Culley Rikard

Culley Rikard

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 183 lb.
• Debut September 20, 1941
• Final Game September 25, 1947
• Born May 9, 1914 in Oxford, MS USA
• Died February 25, 2000 in Memphis, TN USA

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Biographical Information

Culley Rikard played centerfield for the Memphis Chicks from 1938 to 1941. After hitting .288 in his first year with his club, he hit over .300 in each of the remaining seasons. He had his best year with the team in 1941, hitting .339 with a league-best 217 hits and 45 doubles. That performance earned him a trip to the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates late in the year. After cups of coffee with Pittsburgh that season and the next, he served in the Army during World War II. After the war, he returned to the Pirates in 1947 and had his best year in the majors, hitting .287 in 109 games. That also turned out to be his last big league season, and he retired after spending 1948 with the Indianapolis Indians.

After leaving baseball, Rikard worked for many years in a sporting good store in Memphis, Tennessee. He also coached Memphis State University in 1954-1955. He died at age 85 after a long illness.

His brother Bob Rikard was a minor league catcher and his nephew Mike Rikard was a scout.