Dick Rand
From BR Bullpen
Richard Hilton Rand
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.
- Debut September 16, 1953
- Final Game September 17, 1957
- Born March 7, 1931 in South Gate, CA USA
- Died January 22, 1996 in Moreno Valley, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Eighteen year old catcher Dick Rand was signed as an amateur free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals before the 1949 season. Dick would be assigned to the Fresno Cardinals of the class C California League appear in 118 games and hit .236. 1950 would be the young mans only year in his career to hit over the .300 level. Dick would hit .321 with 11 homers for the Pocatello Cardinals of the Pioneer League.
In the mid 1950s Dick would see most of his playing time behind the plate with the Houston Buffaloes (.284) in 1953 and (.273) in '54. He would be with the Omaha Cardinals (.257) in 1955 and with the Rochester Red Wings (.278) in '56.
Dick would have brief stays with St. Louis in 1953, appearing in 9 games, and in 1955 he made it into 3 contests. Rand was traded to Pittsburgh in 1957 and hit .219 in 60 games as a backup to Hank Foiles for last place Pittsburgh in 1957. This season would wind up his major league run, hitting .240 in 72 games.
Dick had spent 11 seasons (1949-61) in pro baseball, nearly all in the high minors, catching 1133 games with a .984 fielding percentage and a minor league career batting average of .272 with 64 homers. He would die in his native home state on January 22, 1996 at age 64 in Moreno Valley, CA.
[edit] Sources
