazer visit was perfect, he was honored on the field during an exciting LSU game that ended with a walk-off home run. His return visit included a tour of campus, meeting the players in the locker room (the players gave him a jersey), and was the guest of honor in the Athletic Director’s box during the game. Harper even got to reminisce with a few former teammates. Some didn’t even know that Harper was the first African-American player on the baseball team.

Harper, along with teammate Hank Thompson, were well aware in 1976 that they were the first African American baseball players. “Off the field, there was racial tension,” Harper said, “We had to have mental toughness.” Harper and Thompson made it a priority as the first two African-American ball players, to carry themselves with class and dignity off the field. “We had to set the foundation for future black players,” Harper explained. “A player’s personal character is often remembered over their athletic ability.”

In the case of Arvis Harper, this Razorback trailblazer is remembered for what he accomplished on and off the baseball diamond.

In honor of Black History Month, Razorback Athletics is honoring “Trailblazer” stories celebrating the success and accomplishments of some of the first African-American student-athletes in University of Arkansas history.