Dick Such

Richard Stanley Such

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 190 lb.
• School Elon University
• High School Sanford Central High School
• Debut April 6, 1970
• Final Game July 17, 1970
• Born October 15, 1944 in Sanford, NC USA

BR page

Biographical Information

The Washington Senators drafted Dick Such in 1966 from Elon University and he played in their system for his entire career, even after the Senators relocated and became the Texas Rangers in 1972. Such had a memorable year in 1967 as he went 0-16 pitching for the York White Roses while posting a 2.81 ERA in 128 innings over 20 starts. The team had an anemic offense and weak defense. Such reached the major leagues in 1970 but he did not experience much success. He returned to the minors for the next three seasons with the Senators/Rangers.

Such joined the Rangers' player development system in 1975 and worked for the organization in various capacities, including as a minor league pitching instructor in 1978 and the Wichita Aeros pitching coach in 1981. He took over as the Rangers pitching coach in 1983 and remained in that position until May, 1985 when Bobby Valentine replaced Doug Rader as Rangers manager.

In September 1985 the Minnesota Twins fired pitching coach Johnny Podres and hired Such in his stead. He then spent seventeen years with the Twins as their pitching coach and was part of two World Series championship teams in 1987 and 1991. Such was released by the Twin after the 2001 season following the retirement of manager Tom Kelly.

The Florida Marlins hired Such in 2002 as the pitching coach for the Calgary Cannons. His stay in Calgary lasted only one season and he was out of baseball for the next three years. When he returned, he served as the pitching coach for the Long Island Ducks in 2006 and the Camden Riversharks in 2007-2008. Both of these teams played in the independent Atlantic League.

Such returned to affiliated ball with the Boston Red Sox and worked in their minor league system through 2021. He was the pitching coach for the Salem Red Sox in 2009-2010, Greenville Drive in 2011-2012, and GCL Red Sox in 2013-2018. He was also a coach for the GCL Red Sox in 2019 and FCL Red Sox in 2021.

Bleacher Report named him the 16th best pitching coach of all time in 2012.

Related Sites

• Such's Life