Buddy Pritchard

Harold William Pritchard

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 195 lb.
• School University of Southern California
• High School Bell (CA) High School
• Debut April 21, 1957
• Final Game September 1, 1957
• Born January 25, 1936 in South Gate, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

On February 6, 1957, infielder Buddy Pritchard was signed to a $30,000 Bonus Baby contract by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of the University of Southern California. He had played for USC in the 1955 College World Series. He spent 1957 at "Rickey U" where he was used mostly as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch-runner while hitting just .091 (1-for-11), with his only base hit a single off Don Newcombe.

Buddy commented on his signing as a bonus player in Baseball's Biggest Blunder: The Bonus Rule of 1953-1957: "I really didn't want to leave USC at the time. I'd been voted captain of the team, and I wanted to graduate. When the Pirates asked what it would take to sign me, I gave what I thought was a ridiculous figure, and they said all right."

After he spent his initial year in the majors, the bonus rule was modified and as a result Pritchard was able to play in 1958 with two clubs, the Lincoln Chiefs of the Western League, where he appeared in 97 games and hit .268, and the Salt Lake City Bees of the Pacific Coast League where he saw time in 11 outings and hit .111. Buddy was with Salt Lake again in 1959, hitting .249 and helping the Bees to the pennant.

Pritchard remained a minor leaguer for the rest of his eight-year career, with the Savannah Pirates, Columbus Jets and finishing out his pro baseball active time with the Asheville Tourists where he had his only .300 average, hitting .304 in 1964. He appeared in only 58 games in 1965 and ended his run with a .256 hitting average with 30 home runs in 652 games.

Pritchard later managed in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, guiding the 1968 and 1969 GCL Pirates with a composite 55-59 record. He then became a high school teacher in Fullerton, CA. As of last word he was retired in his native South Gate, CA.

Source

Baseball Players of the 1950s

Related Sites

• BR Minors page