Dick Barnhart

Richard Lee Barnhart

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.

• Born August 18, 1930 in New Orleans, LA USA
• Died January 9, 2013

Minors BR page

Biographical Information

Dick Barnhart broke into baseball with the 1950 Hamilton Cardinals, hitting .282/~.385/.424 and led PONY League first basemen with 114 double plays. He hit .313 for the 1951 Fresno Cardinals in limited time and .133 in even less time for the Lynchburg Cardinals.

After not playing in 1952, Dick hit .253 for Fresno in '53. He moved to the St. Cloud Rox in 1954 and batted .310 with 16 homers and 76 RBI, tying for seventh in the Northern League in home runs hit. He struggled in 1955 while playing with the Sioux City Soos with a .220 average, 8 homers and 40 runs batted in. In '56, Dick hit .167 for Sioux City and .305 for Fresno in his third visit there. He finished his career with the 1957 Phoenix Stars, batting .263/~.491/.447 in 13 games, drawing 16 walks in 55 plate appearances.

Personal Recollection

Dick "Barney" Barnhart played first base for the 1954 St. Cloud Rox of the Class C Northern League. He was a fine defensive infielder, and consistently good hitter (mostly a contact hitter). I believe he hit over .300 in 1954. Barney may have played for other pro teams before the 1954 St. Cloud season. He likely also continued his pro career after St. Cloud, but I don't know for what teams he may have played.

--Submitted by former teammate on St. Cloud, Bill O'Donnell