Al Richter
From BR Bullpen
Allen Gordon Richter
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 165 lb.
- School University of Florida in Miami
- Debut September 23, 1951
- Final Game April 21, 1953
- Born February 7, 1927 in Norfolk, VA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Shortstop Al Richter was signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Red Sox before the 1945 season but before he could pull his baseball suit on he was drafted into the Military Services where he helped the United States Army finish up World War II in 1945-1946. He was back in time for the 1947 season and had a split season year with the Oneonta Red Sox of the Canadian-American League and the Lynn Red Sox of the New England League. Al would hit .242 in 110 games in his first season in a professional baseball uniform.
Al was destined to be a minor league shortstop from 1945 to 1955, with the exception of a five game stint with the Boston Red Sox in 1951, and one more contest with the Red Sox in 1953. After the 1949 season Richter would spend practically all of his playing time with AAA clubs, mostly with the Louisville Colonels of the American Association, where in 1951 he hit .321 and was named the All-Star shortstop for all the minor leagues by Look Magazine.
He was presented with an award for the honor at Fenway Park in September after being called up to Boston. Al's only big league hit came on the final day of the '51 season when he singled off Spec Shea at Yankee Stadium. All told Al appeared in six games in the majors, picking up the one hit in eleven at-bats.
Richter would finish up his run in pro baseball with the Rochester Red Wings of the International League in 1955, going out strong, hitting at a .277 clip in 124 games. This gave him a ten year career average of .265 while appearing in 1,231 games. He also fielded the toughest spot in the infield at a career .961 percentage.
Richter had attended the University of Florida in Miami in the off seasons, graduating with a degree in business in 1953. After baseball he worked in food merchadising and real estate and as of last word he is retired in his native Norfolk, VA.
[edit] Sources
