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Peter Thomas Harnisch (born September 23, 1966) is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played in college at Fordham University from 1984 through 1987, and was an All-American pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball from 1988 through 2001 for the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds.
Harnisch suffered from a lack of run support upon his arrival in Houston. Despite leading the National League (NL) with a 2.22 ERA, his record stood at 5–7 leading into the 1991 MLB All-Star Game. NL manager Lou Piniella added Harnisch to his squad regardless of his losing record, and Harnisch pitched a scoreless sixth inning in the NL's 4–2 loss.
On September 6, 1991, Harnisch threw an immaculate inning, striking out all three batters on nine total pitches in the ninth inning of a 3–1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies; he became the 17th National League pitcher and the 26th pitcher in major-league history to accomplish this feat. Harnisch went 7–2 after the break to end the season at 12–9. He led the league with a .212 batting average against and 7.020 hits per nine innings pitched.
Astros manager Art Howe named Harnisch his 1992 opening day starter. Harnisch pitched well, giving up just two runs in the eighth to the Atlanta Braves, however, the Astros were held to just two hits by Braves starter Tom Glavine, and Harnish took the loss. His best season was 1993, when he went 16–9 with a 2.98 ERA and 185 strikeouts while tying the Chicago White Sox's Jack McDowell with a major league leading four and leading the NL for a second time with a .214 batting average against and 7.070 hits allowed per nine innings pitched.
A torn tendon in his pitching arm caused Harnisch to miss the entire month of June 1994, and limited him to just 17 starts all season. Following the season, he was traded to the New York Mets. During his four seasons in Houston, Harnisch compiled a 45–33 record and a 3.41 ERA.
Harnisch quit chewing tobacco during Spring training 1997. Shortly afterwards, he complained to Mets trainer Fred Hina of sleeplessness and a lost appetite. Hina prescribed sleeping pills for Harnisch prior to his opening day start for the Mets against the San Diego Padres. After pitching five scoreless innings, Harnisch was pulled after starting the sixth inning by giving up consecutive home runs to Chris Gomez, Rickey Henderson and Quilvio Veras. He was pulled from his next scheduled start on April 6, and sent back to New York for tests. Following which, he received a diagnosis of clinical depression.
He revealed his condition in a conference call with sportswriters later that month, and began a rehabilitation program that kept him from the Mets' line-up for four months. He returned to the Mets on August 5, pitching six innings and giving up two runs to the St. Louis Cardinals at Shea Stadium. He was, however, far less effective in his next three starts, and was 0–1 with an 8.24 ERA when manager Bobby Valentine moved him into the bullpen.
Harnisch spent two more seasons in Cincinnati. Injuries limited him to just seven starts in 2001. After sitting out the entire 2002 season, he attempted a comeback with the Reds' triple A affiliate, the Louisville Bats in 2003, but was unsuccessful.
Harnisch was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island, New York, in the Baseball Category with the Class of 2009.
| W | L | PCT | ERA | Games played | Games started | Complete game | Shutout | SV | Innings pitched | H | Earned run | R | Home run | BB | Strikeout | Wild pitch | HBP | BAA | Fld% |
| 111 | 103 | .519 | 3.89 | 321 | 318 | 24 | 11 | 0 | 1959 | 1822 | 846 | 926 | 223 | 716 | 1368 | 50 | 49 | .245 | .953 |
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