Dick Koecher

Richard Finlay Koecher

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 5", Weight 196 lb.
• School Temple University
• High School Simon Gratz High School
• Debut September 29, 1946
• Final Game October 2, 1948
• Born March 30, 1926 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died February 4, 2020 in Naples, FL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Left-hander Dick Koecher served in World War II before he was signed around the age of 20 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 split the 1948 season between 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 final late season look on October 2nd 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.

He lived in Naples, FL and passed away there in 2020 at the age of 93. He was one of the last 20 players from the 1940s to be still living.

Related Sites

• Dick Koecher at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Minors page