Rick Bladt
Encyclopedia
Richard Alan Bladt was a right-handed outfielder
in Major League Baseball
for the Chicago Cubs
and New York Yankees
.
Bladt was signed by the Cubs in as an undrafted amateur free agent. He worked his way through the Cubs' minor league system and made his debut with the big league club on June 15, 1969 in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds
, pinch-running for Hall of Famer
Billy Williams. He started the second game of the doubleheader, and after lining into a double play in his first at-bat, he singled in a run off Gerry Arrigo
for his first major league hit. Williams then replaced Bladt as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning. Bladt would appear in eight more games in June before being sent back to the minors.
Bladt was the player to be named later
that completed a trade between the Cubs and Yankees in January . The Cubs sent minor leaguer Terry Bongiovanni and cash, along with a player to be named later, in exchange for Jimmie Hall
on September 11, 1969. The transfer of Bladt completed the deal. Bladt languished in the New York minor league system until resurfacing in the majors in . He made his Yankee debut on July 19 and remained with the team through the end of the season. Bladt hit his first (and only) major league home run on August 23, 1975 off Andy Hassler
of the California Angels, and he spent September as the Yankees' everyday center fielder, replacing Elliott Maddox
. After another year in the minors, however, the Yankees traded Bladt along with Maddox to the Baltimore Orioles
for Paul Blair
. Bladt never returned to the major leagues.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in 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...
for 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...
and New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
Bladt was signed by the Cubs in as an undrafted amateur free agent. He worked his way through the Cubs' minor league system and made his debut with the big league club on June 15, 1969 in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds
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....
, pinch-running for Hall of Famer
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Billy Williams. He started the second game of the doubleheader, and after lining into a double play in his first at-bat, he singled in a run off Gerry Arrigo
Gerry Arrigo
Gerald William Arrigo is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Before the season, Arrigo was signed as an amateur free agent by the Chicago White Sox, but was promptly drafted away from them by the Minnesota Twins in the 1960 first-year draft....
for his first major league hit. Williams then replaced Bladt as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning. Bladt would appear in eight more games in June before being sent back to the minors.
Bladt was the player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
that completed a trade between the Cubs and Yankees in January . The Cubs sent minor leaguer Terry Bongiovanni and cash, along with a player to be named later, in exchange for Jimmie Hall
Jimmie Hall
Jimmie Randolph Hall is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and left-handed batter who played for the Minnesota Twins , California Angels , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves .-Minor league career:After attending Belmont High School and playing...
on September 11, 1969. The transfer of Bladt completed the deal. Bladt languished in the New York minor league system until resurfacing in the majors in . He made his Yankee debut on July 19 and remained with the team through the end of the season. Bladt hit his first (and only) major league home run on August 23, 1975 off Andy Hassler
Andy Hassler
Andrew Earl Hassler was a Major League pitcher for the California Angels , Kansas City Royals , Boston Red Sox , New York Mets , Pittsburgh Pirates and St...
of the California Angels, and he spent September as the Yankees' everyday center fielder, replacing Elliott Maddox
Elliott Maddox
Elliott Maddox is an African-American former Major League Baseball American player. Maddox, from 1970 to 1980, played for the Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators/Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Mets.-Early and personal life:Maddox attended Union High School in...
. After another year in the minors, however, the Yankees traded Bladt along with Maddox to 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...
for Paul Blair
Paul Blair (baseball)
Paul L. D. Blair is a former outfielder who spent seventeen seasons in Major League Baseball with the Baltimore Orioles , New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds...
. Bladt never returned to the major leagues.