Jeff Richardson (richaje01)

Jeffrey Scott Richardson
(Whitey)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 175 lb.
• School University of Arkansas, Louisiana Tech University
• High School Grand Island High School
• Debut July 14, 1989
• Final Game May 28, 1993
• Born August 26, 1965 in Grand Island, NE USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Jeff Richardson was called up to the big leagues in 1989 after Barry Larkin went down with an injury. He was the Cincinnati Reds' starting shortstop for most of the rest of the year. Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates right before the start of the 1990 season, he spent the entire year in the minors. He was called up for a few games for the Pirates in 1991, but spent another full season in the minors in 1992. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox right before the start of the 1993 season and called up in May for a final 15-game stint in the big leagues. He was injured in a collision with Frank Thomas, herniating two discs in his back. After trying to battle through the pain, he finally called it quits in 1995.

Richardson began his coaching career soon after retiring as a player in May, 1995. The Pittsburgh Pirates assigned him to coach the Lynchburg Hillcats for the remainder of the season. Richardson was a manager in the Pirates farm system from 1996-1998, managing the Erie Sea Wolves in 1996, the Augusta GreenJackets in the first half of 1997 (until 6/18), and the Lynchburg Hillcats for the rest of 1997 and into 1998. Richardson left the Hillcats to become head coach at Louisiana Tech University. In 2001, he led the school to its first winning season in more than a decade. He resigned following the 2002 season to devote more time to his family and businesses in Grand Island, Nebraska. He currently owns three bars in Grand Island including Balz, a sports bar whose slogan is "Who Needs Hooterz When You Got Balz."

Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1996	Erie Sea Wolves	New York-Penn League	30-46	12th	Pittsburgh Pirates
1997	Augusta GreenJackets	South Atlantic League	34-37	--	Pittsburgh Pirates		replaced by Scott Little on June 16
	Lynchburg Hillcats	Carolina League	42-28	2nd	Pittsburgh Pirates	League Champs	replaced Jeff Banister (40-30) on June 19
1998	Lynchburg Hillcats	Carolina League	61-60	--	Pittsburgh Pirates		replaced by Jeff Livesey on August 19

Related Sites

• Jeff Richardson at the SABR Bio Project
• Story from the Grand Island Independent on his post-baseball life (free registration may be required)