Rick Reichardt

Frederic Carl Reichardt

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.
• School University of Wisconsin-Madison
• High School Stevens Point High School
• Debut September 1, 1964
• Final Game April 9, 1974
• Born March 16, 1943 in Madison, WI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"I was the last of the true free agents." - Rick Reichardt

Rick Reichardt is remembered as a prospect who drew such large bonus offers in 1964 that the major leagues soon decided to institute a draft. The Los Angeles Angels and scout Nick Kamzic won the competition to sign him, and he was playing in the majors before the end of the 1964 season. He hit 116 home runs in the majors between 1964 and 1974.

In addition to starring in baseball, Reichardt was a star football player at the University of Wisconsin and played in the Rose Bowl game. He led the Big Ten Conference in receptions (26) in 1963 and led the Big 10 in homers (5) and average the same year. He hit .443 in 1964 to finish second in the nation. He was named All-American. He had a kidney surgically removed early in his major league career after suffering from kidney disease, and his career was affected by this development.

"I never had the resiliency after that. Who's to say how I would have done. . . I was on my way when that happened." - Rich Reichardt, about his kidney problem

Reichardt played eleven seasons in the majors, and while his stats don't look great, he played during the second dead-ball era and so the stats are better than they appear. He had moderately good power, and his batting average was typically above average. For example, in 1968 when the American League as a whole hit only .230 and the 1968 Angels as a team hit .227, Reichardt hit .255. He retired with an OPS+ of 115.

He was not much of a base-stealer, getting caught more often than he succeeded.

The site halosheaven.com picks him as # 62 on the list of the 100 Greatest Angels. Reichardt retired in 1974 after only one at-bat - an at-bat in which he singled, finishing the season with a 1.000 batting average.

After baseball he ran a financial consulting business, coached college baseball, and then worked with Roland Hemond of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He is not to be confused with another player of a similar name who also played in the Los Angeles area, Pete Richert.

In 2015, he was named to the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

One source: Where Are They Now? Rick Reichardt" article from 9/20/08, mlb.com.

Notable Achievements

• 20-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1968)