Harry Craft made his Major League debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 1937 as an outfielder. Craft was known more as a glove man whose strong arm made him a solid performer for the Reds at centerfield during his playing days. Harry's playing career was somewhat short-lived, lasting only six seasons and ending in 1942, but during that short six years he left his name etched indelibly in baseball lore. Playing on two NL title teams with the Reds in 1939 and 1940, it was Craft's disputed home run call at the Polo Grounds in 1939 that hastened the advent of the foul pole screens.

Harry's managerial career spanned 1957–59 and 1961–64 and included stints with the A's, Reds, and Colt .45s. Harry Craft likely made more news on the local Houston scene while managing the Houston Colt .45s when he fielded an all-rookie team on September 21, 1963 with a line up of young and inexperienced players that included only a single player above the age of 21 in the starting line up. This experiment was likely the invention of Colt .45s General Manager Paul Richards, who basically held all control over any baseball details pertaining to the team. Nevertheless, it has always been remembered as "Harry Craft's All-Rookie Line up."

Harry Craft was actually hired by the first Houston Colts GM Gabe Paul with the blessings of George Kirksey, who spearheaded much of the early efforts to bring a Major League baseball team to Houston. Craft was brought to Houston to skipper the Houston Buffs in their final season in 1961 with the intention of Craft becoming Paul's first manager of the Colt .45s team in 1962. When it became obvious that Gabe Paul and Astros owner Roy Holfheinz didn't see eye to eye, Paul resigned as Houston's GM before the first season even began in 1962 and Craft was one of the few left from the short Gabe Paul regime that survived new Houston GM Paul Richards.

Harry Craft's true success was at the minor league level as a scout. After his stint as the first manager of the Houston Colt .45s near the end of the 1964 season, Craft continued on in the Houston organization with a long career as a scout and in player development. In 1980 Craft took over the duties as minor league administrator for the San Francisco Giants. He retired from baseball in 1991 and passed away on August 3, 1995 in Conroe, Texas.