Rich Becker
Encyclopedia
Richard "Richie" Godhard Becker (born 1972-02-01) was a Major League Baseball
player between 1993-2000.
Born in Aurora, Illinois
, Becker was selected in the third round of the 1990 Major League Baseball
amateur draft out of West Aurora High School
by the Minnesota Twins
. In high school Becker, excelled at football and baseball. In football, he played quarterback and running back on offense and corner back on defense. However, he excelled on the baseball diamond and as a result had come to the attention of elite college baseball programs and scouts from Major League Baseball
. Becker spent his first minor league season with the Elizabethton Twins. He played in 56 games, had 194 at bats with 56 base hits, including 6 home runs for a .289 BA. He would see the inside of the Kenosha Twins, Visalia Oaks and the Nashville Xpress clubhouses before reaching the comfortable confines of the 1993 Minnesota Twins living quarters.
Becker made his major league debut in 1993 as a switch hitter
. Appearing in 3 games with 7 at bats, getting 2 hits and it was decided that he needed another trip to the PCL Salt Lake Buzz before getting a full time job. He was called upon again in 1994 and in 28 games with 98 at bats he hit .265. However, he achieved greater success batting exclusively from the left side of the plate. During the 1995 minor league season, for 36 games he hit .316 and was called up again to the show with the Minnesota Twins
. The year 1995 was Becker's first full year with the Minnesota Twins
. In 1996, manager Tom Kelly
put Becker in the unenviable position of succeeding Kirby Puckett
as the Twins' starting center fielder. However, he responded with his best year as a major leaguer, batting .291 with 12 home runs, 79 RB1, and 19 stolen bases. On July 13 of that year, he had his best day, getting four hits—including two home runs, a double, and 6 RBI. However, his numbers declined the following year, and the Twins traded Becker for Alex Ochoa
in December 1997. Subsequent to the trade, Becker bounced among several teams, finding marginal playing time with the Baltimore Orioles
, New York Mets
, Milwaukee Brewers
, Oakland Athletics
, and Detroit Tigers
.
Following the 2002 season, Becker retired from baseball. His career stats in 789 Major League Baseball
games are: 2,227 at bats, 570 base hits, with 45 home runs with a .256 batting average and 66 stolen bases.
Becker's minor league numbers show 770 games, 2,851 at bats, 821 hits, with 75 home runs and a .287 batting average. Becker had spent 13 seasons in professional baseball and was just 31 years of age upon retirement.
Rich Becker was the only player to come out of the 3rd round of the 1990 draft and sustain any sort of long-term career.
Player bio
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...
player between 1993-2000.
Born in Aurora, Illinois
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
, Becker was selected in the third round of the 1990 Major League Baseball
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...
amateur draft out of West Aurora High School
West Aurora High School
West Aurora High School, or WAHS, is a public four-year high school located in Aurora, Illinois. It is part of West Aurora Public School District 129. The school is also referred to as "West," and "West High,".- History :...
by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. In high school Becker, excelled at football and baseball. In football, he played quarterback and running back on offense and corner back on defense. However, he excelled on the baseball diamond and as a result had come to the attention of elite college baseball programs and scouts from Major League Baseball
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...
. Becker spent his first minor league season with the Elizabethton Twins. He played in 56 games, had 194 at bats with 56 base hits, including 6 home runs for a .289 BA. He would see the inside of the Kenosha Twins, Visalia Oaks and the Nashville Xpress clubhouses before reaching the comfortable confines of the 1993 Minnesota Twins living quarters.
Becker made his major league debut in 1993 as a switch hitter
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
. Appearing in 3 games with 7 at bats, getting 2 hits and it was decided that he needed another trip to the PCL Salt Lake Buzz before getting a full time job. He was called upon again in 1994 and in 28 games with 98 at bats he hit .265. However, he achieved greater success batting exclusively from the left side of the plate. During the 1995 minor league season, for 36 games he hit .316 and was called up again to the show with the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. The year 1995 was Becker's first full year with the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. In 1996, manager Tom Kelly
Tom Kelly (baseball)
Jay Thomas Kelly , is the former manager of the Minnesota Twins baseball team from to . Currently, he serves as a Special Assistant to the General Manager for the Twins....
put Becker in the unenviable position of succeeding Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett was a Major League Baseball center fielder. He played his entire 12-year baseball career with the Minnesota Twins and he is the Twins franchise's all-time leader in career hits, runs, doubles, and total bases...
as the Twins' starting center fielder. However, he responded with his best year as a major leaguer, batting .291 with 12 home runs, 79 RB1, and 19 stolen bases. On July 13 of that year, he had his best day, getting four hits—including two home runs, a double, and 6 RBI. However, his numbers declined the following year, and the Twins traded Becker for Alex Ochoa
Alex Ochoa
Alex Ochoa is a former Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder. He is a Cuban American and is currently an assistant coach for the Boston Red Sox....
in December 1997. Subsequent to the trade, Becker bounced among several teams, finding marginal playing time with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Following the 2002 season, Becker retired from baseball. His career stats in 789 Major League Baseball
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...
games are: 2,227 at bats, 570 base hits, with 45 home runs with a .256 batting average and 66 stolen bases.
Becker's minor league numbers show 770 games, 2,851 at bats, 821 hits, with 75 home runs and a .287 batting average. Becker had spent 13 seasons in professional baseball and was just 31 years of age upon retirement.
Rich Becker was the only player to come out of the 3rd round of the 1990 draft and sustain any sort of long-term career.
External links
Player bio