Richie Myers
Encyclopedia
Richard Myers was an American
Major League Baseball
player. Listed at 5' 6", 150 lb., Myers batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Sacramento, California
.
Myers had a nine-year minor league
career as a shortstop
before joining the Chicago Cubs
during the season, appearing in four games as a pinch runner
and pinch hitter
.
In his only MLB at-bat on April 29, 1956, against the Cincinnati Redlegs
at Crosley Field
, Myers pinch hit for Cub pitcher
Vito Valentinetti
and grounded out
to shortstop Roy McMillan
against Cincinnati starting pitcher
Art Fowler
. As a pinch runner, he appeared in three other games but failed to score a run
.
His 1948–1956 minor league career largely took place with his hometown Sacramento Solons
of the Pacific Coast League
, where he spent all or part of seven of his nine professional seasons. Myers posted a .261 batting average
with 45 home runs in 937 games and a .964 fielding percentage
at shortstop.
Following his retirement, Myers worked for the city of Sacramento as a street maintenance supervisor. He stayed active bowling
, hunting
and fishing
. He golf
ed for many years and had a six handicap at age 72. He also enjoyed catching up with former Solons teammates and signing autographs for fans at public appearances.
In 2006 Myers moved to Yreka, California
, where he died at the age of 81 following complications from a fall.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
player. Listed at 5' 6", 150 lb., Myers batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
.
Myers had a nine-year minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
career as a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
before joining the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
during the season, appearing in four games as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
and pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
.
In his only MLB at-bat on April 29, 1956, against the Cincinnati Redlegs
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
at Crosley Field
Crosley Field
Crosley Field was a Major League Baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home field of the National League's Cincinnati Reds from 1912 through June 24, 1970, and the original Cincinnati Bengals football team, members of the second and third American Football League...
, Myers pinch hit for Cub pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Vito Valentinetti
Vito Valentinetti
Vito John Valentinetti is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for five seasons. A graduate of Iona College, he played for the Chicago White Sox in 1954, the Chicago Cubs from 1956 to 1957, the Cleveland Indians in 1957, the Detroit Tigers in 1958, and the Washington...
and grounded out
Ground out
Ground out may refer to:*In baseball rules, when a batted ball hits the ground in fair territory, but a defensive player is able to gain possession of the ball and touch first base before the batter-runner arrives....
to shortstop Roy McMillan
Roy McMillan
Roy David McMillan was a shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. From 1951 through 1966, McMillan played for the Cincinnati Reds , Milwaukee Braves and New York Mets . He batted and threw right-handed...
against Cincinnati starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Art Fowler
Art Fowler
John Arthur Fowler was an American pitcher and pitching coach in Major League Baseball. The 5'11", 180 lb. right-hander was signed by the New York Giants as an amateur free agent before the 1944 season...
. As a pinch runner, he appeared in three other games but failed to score a run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
.
His 1948–1956 minor league career largely took place with his hometown Sacramento Solons
Sacramento Solons
The Sacramento Solons were a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Pacific Coast League during several periods . The current Sacramento River Cats began play in 2000...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, where he spent all or part of seven of his nine professional seasons. Myers posted a .261 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 :...
with 45 home runs in 937 games and a .964 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
at shortstop.
Following his retirement, Myers worked for the city of Sacramento as a street maintenance supervisor. He stayed active bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
, hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. He golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
ed for many years and had a six handicap at age 72. He also enjoyed catching up with former Solons teammates and signing autographs for fans at public appearances.
In 2006 Myers moved to Yreka, California
Yreka, California
Yreka is the county seat of Siskiyou County, California, United States. The population was 7,765 at the 2010 census, up from 7,290 at the 2000 census.- History:...
, where he died at the age of 81 following complications from a fall.