Richie Sexson

Richmond Lockwood Sexson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 8", Weight 237 lb.
• High School Prairie High School
• Debut September 14, 1997
• Final Game August 13, 2008
• Born December 29, 1974 in Portland, OR USA

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Biographical Information

High School Career

At Prairie High School in Brush Prairie, Washington, Richie Sexson was an All-State performer in baseball, basketball, and football. He also set the school record for the most RBI and home runs in a career.

Baseball Career

Beginnings

At the age of 18, Richie was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 24th round of the baseball 1993 amateur draft. He did not play his first game of Major League Baseball baseball until 1997, when he appeared briefly in 5 games for the Indians, collecting 11 at-bats, with 3 hits, 1 run and struck out 2 times. He appeared in 49 games the following year, 1998, collecting 174 at-bats, 54 hits, 28 runs, and scored 14 doubles and 1 triple while being struck out 42 times and walked 6 times.

Richie had a breakout year the next year, in 1999, playing 134 games while collecting 479 at-bats, 122 hits, 72 runs and 31 home runs. On top of that, he also slugged 17 doubles and 7 triples while striking out 117 times and being walked 34 times.

With the Brewers

In 2000, Richie played 91 games for the Indians before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, with a player to be named later, for Bob Wickman, Steve Woodard and Jason Bere (the Indians sent Marco Scutaro to the Brewers to complete the trade). Richie played 57 games for the Brewers that year.

In 2001, Richie played in 158 games for the Brewers, hitting 45 home runs, which tied Gorman Thomas's Milwaukee Brewers record for a single season, although he also set the single-season record that year for strikeouts by a Brewer with 178. The strikeout record was surpassed by José Hernández in 2002 who neared the Major League record with 188 strikeouts. Sexson and Thomas would share the home run record until 2007, when Prince Fielder topped their 45.

In 2002, Sexson's numbers declined slightly. He hit 29 home runs, appeared in 157 games, and had only 102 RBI, while in an average year, he would have about 120 to 125. Richie fought back in 2003, and again blasted 45 home runs to tie his (and Thomas's) record, drove in 124 runs, and collected 165 hits while hitting 28 doubles and 2 triples. Sexson played in every inning of all 162 games during the season.

With the Diamondbacks and Mariners

Richie was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in December of 2003 along with pitcher Shane Nance and a player to be named later (Noochie Varner) for infielders Junior Spivey, Craig Counsell and Lyle Overbay, catcher Chad Moeller, and pitchers Chris Capuano and Jorge de la Rosa. This trade proved disastrous for the Diamondbacks but beneficial to the rebuilding Brewers, as Sexson missed most of the 2004 season after twice suffering a reverse subluxation of his left shoulder while attempting to check his swing.

Prior to the 2005 season, Sexson signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners worth $50 million. Soon after signing the contract, he was charged with a DUI, for which he was only convicted of one count of negligent driving, to which he pled guilty, and was let off with a small fine. Sexson put together a very nice season in 2005, hitting 39 home runs and collecting 121 RBI. He was nominated for the Viagra Comeback Player of the Year Award, but lost to Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees. He continued hitting well in 2006, blasting 40 doubles and 34 home runs, while driving in 107 runs.

Waning Years

Sexson's production fell off a cliff in 2007 for the Mariners. Although he played regularly, being used in 121 games, he only managed a .205 batting average with a disappointing 21 home runs, for an OPS+ of 84. He continued to struggle during the first half of the 2008 season, with a .218 batting average and 11 home runs in 74 games (an OPS+ of 90). With the Mariners tumbling to the bottom of the AL West standings, Sexson was released at the All-Star break, with Seattle swallowing a large amount of unpaid salary, but he was picked up by the New York Yankees. His stay in the Bronx was short-lived; after 22 games, in which he went to bat only 25 times, he was released on August 15, ending his professional career. He had hit .250 with 1 home run and 6 RBI in pinstripes.

In his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame in 2014, he failed to receive a single vote and dropped off the ballot.

In 2023, he was appointed manager of the Windy City ThunderBolts in the Frontier League.

Notable Achievements

• 1995 MVP Carolina League Kinston Indians
• 2-time NL All-Star (2002 & 2003)
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 8 (1999-2003 & 2005-2007)
• 30-Home Run Seasons: 6 (1999-2001, 2003, 2005 & 2006)
• 40-Home Run Seasons: 2 (2001 & 2003)
• 100 RBI Seasons: 6 (1999, 2001-2003, 2005 & 2006)

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
2023	Windy City ThunderBolts	Frontier League	43-52	12th	Independent Leagues

Related Sites

• ESPN.com: Richie Sexson
• MLB.com: Player Information on Richie Sexson