Rick Reichardt

Position: Leftfielder
Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right
6-3, 210lb (190cm, 95kg)
Born: March 16, 1943  in Madison, WI
High School: Stevens Point HS (Stevens Point, WI)
School: University of Wisconsin at Madison (Madison, WI)
Debut: September 1, 1964 (12,290th in major league history)
vs. NYY 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: April 9, 1974
vs. OAK 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Full Name: Frederic Carl Reichardt
Pronunciation: \RYE-kart\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen

Notable Events and Chronology

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June 24, 1964

Rick Reichardt becomes the biggest “bonus baby”

April 19, 1966

The California Angels play their first game at Anaheim Stadium. Rick Reichardt of the Angels hits the first home run in the new ballpark, but California loses the game, 3 – 1, to the Chicago White Sox.

July 22, 1966

Lew Burdette earned his 200th career victory

October 15, 1969

In Game 4 of the Fall Classic at Shea Stadium, Tom Seaver and the Mets beat the Orioles in ten innings, 2-1

July 24, 1972

Ted Simmons, who has been playing all season without a signed contract, signs a new contract with the St. Louis Cardinals

Biography

Wooed by 18 ML teams, Reichardt became the highest-priced bonus baby in baseball history when he signed with California for a reported $200,000 in 1964. A handsome and articulate scholar-athlete (Joe Garagiola: “The first time I saw him I thought he fell off a Wheaties box”), the fleet outfielder looked like he’d live up to expectations when he hit .288 with 16 homers in only 89 games in 1966, before illness forced the removal of a kidney in August. Although he led the Angels with 21 homers and 73 RBIs in 1968, he was an erratic fielder and much more was expected of him than his consistent .250 BAs.