Mike Richardt
Encyclopedia
Michael Anthony Richardt is a former Major League Baseball
second baseman. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors, between and , mostly for the Texas Rangers
. He also played in 16 games for the Houston Astros
at the end of the 1984 season.
After a brief trial in 1980, Richardt spent the entire season in the minor leagues with the Wichita Aeros
. There, he led the American Association
in batting average
at .354. That performance earned him a spot on the Rangers' opening day roster as their starting designated hitter
in . After a return trip to the minor leagues in May, he returned to the majors and spent the last four months of the season as the Rangers' regular second baseman. That year, he batted .241 in 119 games, hitting 3 of his 4 career home runs while driving in 43 runs. He also stole 9 bases in 10 attempts.
Richardt started the season in the same position, but by the end of April he was batting just .194 and was replaced in the lineup by Wayne Tolleson
. Richardt returned to the minor leagues, and received only a few more brief trials over the remainder of the season and in 1984. In May 1984, he was traded to the Astros for Alan Bannister
.
Starting in the minors, Richardt played just 13 games that season, and then was out of organized baseball for two full years. He attempted a comeback in with the independent Fresno Suns of the California League
, and played well enough to get a minor league deal with the Rangers. After playing 28 games for the Tulsa Drillers
, however, he was out of baseball for good.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
second baseman. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors, between and , mostly for the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. He also played in 16 games for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
at the end of the 1984 season.
After a brief trial in 1980, Richardt spent the entire season in the minor leagues with the Wichita Aeros
Wichita Aeros
The Wichita Aeros was a minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas, that played in the AAA American Association from 1970 through 1984....
. There, he led the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
at .354. That performance earned him a spot on the Rangers' opening day roster as their starting designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
in . After a return trip to the minor leagues in May, he returned to the majors and spent the last four months of the season as the Rangers' regular second baseman. That year, he batted .241 in 119 games, hitting 3 of his 4 career home runs while driving in 43 runs. He also stole 9 bases in 10 attempts.
Richardt started the season in the same position, but by the end of April he was batting just .194 and was replaced in the lineup by Wayne Tolleson
Wayne Tolleson
Jimmy Wayne Tolleson is a former Major League Baseball player. A switch hitter who threw right-handed, Tolleson was listed at 5'9" tall and 160 pounds during his playing career.-Western Carolina University:...
. Richardt returned to the minor leagues, and received only a few more brief trials over the remainder of the season and in 1984. In May 1984, he was traded to the Astros for Alan Bannister
Alan Bannister
Alan Bannister is a retired professional baseball player who played for the Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , Houston Astros and Texas Rangers...
.
Starting in the minors, Richardt played just 13 games that season, and then was out of organized baseball for two full years. He attempted a comeback in with the independent Fresno Suns of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
, and played well enough to get a minor league deal with the Rangers. After playing 28 games for the Tulsa Drillers
Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
, however, he was out of baseball for good.