Rick Reichardt
From BR Bullpen
Frederic Carl Reichardt
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.
- School University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Debut September 1, 1964
- Final Game April 9, 1974
- Born March 16, 1943 in Madison, WI USA
[edit] Biographical Information
"I was the last of the true free agents." - Rick Reichardt
Rick Reichardt is remembered as a prospect who drew such large bonus offers in 1964 that the major leagues soon decided to institute a draft.
In addition to starring in baseball, Reichardt was a star football player at the University of Wisconsin and played in the Rose Bowl game. He had a kidney surgically removed early in his major league career after suffering from kidney disease, and his career was affected by this development.
""I never had the resiliency after that. "Who's to say how I would have done. . . I was on my way when that happened." - Rich Reichardt, about his kidney problem
Reichardt played eleven seasons in the majors, and while his stats don't look great, he played during the second dead-ball era and so the stats are better than they appear. He had moderately good power, and his batting average was typically above average. For example, in 1968 when the American League as a whole hit only .230 and the 1968 Angels as a team hit .227, Reichardt hit .255.
He was not much of a base-stealer, getting caught more often than he succeeded.
The site halosheaven.com picks him as # 62 on the list of the 100 Greatest Angels.
After baseball he ran a financial consulting business, coached college baseball, and currently works (as of 2008) with Roland Hemond of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
He is not to be confused with another player of a similar name who also played in the Los Angeles area, Pete Richert.
One source: Where Are They Now? Rick Reichardt" article from 9/20/08, mlb.com.
