Dick Koecher
From BR Bullpen
Richard Finlay Koecher
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 5", Weight 196 lb.
- School Temple University
- Debut September 29, 1946
- Final Game October 2, 1948
- Born March 30, 1926 in Philadelphia, PA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Left-hander Dick Koecher was signed as an amateur free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Temple University before the 1946 season. He was assigned to the Terre Haute Phillies of the class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. The tall pitcher rang up a 9-3 record with a 2.88 ERA and was called up to Shibe Park and made his first appearance in the major leagues on September 29, 1946. He lost his only decision and came out with a 10.13 ERA.
Koecher was sent to the Utica Blue Sox of the class A Eastern League for the 1947 season, where he put together a 17-8 record and a 3.05 ERA and again was called up for a late season look by the Phillies and lost two decisions this time around, but improved his ERA to 4.76.
Dick would have a split season affair in 1948 with Utica again and the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League. He put up another good year at 14-6 and a 3.96 ERA and the Phillies gave him one more late season look on October 2, 1948 and he lost his only decision again. This was his last chance at the show and he ended his big league career with an 0-4 record and a 4.91 ERA while pitching 25 and 2/3 innings.
He was with the International League's Baltimore Orioles in 1949, appearing in two games and pitching four innings with no decisions and decided to call it a career. Koecher left the minor leagues and baseball with a 40-17 record and a 3.36 ERA while pitching in 91 games. There appears to be no available information on his leaving the game as he did, or to his life after leaving, and to his location at this point in time, 2010.
